Bells Beach less than half an hour from the centre of Geelong is home of the Rip Curl Pro – which holds the title of the longest running and most prestigious professional surfing contest in the world. Bells Beach is only a short distance from Torquay one of the world's best surf cities.

This huge event was first held in 1962 and has brought the cream of world surfing to the Geelong region every year since. Held over the Easter Weekend the event attracts thousands of spectators to the amphitheatre like cliff faces at Bells Beach. The surfing day begins with the traditional playing of AC/DC's "Hells Bells" before the riders hit the waves.

The event is part of the ASP World Tour which takes in other amazing world beaches including the Pipeline in Hawaii, Rio de Janeiro and Teahupoo Tahiti. The competition now has tournaments for men, women and fiercely contested for the Easter title.

Bells Beach has seen some of the world's best surfers take the wooden bell trophy including Andy Irons, Kelly Slater, Joel Parkinson and Sunny Garcia. Some of the champion women include Stephanie Gilmore, Layne Beachley and Sally Fitzgibbons.

Torquay and many of the towns around Bells Beach and even including Geelong swell in numbers during this Easter event. Geelong's pub scene parties and usually hosts some of the big names in music over the Easter Weekend to coincide with the Rip Curl Pro.