Shopping
Shop for the latest in surf gear and surf brand clothing at the home of Rip Curl and Quicksilver. Much of the shopping focus along the coast revolves around the beach and board culture and there's no better place to experience this than in Torquay. At Surf City Plaza on the Surfcoast Highway, the top surf brands dominate. Check out the latest from the likes of Rip Curl, Quiksilver, Strapper, Gash and Rojo. And around the corner you can bag yourself a bargain from the Baines Court surf seconds outlets. Rip Curl and Quiksilver in fact had their genesis in Torquay, growing from backyard cottage industries to worldwide corporations.
Surf label revolution
Doug Warbrick and Brian Singer began making surfboards in 1969. They came up with the name Rip Curl (rip the curl) and proceeded to expand their business from surfboards to wetsuits. Today Rip Curl has become Australia's largest surf goods maker with licensees in the USA, France, South Africa, Japan, Indonesia, Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Chile.
Quiksilver began in the late 60s with Alan Green and John Law chasing their dream 'to live and work in Torquay and go surfing'. They started a small operation making good quality boardshorts designed for surfing. Quiksilver now creates quality surf, snow and street wear throughout Europe, Brazil, UK, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, South Africa, Turkey, Indonesia and Australia.
Village shopping
Many of the coastal villages, such as Queenscliff, Lorne, Apollo Bay and Port Fairy, offer an array of specialty souvenir shops, boutiques, and galleries. Take time out to browse some of the unique gifts on offer, discover the work of local crafts people or buy some fresh gourmet delights. Stock up on all your major essentials in Warrnambool which has many of the larger retailers as well as quaint arts and craft stores and bookshops.
Produce markets
Spend the morning at one of the many quality weekend markets in Geelong and on the Bellarine Peninsula including the Geelong Farmers Market offering the very best in local produce and the renowned Queenscliff Market with over 100 stalls selling high quality handcrafts and home baking. Apollo Bay also has a foreshore market every Saturday of the month plus you'll find many of the local growers selling their wares in streetside stalls or direct from the farm.