Holiday Opening Hours
Christmas Eve – 24 December – Open 9:00am-4:00pm
Christmas Day – 25 December – Closed
New Year’s Eve – 31 December – Open 9:00am-4:00pm
Current Exhibition
The Art of Surfing
From its earliest days surfing has offered the opportunity for self expression, by riding waves, shaping surfboards and personalizing equipment, through decorating them in a meaningful way. Art on surfboards is a significant way surfers have expressed their culture and connection to their craft over the years..
The Australian National Surfing Museum in Torquay, Australia’s surfing capital, celebrates the story of surfing.
It charts Australia’s significant contribution to the development of surfing around the world. Through the colourful and exciting permanent displays of an extraordinary collection of surfcraft, important surfing artefacts and memorabilia, the museum commemorates Australia’s fantastic surfing heritage.
An unforgettable experience, the Australian National Surfing Museum offers an opportunity to immerse yourself in one of Australia’s most popular pastimes. It’s a place where you can experience surfing’s sense of fun and marvel at the changes that have taken place over the years.
We look forward to welcoming you.
Story of Australian Surfing
Key stories and imagery tracing over 100 years of surfing in Australia.
150+ Surfboard Collection
Displaying a selection of century-old ‘dinosaur’ slabs to modern water-rockets, with examples of almost everything that came in-between.
Bells Trophies
The world’s most iconic surfing trophies from the world’s longest running surfing contest.
THINGS TO SEE AND DO
Australian Surfing Hall of Fame
The Australian Surfing Hall of Fame recognises the “Titans” of Australian surfing, their success, contributions and achievements. Each inductee is celebrated via a tribute surfboard which features a biography highlighting the life and significant impact each have made on competitive surfing, surfboard design, surfing culture or administration.
Board room
Stroll the Boardwalk to explore the evolution of surfboard designs and materials – from century-old solid timber historic boards, through hollow plywood “toothpicks”, balsa and fibreglass Malibu-style, to contemporary and futuristic composite construction craft.
Surf Culture
Our Surf Culture displays include a diverse range of important artefacts, artworks, trophies, historic photos, books, clothing, wetsuits and other memorabilia that reflect different eras from the past 100 years.
BLOG
TURNING POINTS – THE BOARD THAT CHANGED THE SURFING WORLD
Simon Anderson’s Thruster is The Most Significant Design Innovation of the past 100 years, ushering in a new era of wave shredding performance and eventually becoming the most copied board design in history. Over the past 50 years, the majority of surfboard design improvements have been fairly subtle; refinements on a steady design continuum. But very rarely, original and inspired designs are so radical that they change what surfing is. In our minds surfboards are beautiful aesthetic objects – three-dimensional art and functional sculpture at the same time. When assessing boards here at the museum, we look at their significance. Some have local significance, others might be important on a national level. Some individual surfboards,...
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
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Stopped in on a weekend away. I was really impressed with the items in the collection and didn't realise surfing was such an old craft. I learned a lot about the history of surfing, the evolution of the boards and the technology that goes into making a great board. We spent about 1.5 hours in the museum but there us a 90 minute feature film that shows in the theatre, so allow more time if you want to watch the whole thing.
Annie Lamb
26/03/2023Wenn Surfing interessiert, dann ist dieses Museum ein Must, das Thema wird spannend präsentiert und mit Viedos untermalt
Ruedi Vogt
20/03/2023Well worth the few bucks to head in and see, fantastic service at the counter on the way in which sets the mood for the whole experience
Robert Bridge
20/03/2023 -
Great place to go.
Janet Williams
27/02/2023A must see in Torquay
murat oldaç
27/02/2023Really well done, although the entry fee of ~$12.50 was a little steep I thought. If they don't have government funding they definitely deserve it
Asher Middleton
27/01/2023 -
Great History of Surfing
Michael Lappen
27/01/2023Très bien mais je pense qu'il faut être fan de surf pour l'apprécier d'autant plus car il y a beaucoup de chose à lire et de références.
Hugo Llorens
27/12/2022Absolutely awesome history on Australian surfing. Highly recommended!
Alex Wadsworth
27/08/2022
EXPLORE OUR COLLECTIONS
Sharing surfing stories and collection items with the world, in collaboration with Google Arts and Culture. The ANSM represents surfing amongst the pantheon of Australian sports as part of the Australia: Great Sporting Land project. Experience the museum walk-through and see our objects in HD.
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Australian National Surfing Museum
Torquay VIC 3228
Australia
OPENING HOURS
9am – 5pm
7 days a week
364 days a year
(Closed Christmas Day)
ADMISSION
Adult $12,
Student/Pensioner Concession $8
Child (aged 16 and under) $8
Family $25.
PLEASE NOTE: General admission prices are for self-guided tours with no time limit.
Group Discounts
Please see Education / Group Tours for details.
CONTACT
03 5261 4606
ansm@surfcoast.vic.gov.au
77 Beach Road
Torquay Victoria 3228
The Australian National Surf Museum sits on the lands of the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin nation. We acknowledge them as the Traditional Owners and Protectors of this place. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present, and future who continue on this path.
We extend this respect to all First Nation countries across this land that we surf on, work on and live on everyday.
