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Surf City Motel and Zeally's Bar
Surf City Motel 35 The Esplanade, Torquay, Victoria 3228 Australia
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Dining (16)
Room & Suite (4)
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About
#1 of 1 motel in Torquay
Location
Rooms
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
We are a beach side motel with 16 rooms and a bar. Our motel is central to shopping, dining and the beach. Our bar is friendly and warm with live music through Summer and we have a pool table. We are basic 3 star accommodation in a 5 star location and there are 5 star options available if you are wanting more luxe from your stay in Torquay - check out the RACV Club or Peppers to name a few. We respect the environment and don't go crazy on new stuff if what we have is in working order and of no detriment to your stay beyond aesthetics. Our aim is good, friendly but simple hospitality whilst you are on your travels.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Pool
Bar / lounge
Beach
Billiards
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
BBQ facilities
Parking
Wifi
Outdoor pool
Restaurant
Baggage storage
Non-smoking hotel
Express check-in / check-out
Room features
Air conditioning
Iron
Coffee / tea maker
Microwave
Refrigerator
Flatscreen TV
Bath / shower
Hair dryer
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Budget
Centrally Located
Languages Spoken
English
Location
Surf City Motel 35 The Esplanade, Torquay, Victoria 3228 Australia
Getting there
Good for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 83 out of 100
83
49 Restaurants
within 0.5 kilometers
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Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
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We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
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Detailed Reviews
I am not a budget traveler, at least not anymore. But I look for value in the places I stay, and during a two-week trip to Australia, the Surf City Motel turned out to be the priciest of all my accommodation-- and I stayed in a modern serviced apartment in the Melbourne city centre as well as a design-y hotel in Potts Point in Sydney. Surf City in Torquay beat them all. And for what? An average room where you can hear your neighbors through the walls. I mean, the motel was perfectly fine, situated well, right across from the beach and just down the main drag. But it really should have been about half the price it was ($180). Well at least there was free internet.
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Date of stay: January 2011Trip type: Travelled solo
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We had stayed once before in Torquay, seeking the Torquay Motel room with the view of the Sydney Opera House or the hanging gardens of Babylon!
When we decided to travel the Great ocen Road again, we picked a motel from the web and I sort of hoped it wasn't the same one we had stayed at before which was somewhat cramped and run down. As our navigator led us to the motel we realised we had in fact booked at the same motel!
It is not that it has anything terribly wrong with it but it has the feel of the small "box like" motel unit one used to stay in in the 60's with one's parents. Little space for 3 in the "family" room and no space to put 3 cases on the floor for access. My daughter loves her I-Pod and was pleased when they mentioned free internet as she had some serious facbooking to do! However, we were moved at the last minute into room 1 as the far end of the narrow motel site apparently does not have the best internet reception. My daughter was very happy!
Not having stayed at other motels in Torquay, I cannot compare this motel to others in town. It could well be there are better ones. However, we all slept well and were cosy in the room from the bitter and wet weather outside.
When we decided to travel the Great ocen Road again, we picked a motel from the web and I sort of hoped it wasn't the same one we had stayed at before which was somewhat cramped and run down. As our navigator led us to the motel we realised we had in fact booked at the same motel!
It is not that it has anything terribly wrong with it but it has the feel of the small "box like" motel unit one used to stay in in the 60's with one's parents. Little space for 3 in the "family" room and no space to put 3 cases on the floor for access. My daughter loves her I-Pod and was pleased when they mentioned free internet as she had some serious facbooking to do! However, we were moved at the last minute into room 1 as the far end of the narrow motel site apparently does not have the best internet reception. My daughter was very happy!
Not having stayed at other motels in Torquay, I cannot compare this motel to others in town. It could well be there are better ones. However, we all slept well and were cosy in the room from the bitter and wet weather outside.
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Date of stay: July 2011Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â Close to town and restaurants and on the beachfront
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We recently stayed here on the recomendation of the Torquay information centre, came highly recommended, not sure why the place was the pits, cost $195.00 for a very dated unit. The unit was clean, but only just but the surronds, grounds and gardens were very untidy, unkempt. As we had not booked we had to pay what was asked as we decided to break our journey back to Melbourne. I think if info centres are recomending places they should at least check them out occassionally.
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Date of stay: January 2011Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The room is spacious but that's about all. I had to plug in phone and the socket was thick with dust, as was the bathroom. I felt filthy leave, avoid. Tired and dated and certainly not worth the price.
The only positive is location, beach 2 min stroll
The only positive is location, beach 2 min stroll
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Date of stay: March 2020Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Great location but is old, my wife and I stayed for one night and it provided all that we needed for that one night. could do with a good clean, having said this, the bed had clean sheets and the room was neat.
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Date of stay: May 2019Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This hotel is in a great location. We were only staying for the night and we found our room comfortable but a bit 'tired'. The bed was comfortable which is a blessing when you stay in older hotels. The night we stayed late in August was freezing and our stay was made unpleasant due to the heater in the room not working. I went to reception to see if it could be adjusted or if we could move roomsif it was actuallu broken, but no one was there. I picked up the phone for service & no one came - twice. So we were left with not only an ice-box to sleep in - but no service. Very Disappointing. No electric blankets on the bed either. So I went to bed dressed like I would if I was camping. Several layers, socks & the extra blanket. Pretty poor to put people in a room in the dead of winter with no heating!!! And the service was non-existant.
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Date of stay: August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We (3 adults) spent 2 nights at Surf City so we could explore the Great Ocean Rd. Good points - cheap; big room with a 2nd room for my mum; a little kitchenette; close to main restaurant part of town; opposite the beach. Areas of concern - the air con heater struggled to heat the big room; the portable heater in the 2nd room was useless; the 2nd room had windows with vertical blinds up really high with no way of closing, so light came in as soon as the sun was up, so no sleep in for mum; the kitchenette had no cutlery, plates, bowls etc; tiny TV in the main room and even smaller one in 2nd bedroom that was placed up so high it couldn't be seen from the bed; room not serviced if you don't put a sign on the door, but couldn't find the sign! We would look else where when we visit the Great Ocean Rd next time.
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Date of stay: July 2014Trip type: Travelled with friends
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
me and my friends had planned a trip to the beach for a night i just moved to australia so wasnt very mindfull of where we were staying over charged heaps payed 280 dollars for 2 mediocre rooms for 1 night at 930 at night and having to book out at 10. i I stayed there with my friends and like anything had a few drinks. now it had a pool with no lock and no posted pool times but the pool was dirty and not clean and reaked of clourine. the rooms were bare essentials. Now the lady that runs it is the problem she had came out to tell us to quiet down and yes were making noises but she threat'nd us while swaring saying that she was gonna call the police on us saying we were schoolies when im a 21 year old traveler.I appologised to her saying that the noise would stop and it did. The kicker is that she without me knowing took 200 dollars off my credit card then when I asked her why she told me that it was because she was concerned for her hotel rooms also going off on her own story the whole thing felt like a personal vendetta. I called her again and now its a different story now its because suposidly a guest checked out because of us. I have still not got my money back its been a week since ive been there and she refuses to talk to me. Worst experience as a traveler over seas and what a shame torquay is such a beautiful place. I will be contacting the proper authorities what happend to the costomer being rite
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Date of stay: December 2012Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip:Â dont go there find somewhere else not worth it
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
As a sales rep i have stayed in alot of motels, and surf city motel would have to be the worst ive stayed in. Very very dissapointed with the room its self. Location was fantastic, directly across from the beach and a 2 minute walk to the main street. But thats all it had going for it. Everything in the motel was a disaster!!!!!!! started with not even being able to get into the room because the front door handle was falling off! Curtains old and dated and falling off the hooks. Carpet looked as if it hadnt been vacumed for months... lifted the dust ruffle up on the beds and there where chunks of hair and food crumbs all under all 3 beds!!!! Cobwebs and spiders in all corners of the rooms. Squashed mozzies on the roof .fitting for the smoke detector.... but no smoke detector???? handles on cupboards falling off as you open them. All power switches broken... and extremly dangerous!!!! couldnt use to boil the kettle or use a hair dryer???? safety odvioulsy dosent seem to factor at all????? no tea towels, or dish sponges. Fridge all broken in the front with black tape sticking it together on the front door !! Broken ventian blinds, just hanging in kids room.Tables and chairs dirty.Room phone and remote control for the tv where dirty with food stuck in all the buttons.missing light bulbs in bath room... with the sockets all rusted. Microwave from the 80's.No motel guest book?? Pool area unclean and untidy!! Room filled with bugs, making us itch all night.... disgusting. Worst motel we have stayed in ever... would not recomend anyone waste good money to stay there. Absolute disgrace, i was very very angry that i wasted my good money on such a terrible place. Dont understand how someone can get away with charging people good money for a terrible motel in that kind of condition! Total disgrace !!!!!!!!
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Date of stay: September 2012Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â Do not stay here....ever!!!!!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from 696cindy, Manager at Surf City Motel and Zeally's Bar
Responded 28 Oct 2012
It is a shame that not all clients are as mindful as you ..you raise quite a few issues that I felt myself and my staff adressed well A bus full of young men can sometimes be a bit heavy handed on things and just because things are old does not mean they are "dirty". I thank you for your responce because it has made me take a lot more notice of this web site even though it feels a bit like high school with she says I says comments .Very sorry your 3 day stay was so unpleasent if you had come to the reception we may of been able to work out somthing. This web site sure keeps you on your toes which is good I'm happy to take the good with bad I'm just glad that the good comes in the many return customers we have some who have turned into great friends, we also strongly push for new clients to have a look before they book because 3 stars is not everyones cup of tea and we are well aware our location is our best feature if our rating was any higher the price would match ,
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We had a good look around Torquay at most of the available accommodation. Although this place doesn't get great reviews on here, it's actually much nicer than a lot of other motels in the same price bracket. We found the rooms pretty clean, perhaps a little dated but in no way dirty. They were also relatively large, with good amenities and well looked after. Yes the rooms could do with modernisation, but if you're there to enjoy the beaches and cafes, then Surf City is a great place to crash.
The attached bar/restaurant is actually really nice, serving fantastic burgers in a relaxed atmosphere.
A plus is there's also free wi-fi!
You're also a stones throw from Moby Cafe - possibly one of the best places you'll get breakfast on your entire OZ trip..... Well worth a visit (if you can squeeze past the yummy mummys).
The attached bar/restaurant is actually really nice, serving fantastic burgers in a relaxed atmosphere.
A plus is there's also free wi-fi!
You're also a stones throw from Moby Cafe - possibly one of the best places you'll get breakfast on your entire OZ trip..... Well worth a visit (if you can squeeze past the yummy mummys).
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Date of stay: February 2012Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â All the same in one line..
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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ALSO KNOWN AS
best western torquay, torquay best western
LOCATION
AustraliaVictoriaTorquay
NUMBER OF ROOMS
16
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Frequently Asked Questions about Surf City Motel and Zeally's Bar
Which popular attractions are close to Surf City Motel and Zeally's Bar?
Nearby attractions include Torquay Central Farmers Market (0.5 km), Taylor Park (0.3 km), and Torquay Uniting Church (0.4 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Surf City Motel and Zeally's Bar?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, a pool, and an on-site restaurant.
Which room amenities are available at Surf City Motel and Zeally's Bar?
Top room amenities include air conditioning, a flat screen TV, and a refrigerator.
What food & drink options are available at Surf City Motel and Zeally's Bar?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant, a lounge, and barbeque facilities during their stay.
Is parking available at Surf City Motel and Zeally's Bar?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Surf City Motel and Zeally's Bar?
Conveniently located restaurants include Fisho's Torquay, The Pond Cafe, and Bomboras.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Surf City Motel and Zeally's Bar?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.
Is Surf City Motel and Zeally's Bar located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 0.4 km away from the centre of Torquay.