Bells Beach Surf Guide
Surf spot guide
Ideal Surf Conditions
Swell Direction
SW, SSW
Wind
NW, N, W
Surf Height
Shoulder high-4 x overhead
Tide
All tides
Bells Beach Surf Guide
Big, broad, open lineup facing slightly east of south into Bass Strait, but open to the SW, Bells is a short coarse-grained sand beach flanked by old sedimentary rock headlands sloping away to the west and east. There’s several distinct breaks here: Centreside, well up the reef to the west; Rincon or Little Rincon, the tip of the Bells point itself; the Bells Bowl, pretty much the spot’s main break; and Winkipop, Bells’s cousin, just around a short headland to the east. In small swells these spots are all held well apart from each other, but in a big winter-style SW groundswell they feel a lot more connected. Generally best in a SSW swell head-high to triple overhead or bigger, with winds from the NW.
LINEUP TIPS:
Etiquette | Surf Safety Basics
Ability Level
Intermediate - Advanced
Intermediate to advanced.
Local Vibe
Doable
Committed surf community, with strong connection to place.
Crowd Factor
Moderate
Busy at peak times such as weekends and holidays.
Spot Rating
Perfect
One of the best in Australia.
Shoulder Burn
Medium
Bells is a large point break setup with different take of zones and sections. This means lots of paddling.
Water Quality
Clean
Clean most of the time
Hazards
A large rock known as "The Button" that divides Winkipop and Bells.
Bring Your
Shortboard, Fish, Gun, Longboard, Funboard
Access
Multiple large car parks, easy access on foot. Not wheelchair accessible.
Bottom
Sand and reef.
Best Season
Most favourable swell and wind conditions occur during Autumn/Winter, between March and October.
Do you have local knowledge about Bells Beach?
If you have any insights or information to add to this spot guide, drop us a note at [email protected]