Torquay on the Great Ocean Road has a rich surfing history

Everybody knows that Australians love their sports and that the country has produced some of the greatest surfers in the world. Over the years, Australia has produced more than its fair share of world champions and among Australia's most successful overseas exports have been surf related products. Amazingly, most of these got their start in the small town of Torquay, just 60 miles (95 kilometers) from Melbourne, Victoria.

In the early days of surfing's modern history, there was no such thing as "surfwear." Surfers had to improvise: they would cut off a pair of jeans or buy oversized trunks that gave them the freedom of movement they needed. While Hawaiian shirts became a fad amongst surfers, they were not strictly speaking "surfwear." It was two small companies in Torquay that can be credited with the invention of surf clothing.

Quiksilve and Rip Curl are both huge international companies now, but back then they were just backyard businesses in Torquay. Rip Curl has been the primary sponsor of what is now one of the biggest professional surfing contests in the world, the Rip Curl Bells Beach Pro, since its inception. In the early sixties, it was little more than a local contest. In 1973, it became part of the professional tour, but back then, professional surfing was in its infancy. The prize money was small and most surfers had to pay their own expenses. Today, the annual Torquay contest is a viewed by millions around the world and is attended by tens of thousands of surfing enthusiasts.

From its early years, this Torquay contest has played an important part in the history of surfing. Back in 1981, some of the biggest waves in the contest's history took Simon Anderson to his second Bells Beach victory. Simon Anderson rode those waves on a surfboard of his own design. His "thruster" surfboard proved itself on that day and variations on that design can be seen in all modern short boards.

A city that has played such a prominent role in the history of surfing is naturally going to have a surfing museum. As you would expect from a small town that thinks big, Surf World Museum in Torquay is the largest museum dedicated solely to surfing culture in the world.

With all of its surfing attractions, it would be understandable if you wondered if Torquay had anything to offer non-surfers. As the gateway to the Great Ocean Road, one of the world's most spectacular highways, the answer is yes, Torquay has a great deal to offer everybody. You don't even have to drive out of town to get a taste of the grandeur of the Surf Coast. You can experience its rugged beauty just by taking the Surf Coast Walk. Although the walk is almost 19 miles (30 kilometers) long and takes an average of eleven hours to complete, it is divided into several segments, so can be enjoyed in "small bites" if you prefer.

In order to produce great waves, it is almost a necessity for a great surfing location to also be in a spectacularly scenic location. Torquay's Bells Beach, Jan Juc and other Surf Coast spots are no exception to this rule. The town itself enjoys a stunningly picturesque setting. Whether you're a surfer or not, if you love the sea, you will love staying in a Torquay accommodation and getting to know the area and its unique community.

Take a few days off, find Torquay accommodation, things to do and other travel related information about the area on bookitnow.com.au. Or visit our Australia blog for more Australian holiday ideas.