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Gear I Packed for the Surf Coast Walk in Torquay Victoria
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items Planning to hike the Surf Coast Walk near Torquay and not sure what to bring or where to stop? I spent five days on this trail with the wrong shoes, the wrong pack, and zero knowledge of where to eat after. Took me a while to dial it in, so here's ev...
Sections
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Trail Shoes That Survived the Surf Coast Terrain
Daypacks That Didn't Wreck My Shoulders
Sun Protection for Coastal UV That Hits Different
Layers for Weather That Changes Every Hour
Where to Eat After a Long Day on the Trail
Navigation and Trail Info That Actually Helped
Trail Shoes That Survived the Surf Coast Terrain
Rocky sections near Bells Beach wrecked my first pair of sneakers within two hours. The terrain switches from sand to limestone to slippery coastal rock without warning, so regular trainers won't cut it.
Swap your regular runners for these before you hit the Jan Juc section. My ankles rolled twice in flat shoes on that stretch. These gripped every wet rock like glue and dried fast after creek crossings. Perfect for anyone who's never hiked coastal tr...
SALOMON X ULTRA 4 MID WIDE Gore-Tex GTX Men
Grabbed these for my partner who has wider feet and hates stiff hiking boots. She wore them from Torquay to Anglesea without a single hotspot. If you're someone who usually gets blisters by lunchtime, try these first.
Merrell Moab 3 Waterproof Hiking Shoes - Women's
Wore the same pair two days in a row (judge me later) and zero blisters. Regular cotton socks turned my feet into swamps on day one. Get a few pairs before you go because finding good hiking socks in Torquay is harder than you'd think.
Men's Hiker Micro Crew Midweight Hiking Socks
Daypacks That Didn't Wreck My Shoulders
First attempt I used a tote bag. Literally a tote bag. My shoulders were screaming by the Point Addis lookout. These packs made the difference between enjoying the views and counting the minutes.
Keep this one on your list if you're doing the walk in day sections. Fits a rain jacket, two liters of water, snacks, and a camera without feeling bulky. The hip belt actually transfers weight so your shoulders survive past hour three.
Osprey Talon 22 Review: Jack of All Trades
Use this if you're the type who overpacks (hi, that's me). Stuffed a towel for a spontaneous swim at Southside Beach and still had room for lunch. Water resistant enough that a surprise rain near Aireys Inlet didn't soak my phone.
Black Hole® Pack 32L
Toss two of these in your pack. Water refill spots are sparse between Point Impossible and Bells Beach. I ran out once on a 28-degree day and it was miserable. These fold flat when empty so they take up zero space.
Stow™ 1L
Sun Protection for Coastal UV That Hits Different
Australian UV is no joke. I'm from the UK and turned lobster red within 40 minutes on my first day near Point Danger. The reflection off the ocean makes it even worse.
Slather this on before the Bells Beach stretch where there's almost no shade for a solid hour. Doesn't sting your eyes when you sweat, which matters when you're climbing those cliff stairs. Reapply at every lookout stop or you'll regret it.
Original SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion
Bring this instead of a baseball cap. The neck flap saved me from a brutal burn along the exposed sections near Point Addis. Looks dorky, sure, but so does peeling skin for two weeks after your trip.
Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure UPF 50+ Hat
Wear these if you hate sunglasses that bounce around while you walk. They stayed put on every scramble and the polarized lenses cut the ocean glare so I could actually see the surfers at Bells Beach. Cheap enough that losing them won't ruin your day.
goodr sunglasses
Layers for Weather That Changes Every Hour
Started one morning in Torquay at 14 degrees with fog. By noon near Anglesea it was 27 and sunny. Then sideways rain hit at 3pm. The Surf Coast doesn't care about your weather app.
Toss this in your pack even if the forecast says sunny. Weighs nothing, packs into its own pocket, and blocked the wind at every exposed headland. I pulled it out four separate times on what was supposed to be a clear day.
Patagonia Men's Houdini® Windbreaker Jacket
Wear this under everything. Mornings near the coast are cold and damp, but by midday you're sweating. Merino regulates temperature so you're not peeling off layers every 20 minutes. Doesn't smell after a full day either, which your hiking buddy will ...
Women's Classic All-Season Merino Base Layer Bottom
Use it as a headband when it's hot, pull it up as a neck warmer when the sea breeze kicks in near Jan Juc. One piece of fabric that replaced three things I used to carry. For anyone who runs cold but also overheats easily, this is your solve.
Multifunction Headwear Buff Original EcoStretch Neckwear
Where to Eat After a Long Day on the Trail
Nothing worse than finishing a big hike and ending up at a mediocre cafe. I ate at about a dozen spots between Torquay and Aireys Inlet and these three had me coming back.
Get yourself here after the first day's walk. Order the pale ale and the burger, sit outside, and let your legs recover. It's walkable from the Surf Coast Walk trailhead so you don't even need a car. Busy on weekends though, so aim for a weekday lunc...
Blackman's Brewery Bar and Restaurant
Grab fish and chips here after the Anglesea section. Sat on the deck overlooking the river mouth and honestly forgot I'd just hiked 15 kilometers. Portions are big enough that you won't need dinner. Great spot if you're hiking with kids who need real...
Anglesea Blues Festival
Detour here between Anglesea and Aireys Inlet for the free chocolate tastings. Yes, free. I went in for a quick sample and walked out 40 minutes later with a bag full of dark chocolate and zero regrets. Perfect reward after the hillier sections of th...
The Chocolateries Great Ocean Road
Navigation and Trail Info That Actually Helped
Cell service drops out in several sections and the trail markers aren't always obvious. I missed a turn near Southside Beach and added an extra hour to my day. Don't be me.
Download the Surf Coast Walk map offline before you leave your accommodation. Service cuts out between Bells Beach and Point Addis completely. The GPS tracking kept me on trail when the markers disappeared into overgrown scrub. Worth the subscription...
AllTrails premium membership
Use this as backup if AllTrails glitches. You can load the official Parks Victoria PDF trail maps and it pins your GPS location right on them. Saved me once when I couldn't tell if a fork went to the beach or a private property.
Avenza Maps | Offline Mapping & Field Data Collection
Grab the digital version and read the Surf Coast section before you go. Gave me context on which segments are hardest, where water is available, and seasonal warnings I wouldn't have known otherwise. For anyone doing this walk without a guide, it's s...
12 of the best hikes in Australia
Camera Gear for Coastal Shots Without the Bulk
The views between Bells Beach and Point Addis are ridiculous. I regretted not having a decent camera on day one and scrambled to fix that for day two.
Clip this to your pack strap and forget about it. Time-lapse mode captured the entire cliff walk without me stopping every two minutes. Waterproof too, so when a wave splashed me at Southside Beach, I laughed instead of panicking. Great if you're not...
Gopro Hero 12 Black Terbaru
Attach your camera to your pack strap so it's always ready. I missed three whale sightings on day one because my camera was buried in my bag. Never happened again after I got this. For anyone who hikes with a real camera and hates fumbling with zippe...
Capture
Snap this onto your phone if you don't want to carry a separate camera. The wide angle fits the entire Bells Beach panorama in one shot without that weird fisheye distortion. Fits in your pocket and costs less than a decent dinner in Torquay.
Moment T-Series
Recovery Gear for Sore Legs at the End of the Day
By day three my calves felt like concrete. The trail has more elevation than it looks on paper, especially the stairs near Point Addis and the hills into Aireys Inlet.
Roll out your calves and quads each evening or you'll feel it the next morning on those cliff stairs. I skipped recovery night two and could barely walk the Anglesea section the next day. Compact enough to fit in a suitcase if you're flying in.
Trigger Point Grid 1.0 Foam Roller
Strap your knees before the downhill sections near Point Addis. My left knee started complaining on day two and this tape kept me going for three more days. For anyone with dodgy knees who still wants to do the full walk, pack a few rolls.
Pro Style Pain Relief
Take one each night with dinner. Leg cramps woke me up at 2am after day one and a pharmacist in Torquay told me to try magnesium. Slept like a rock every night after. Start taking them a few days before your hike for best results.
Pure Encapsulations Magnesium Glycinate, 90 Caps
Accommodation Near the Trailheads Worth Booking
Stayed at three different places along the route and the location made a huge difference. Being close to the trailhead meant I could start early before the crowds and the midday heat.
Book a room here if you want a proper bed and a pool to soak in after the first day. It's a short walk to the Surf Coast Walk starting point and the breakfast buffet fueled me through the entire morning section. Reserve early because it fills up fast...
RACV Torquay Resort
Stay here if you're on a budget and don't mind basic. Clean rooms, hot showers, and a kitchen to cook in. Right near the Anglesea trailhead so you can roll out of bed and onto the path. For solo hikers or anyone who'd rather spend money on food than ...
BEER LIST
Treat yourself to this at the end of the walk. Quiet, cozy, and close to the Split Point Lighthouse. I sat on the porch with a glass of wine watching the sunset over the ocean and decided it was the best decision of the whole trip. Book the smaller c...
Luxury by the lighthouse