Bells Beach
Bells Beach is Australian surfing's spiritual home—a powerful right-hand point break carved into the dramatic sandstone cliffs of Victoria's Great Ocean Road. Home to the world's longest-running professional surf contest (since 1962), Bells delivers cold-water power in the form of long, bowling walls that demand committed rail surfing. The famous "Ring the Bell" trophy ceremony and the clifftop amphitheater atmosphere make competition days electric. When autumn and winter groundswells from the Southern Ocean combine with rare northerly winds, Bells transforms into one of the world's premier right-handers.
Today's Conditions
Location & Conditions
Tide Times
Strike Score Breakdown
Location & Conditions
Spot Details
Swell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- SW (220°)
- Direction range
- 190° - 260°
- Size range
- 1m - 4m
- Ideal size
- 3.1m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 16s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- N (0°)
- Offshore range
- 315° - 45°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- mid to high
- Optimal range
- 0.6m - 1.8m
Water temp
14°C
Wetsuit
4/3mm fullsuit
Difficulty
7/10
Crowd level
7/10
👥 Autumn Break (Apr 4 – Apr 19) — expect extra crowds
🏆 WSL Championship Tour: Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach (Apr 1 – Apr 11) — expect heavy crowds & restricted access
Best Season
Peak: Mar-Oct
Autumn-Spring. Big SW swells.
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Winki Pop
🔔 Bells' barrel neighbor • Local crew heavy • Victorian proving ground
Point Impossible
🌊 Surf Coast sleeper • Less crowds than Bells • Two-section reef
Thirteenth Beach
🏖️ Melbourne's reliable option • Multiple peaks • Consistent catchall
Black Rock
🦭 Victorian reef right • Cold water barrels • Seal colony neighbor
Johanna Beach
🌿 Great Ocean Road power • Otway backdrop • Wild Victorian coast
Cape Woolamai
🐧 Phillip Island main break • Southern Ocean power • Wild Victoria