A powerful, high-quality right-hand point/reef setup near Torquay, and home of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, the longest continuously running professional surf contest in the world, first held as the Bells Beach Easter Rally in 1961 and on the world tour since 1973. Legendary sessions here include Simon Anderson's 1981 Bells win on his revolutionary three-fin Thruster in 15-foot surf. Suited to intermediate-to-advanced surfers who can handle a powerful, often heavy Southern Ocean swell; best in the cooler months (March-October) with offshore W-NW winds.
🌡️ ~14.4°C now · a 4/3mm full suit, boots recommended
Beginner: not suitable for this level
Intermediate: not suitable for this level
Advanced: Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov
Local surf community
Local shops, schools and places to stay near Bells Beach worth checking out.
An outdoor education company offering surf lessons along the iconic Surf Coast in Victoria. We tailor the lessons to your specific needs, whether you're seeing the ocean for the first time or fine-tuning your technique. SeaEarth Adventures is the surf school for you.
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New spots, best-month tips and the local crews at Bells Beach. Tag us in your clips and we'll share them.
Beginner: not suitable for this level
Intermediate: not suitable for this level
Advanced: Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov
All-time average wind & swell
Dashed line marks Bells Beach's known offshore direction. Bright arrow is the all-time average swell direction, colored arrow is the all-time average wind direction at 15 km/h — hover or tap either arrow for exact values.
Monthly avg wave height (ft)
Monthly avg wind speed (km/h)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 19° | 19° | 19° | 18° | 16° | 15° | 14° | 13° | 13° | 14° | 16° | 17° |
Averages from 3 years of daily wave, wind and water temperature data — what a typical year looks like, not a forecast.
Waves average 4.0 ft (1.2 m), with onshore winds around 14 km/h from the S. Water is ~19°C: a 2mm spring suit / shorty. Not one of the standout months for any level.
Waves average 4.2 ft (1.3 m), with cross-onshore winds around 14 km/h from the S. Water is ~19°C: a 2mm spring suit / shorty. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 4.4 ft (1.3 m), with cross-onshore winds around 14 km/h from the S. Water is ~19°C: a 2mm spring suit / shorty. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 4.3 ft (1.3 m), with cross-offshore winds around 13 km/h from the W. Water is ~18°C: a 2mm spring suit / shorty. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 4.3 ft (1.3 m), with offshore winds around 14 km/h from the W. Water is ~16°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 3.8 ft (1.2 m), with offshore winds around 16 km/h from the NW. Water is ~15°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. Not one of the standout months for any level.
Waves average 4.0 ft (1.2 m), with offshore winds around 17 km/h from the NW. Water is ~14°C: a 4/3mm full suit, boots recommended. Not one of the standout months for any level.
Waves average 3.8 ft (1.1 m), with offshore winds around 16 km/h from the NW. Water is ~13°C: a 4/3mm full suit, boots recommended. Not one of the standout months for any level.
Waves average 4.6 ft (1.4 m), with offshore winds around 18 km/h from the NW. Water is ~13°C: a 4/3mm full suit, boots recommended. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 4.3 ft (1.3 m), with cross-offshore winds around 16 km/h from the W. Water is ~14°C: a 4/3mm full suit, boots recommended. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 4.3 ft (1.3 m), with cross-onshore winds around 15 km/h from the SW. Water is ~16°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 4.0 ft (1.2 m), with cross-onshore winds around 15 km/h from the SW. Water is ~17°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. Not one of the standout months for any level.
For advanced surfers: Feb–May, Sep–Nov. The biggest waves come in September, averaging 4.6 ft (1.4 m), and the smallest in August, at 3.8 ft (1.1 m).
It ranges from ~13°C in August to ~19°C in March, averaged over 3 years of daily readings.
In August (~13°C): a 4/3mm full suit, boots recommended. In March (~19°C): a 2mm spring suit / shorty.
Not really: Bells Beach is best suited to advanced surfers.
The nearest airport is AVV (limited connections), and the nearest town is Torquay, Victoria, Australia. Many surfers fly into Melbourne (MEL) instead, about 110 km or 1.4 hours' drive away.
