Ain’t nothing better than hanging ten at the beach (except hanging a tenner over the bench at Gelato Messina during a freaking scorcher), which is why we've rounded up the best surf schools along Victoria’s coast, so you can ditch the boogie board, don the rashie, and rack up boatloads of street cred on your Insta profile.
Here are all the places you can learn to surf this summer.
Great Ocean Road Surf Tours
Torquay
Why go for an hour when you can go for days? Not only does Great Ocean Road Surf Tours offer basic surf lessons but it also offers up to 10-day surf camps. These guys have been winning buckets of business awards since 2012, plus they’ll even pick you up from Melbourne. Prices start from as little as $175 for a one day experience on the Great Ocean Road, Melbourne pickup included,
Torquay Surfing Academy
Torquay
Torquay has some of the best beaches on the coast and the TSA is one of the best surf clubs on the beach. They offer small group and private lessons as well as a range of equipment hire and surf equipment for purchase. Surf lesson prices start at as little as $60 for classes of up to eight people, which includes all equipment and transport within Torquay.
Offshore Surf School
Inverloch/Sandy Point/Wilson’s Prom
For those of us who’ve never even touched a surfboard, Offshore Surf School is the place to go. They offer packages of single two-hour lessons in small groups (starting from as little as $60 per person), through to five lesson packages for $265. Better yet, you can also sign up for stand up paddle boarding lessons and snorkelling lessons if that’s more your style.
Apollo Bay Surf & Kayak
Apollo Bay
Surfing is just one of the many things you can learn to do at Apollo Bay Surf & Kayak. Also, specialising in kayaking, biking, hiking and stand up paddle boarding, this surf school is one you’ll want to spend a whole summer studying at. Two-hour surf lessons are priced at a tidy $65 and can be included in multi-lesson packages upon enquiry.
Go Ride A Wave
Anglesea/Torquay
Another Torquay surf school to put on your list is Go Ride A Wave. Their team of surfing pros make learning to hang-ten an absolute breeze. For $69, you’ll get a small group two-hour lesson with a qualified surf instructor, plus equipment hire and transport to the beach. If learning one-on-one is more your style, then you can book a private lesson for $150 an hour.
Go Surf Port Fairy
Port Fairy/Warrnambool
All ages and abilities are welcome at Go Surf Port Fairy who offer two-hour beginner surfing lessons with all equipment included for the low low price of $35. You’ll learn how to assess surf conditions, tackle the board and master the waves in next to no time at all.
East Coast Surf School
Merricks North
The East Coast Surf School has been operating for over twenty years and their team are just as passionate about environmental conservation as they are about catching waves. Whether you’re a pleb on the board or the new Layne Beachley, they’ll tailor the perfect lesson for you.
Island Surfboards & Surf School
Smiths Beach/Cowes
These surf pros boast a 99% stand up rate in their first lesson, so listen up. They offer 1-8 ration classes with surf qualified instructors who also hold current surf rescue certificates. They have over seventy mint condish boards and literally hundreds of wetsuits waiting to be worn by keen beginner surfers. Prices start at $70 for a two-hour group lesson.
Salty Surf School
Shoreham
For sixty-five bucks a head, you can get involved in an a-grade two-hour group surf lesson at Shoreham’s Salty Surf School for surfers of all abilities. These passionate (and qualified) surf pros promise a helluva time on Shoreham’s coast, plus they’ll throw in wetsuits, booties, rash vests, helmets, surfboards and even sunscreen to sweeten the deal.
Southern Exposure Surf School
The Great Ocean Road
The Great Ocean Road is literally bursting at the seams, it seems, with superb surf clubs and the Southern Exposure Surf School is no exception. Promising two hours of professional surf coaching with a 1:8 ratio, plus all the equipment you need, a day at the beach with the Southern Exposure Surf School makes for a stellar use of your coin.
The Surf Shack
Lakes Entrance/Conran/Mallacoota
The Surf Shack’s Learn To Surf School teaches you the fine art of surfing, even if you’ve never even locked eyes with a surfboard before. At the bargain price of $60 per person for two hours, you’ll be provided with all equipment (including sunscreen) as well as some rock solid surfing fundamentals.
Image credit: Austin Neill
