It's at least an hour away from any surfable beaches, but this is a must-visit for surfers.
Think of Thornbury and you probably don't think of the surf — after all, it's over ten kilometres to the nearest beach, and at least an hour's drive from any surfable ones. This landlocked reality did not stop Zak Koniaris from opening up a shrine to all things surf on Thornbury's Victoria Road over two decades ago (and another in Newport soon after). Then known as Zak Surfboards, the store became more than just a place to pick up surf equipment and apparel — it helped to foster a community of surfers from all over Melbourne.
The store rebranded in 2020 to Melbourne Surf Board Shop, and continues to stock everything you need to take on the waves, from surfboards (both new and secondhand) and board parts to towels and sunscreen. If you get your kicks from something a little more land-based, Melbourne Surf Board Shop also stocks a great range of skateboarding equipment.
Image: Daniel Fuge