Where’s the Best Beach to Learn to Surf Near Torquay?

A Local Instructor’s Guide for Adult Beginners**

If you’re visiting the Surf Coast — or you’ve recently moved to Torquay or Anglesea — you’ve probably asked the question:

“What’s the best beach to learn to surf around Torquay?”

And as an adults-only surf school that teaches every week across Point Addis, Urquharts Bluff, and the wider Surf Coast, I can tell you this:

There isn’t one “best” beach — there’s the best beach for you, on the right day, with the right conditions, based on your experience and confidence.

This guide breaks down — in simple, reassuring language — the safest and most enjoyable beaches for adult beginners, the beaches to avoid, and how to choose the right spot depending on wind, tide, and swell.

Most importantly, it will help you learn faster and stay safer.

Whether you’re a brand-new local wanting to get the most out of coastal life or a traveller on the Great Ocean Road keen to try surfing for the first time — this guide is your shortcut to choosing the right beach, every time.

Why You Should Trust This Guide

I teach adults exclusively — no kids, no chaos, no crowded mega-classes.

Every week at Dawn Surf Co., I work with:

• new locals looking to finally embrace coastal life

• adults travelling the Great Ocean Road

• people who haven’t been in the ocean in years

• people learning how to surf for the very first time
  

This guide is built from years of teaching adults safely and successfully at two beaches that consistently deliver great sessions:

• Point Addis

• Urquharts Bluff

But I’ll also explain when you shouldn’t use these beaches — and where beginners should practise on their own instead.

Let’s get into it.

The Best Beaches for Adult Beginners Near Torquay

Below are the safest, most forgiving places to learn to surf — based on protection from wind, wave shape, sand-bottom conditions, and overall accessibility.

1. Point Addis — For Quiet, Controlled Learning (With an Instructor)

Point Addis is one of the most beautiful and peaceful beaches on the Surf Coast, and one of my favourite teaching locations for adults.

Why It’s Excellent for Lessons

• Protected from strong winds - The cliffs create natural shelter, meaning cleaner waves and less chop.

• Sand bottom - Forgiving, predictable, and beginner-friendly.

• Gentle rolling waves - Perfect for popping up on for the first time.

• Low crowds - Adults thrive when they’re not fighting for space or feeling watched.

• Calm, scenic atmosphere - This matters more than you think, relaxed adults learn 3x faster.
  

A Crucial Note: It’s Not Patrolled

Point Addis is not patrolled by lifeguards most of the year, which is why I do not recommend practising there alone as a beginner.

During lessons, this isn’t an issue — instructors are trained in:

• surf rescue

• first aid

• risk assessment

• and reading subtle changes in conditions

But without that support, it’s best to practise elsewhere.

2. Urquharts Bluff — Calm, Spacious and Perfect for First Timers (In Lessons)

Urquharts Bluff is another favourite teaching beach — quiet, scenic, and beginner-friendly.

Why We Use It

• Wide beach with plenty of space to yourself - Ideal for adults who prefer peace over pressure.

• Gentle, forgiving waves - Even when swell is present, the wave shape stays soft.

• Sand bottom in all directions - Great for safe wipeouts and learning comfortably.

• Light crowds - Less noise, fewer kids, less chaos.

Same Warning: Not Patrolled

Similar to Point Addis, it’s not patrolled regularly. Fantastic for lessons — not suitable for solo beginner sessions.

Where Beginners Should Practise Alone

If you’re practising without an instructor, choose beaches with:

• lifeguards

• large stretches of sand

• predictable whitewater

• plenty of exit points

• close access to help if needed

The best solo-practice beaches are:

Cosy Corner (Torquay)

Small, friendly waves and regular patrols in peak season.

Anglesea Main Beach

Very beginner-friendly, patrolled, and has gentle whitewater.

Torquay Back Beach (during patrolled times)

Excellent rolling waves that suit adults learning to catch whitewater.

These beaches offer:

• safer conditions

• patrolled zones

• smaller whitewater waves

• less complex currents

• easy access points

• consistent beginner-friendly banks

In short: If you’re practising alone, choose a patrolled beach every time.

Beaches Beginners Should Avoid (Until You’re Confident)

Many adults accidentally go straight to the wrong spots.

The biggest mistake?

Heading to Winkipop or Bells Beach.

They are world-class for experienced surfers…

…and absolutely terrible for beginners.

Why to avoid them:

• steep takeoffs

• heavy waves

• strong rips

• rocky bottoms

• competitive crowds

• advanced surfers

If you’re still learning in the whitewater, avoid these beaches until you’ve built confidence and ocean awareness.

Conditions Matter More Than the Beach

One of the biggest reasons beginners struggle is simple:

They don’t check the forecast.

The best beach in the world becomes unsafe if:

• swell is too big

• tide is too high

• wind is too strong

• rips are active

• there’s no beach left at high tide

Here’s how I choose teaching locations each day.

How an Instructor Chooses the Right Beach

1. Tide (Low Tide Is King for Beginners)

Lower tides mean:

• wider beaches

• weaker rips

• shallower whitewater

• more predictable wave patterns

I always aim to schedule lessons around low tide.

It’s safer, calmer, and much easier for adult learners.

2. Wind (Light Northerlies Are Ideal)

The dream forecast:

• Light winds under 10 knots

• Northerly winds (offshore in this region, giving clean, smooth waves)

Avoid:

• strong onshore winds

• southerlies that create chop

• gusty offshore winds that knock beginners off balance

3. Swell Size (Keep It Under Shoulder-High)

For beginners, ideal swell is:

• 0–3ft (waist to shoulder high)

• Soft, spilling waves

• Long whitewater sections

Anything bigger becomes:

• harder to paddle

• harder to control

• more intimidating

• more dangerous

If swell exceeds 3ft, I often move the lesson or reschedule entirely.

4. Safety & Rips

Rips are simply water moving back out to sea — not monsters, not whirlpools.

I explain them to adult students calmly:

“If you feel yourself being taken out, don’t fight the water.

Paddle parallel until you reach whitewater — it will carry you back in.”

Understanding this removes fear and builds confidence.

Why Adults Learn Better on Quiet Beaches

Adults learn differently from kids.

You want:

• patience

• clear technique breakdowns

• space to try things

• no kids zooming around you

• no crowds watching

• no chaos

• room to fail safely

Quiet beaches like Point Addis and Urquharts Bluff provide:

• more waves per person

• more attentive coaching

• a calmer mindset

• faster progression

• safer conditions

The environment alone can accelerate your learning dramatically.

What a Dawn Surf Co. Lesson Looks Like

Here’s the structure we follow to give you the best experience:

1. Meet at the Beach & Gear Up

Warm wetsuits, softboards, and a quick check of conditions.

2. Land-Based Coaching

We cover:

• ocean awareness

• how waves break

• safety plan

• correct pop-up technique

• board control

• paddling pathways

This saves you hours of frustration in the water.

3. Into the Water

Always in depth where you can comfortably touch the ground.

We choose the beginner zone carefully based on the tide and banks.

4. Catching Waves — Lots of Them

Small group sizes mean you get:

• more waves

• more personalised coaching

• more chances to practise

• more time standing up
  
  

5. Technique Adjustments

We refine:

• foot placement

• stance

• weight distribution

• timing

• paddling technique

6. Photos Included

Perfect for analysing your technique and capturing your progress.

7. Wrap-Up

You leave with:

• a clear next step

• simple drills you can do alone

• safety knowledge

• confidence

• and usually, a huge grin
  

Safety: When We Do Not Run Lessons

Lessons are postponed if:

• swell exceeds 3ft

• tide is too high and there’s no sandbank

• strong winds create unsafe conditions

• rips are especially active

• storms or lightning are present

Your safety comes before everything else.

We won’t run a lesson “come hell or high water” — unlike some larger schools.

So, What’s the Best Beach for You?

For lessons:

Point Addis or Urquharts Bluff — quiet, beautiful, beginner-friendly, and perfect for adult learners with an instructor.

For solo practice:

Cosy Corner, Anglesea Main Beach, or Torquay Back Beach — safe, patrolled, forgiving, and ideal for practising whitewater skills.

With the right beach — and the right guidance — adults progress incredibly fast on the Surf Coast.

Ready to Try Surfing on the Surf Coast?

Book Your Adults-Only Lesson with Dawn Surf Co.

If you’re ready to learn to surf in a calm, supportive, adults-only environment, I’d love to teach you.

Whether you’re a complete first-timer or returning after years away, you’ll learn safely, confidently, and at your own pace.

Book your adults-only surf lesson now

Lessons available at Point Addis & Urquharts Bluff

Perfect for locals and Great Ocean Road travellers

Let’s get you standing up, smiling, and catching waves.