The Great Ocean Road Womens Surf Festival is an all inclusive surfing festival celebrating everything about women’s surfing. Held at Lorne on Gadubanud Country, the festival will provide opportunities for surfers from all backgrounds and experience to come together and celebrate their love for surfing and the ocean.
Date: November 7 & 8, 2026
Kick off the Great Ocean Road Women’s Surf Festival with our official Welcome Drinks at Mantra Lorne. Come down, grab a drink, meet fellow surfers and festival goers, and start your weekend right. From 6pm.
Then join us in the Mantra Heritage Ballroom at 8pm for a special evening celebrating the women of the Surf Coast, with three short films exploring surfing, friendship, resilience and our connection to the ocean.
Surf Sisters – A celebration of Victorian women’s longboarding, following Lara Phillips and her journey of finding confidence, community and a new passion through surfing.
Home – A Super 8 film created by local photographer and filmmaker Katey Shearer, following Surf Coast surfer, artist and activist Linley Hurrell and her deep connection to the sea, Country and the place we are lucky to call home.
Great Ocean Love – Created by local surfer, actor and filmmaker Ella Bourne, this film celebrates women who surf along the Great Ocean Road and their deep connection to the coastline and ocean.
Featuring divisions for all ages and surfers, the RED Equipment surf competition will be run in collaboration with Surfing Victoria and Surf Coast Womens Boardriders Club and is a fun social comp for everyone from first timers to competitive demons!
Saturday
Divisions:
– RED Open Women Under 8ft (Shortboard Judging Criteria)
– RED Open Women Over 9ft (Longboard Judging Criteria)
– RED Junior Girls U18 Under 8ft (Shortboard Judging Criteria)
– RED Masters Women O45 Over 9ft (Longboard Judging Criteria)
$33 entry fee
Sunday
Divisions:
– RED Open Women Tag Team (4 surfers in each team)
– RED Junior Girls U18 Tag Team (4 surfers in each team)
$44 entry fee per team, all boards welcome!
What is a Tag Team?
Each team consists of 4 surfers. One surfer per team will be in the water at a time to ride a wave before they tag their team mate on the beach for their turn. Each surfer can surf unlimited waves in their heat. The highest scoring wave is used from each surfer to calculate the team’s points for that heat. Teams will have a time limit to score as many points for their team as possible. Each team is to nominate a power surfer prior to the beginning of their respective heat. The power surfer is a team member pre-selected by their coach. The power surfer points on their highest scoring wave shall be doubled. The Tag Team event will be run in accordance with Surfing Australia’ s ‘SURF TEAM’ COMPETITION RULES.
Join us for free workshops across the weekend in the Torquay Dental Surfers Hub
How to Buy a Second-Hand Surfboard with Honu Honi
Buying your next (or first) surfboard second-hand can be a great way to find the right board without spending a fortune but how do you know what you’re actually looking at?
We’ll break down what to check before you buy, with real second-hand boards on hand so you can see the difference between normal wear, repairable damage, and a board that’s best left on the rack.
Cold and Alive: Behind the lens with Katey Shearer
Hosted by the incredible team at Lorne Books, join local photographer Katey Shearer for a conversation about her new coffee table book, Cold & Alive. Featuring stunning photographs of the rugged Surf Coast alongside poetry and personal reflections, the book captures Katey’s deep connection to the ocean and the wild coastline she loves. Hear the story behind the book and gain an insight into the world of surf photography.
Board and Fin Design
Get creative with POSCA and give your board, fins or whatever else you can think of a bit of a makeover. We’ll have a stack of POSCA markers on hand for you to get creative with, so bring along your own gear and get designing.
Don’t have anything to decorate? No worries. We’ll have some fins available for a gold coin donation, ready for your design.
Rise and Flow: Beach Yoga with Honu Honi
Ease into your festival morning with yoga on the sand as the sun rises over the ocean. The Honu Honi Surf Camp team will guide you through
movement, breath and gentle stretching, designed to wake up the body, settle the mind and get you ready for a day of surfing, connection and fun.
8am on Saturday and Sunday
Fuel Your Body with Tanya Carroll PT
Tanya Carroll, Surf Coast Personal Trainer, will share her tips on how to fuel your body so you feel energised and ready to perform at your best in the surf. She’ll cover the best foods to eat before and after hitting the waves, how nutrition impacts your body and performance, and how to fuel yourself to become the strongest, fittest and best version of yourself in the water.
The Lineup Conversation: Surf Etiquette, Communication & Confidence with Honu Honi
Feeling unsure about where you fit in the lineup? This session starts with the basics of surf etiquette, then opens up the bigger conversation about what it means to share the ocean fairly, safely, and respectfully. You’ll leave with a better understanding of how to communicate in the water and the confidence to take your space in the lineup.
Surf Equipment Presented by South Coast Surfboards
Ever wondered what fins you should be riding, which wax actually works or what thickness wetsuit you need? Australian Champion Longboarder Ange King will run you through all the ins and outs of surf equipment, from boards and fins to wax, leashes and wetsuits.
Whether you’re new to surfing or just want to get a better understanding of your gear, Ange will share her tips and knowledge to help you get your surf set-up dialled and ready for the waves.
Why Can’t I Just Do It? Understanding the Freeze Response in Surfing with Honu Honi
Ever had a wave you know you can catch, but something inside you suddenly hits the brakes? This workshop explores why your body can have the physical skills to surf a wave, and yet in that critical moment we automatically drop the knees, pull out, or freeze up and go over the falls.
We’ll discuss how to expand your comfort zone and capacity in the water without having to force yourself through fear or pressure, and how to find the right balance of push versus pleasure to see real progress.
WSL Tour Panel
Hear from World Surf League Tour surfers and get an inside look at what it really takes to make it as a professional. From the highs and lows to the
pathway that got them there, this is your chance to hear their stories, ask questions and get a glimpse into life on tour.
Surf Forecast 101: Know Before You Go with Honu Honi
The fastest way to improve your surfing is to get plenty of practice in conditions that suit your capacity and goals, and that starts with knowing how to
read the forecast to choose the best beach on any given day for what you need. Join the Honu Honi Surf Camp team to learn how to read a surf
forecast and choose conditions that set you up for better sessions and faster progression.
Stretching with Tanya Carroll PT
After a big day of surfing, workshops and exploring the Swell Market, there’s no better way to finish than with a good stretch. Tanya Carroll, Surf Coast Personal Trainer, will guide you through a gentle stretching and cool-down session to help your body recover, release any tension and leave you feeling refreshed. You’ll be ready to enjoy your Saturday night in Lorne and, most importantly, get back in the water on Sunday!
The Great Ocean Road Womens Surf Festival are proud to be offering surf lessons across the weekend delivered by Surfing Victoria Affiliated Surf School – Go Ride A Wave.
 Sessions are $40 per head and include a limited edition Great Ocean Road Womens Surf Fest T-shirt (Valued at $45).
Sessions will be run at the following times on both days and bookings are essential:
SATURDAY
9.00am – Beginner Surf Lesson
11.00am – Beginner Surf Lesson
1.00pm – Beginner Surf Lesson
SUNDAY
9.00am – Beginner Surf Lesson
11.00am – Beginner Surf Lesson
1.00pm – Beginner Surf Lesson
Lessons are run by Surfing Victoria Affiliated Surf School – Go Ride a Wave. All lessons include wetsuits, boards and sunscreen – just bring your bathers and a towel! Participants are required to sign a waiver via a QR code on the beach prior to the session.
The Surf Her Way Intermediate Surf Coaching presented by South Coast Surfboards and Honu Honi Surf Camps is the perfect opportunity to progress your surfing, improve your wave knowledge and meet other surfers. All coaching sessions are for recreational surfers who are paddling out, catching unbroken waves successfully – and are now looking to refine their skills, improve their style and progress their surfing.
Our Surfing Australia qualified coaches, Angela King and Ophé Couchot offer a tailored coaching approach and looks forward to helping you improve your surfing experience.
Session Times:
Saturday
10AM – Ange King
12PM – Honu Honi
2PM – Honu Honi
3PM – Ange King
Sunday
10AM – Ange King
12PM – Honu Honi
2PM – Honu Honi
3PM – Ange King
Sessions will be held on the Lorne Foreshore.
You will need to bring:
Your surfboard(s) (shortboard or longboard)
Wetsuit
Towel and sunscreen
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FOR 2026 STALL HOLDERS OPEN HERE
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FOR 2026 BUSKERS HERE
Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th November, 2025
9am to 3pm
Entry is FREE.
Secure your spot for just $50 via the link below.
Great Ocean Road Holidays is excited to be part of the Great Ocean Road Women’s Surf Festival (GORWSF)! Book your stay with us and mention the festival to receive exclusive early check-in and late check-out. Don’t miss this chance to extend your coastal escape while celebrating women in surfing!
More information coming soon
2025 Gallery
All photos (c) @kateyshearer / @surfingvictoria
2024 Surf Gallery
All photos (c) @surfingpatrol / @surfingvictoria
Surfing Victoria acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Gadubanud Country, their Elders past, present and future.
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