The Best Surf Spots Around the Bellarine & Surf Coast (Local’s 2025 Guide)
Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula and Surf Coast are where Melbourne surfers escape when the charts light up. From mellow beachies for groms to heavy reef setups that host the world’s best, this stretch of coastline has something for every level.
In this guide we’ll walk through the standout spots from the Bellarine to Torquay and beyond, with tips on who each break suits, when they work best, and how to stay safe.
Bellarine Peninsula Surf Highlights
1. Ocean Grove Main Beach – Best for Beginners & Families
Ocean Grove Main is one of the friendliest waves on this coast. A sandy beach break with gentle banks, it’s ideal for:
first lessons
softboard sessions
cruisy summer surfs with the kids
On smaller days you’ll find forgiving, rolling peaks; on bigger swells it can get punchier but still manageable for most intermediates.SHQ Boardsports+1
Ideal for:
Beginners to lower-intermediates
Longboards, foamies, funboards
Best conditions (general guide):
Swell: small–moderate SW–S
Wind: N–NE
Tide: Mid
Ocean Grove Main Beach, Victoria.
2. 13th Beach (Barwon Heads) – Punchy, High-Energy Beach Break
Drive a few minutes around the corner and the energy steps up. 13th Beach is a long stretch of exposed sandbars with multiple peaks along the road — a favourite of stronger intermediates and advanced surfers thanks to its consistent, more powerful waves. SHQ Boardsports+2Visit Victoria home+2
Expect rippable walls on clean days, but also rips, shifting banks and some heavier sections when the swell pushes.
Ideal for:
Confident intermediates and advanced surfers
Shortboards, performance funboards
Best conditions:
Swell: medium SW–S
Wind: N–NW
Tide: Mid to high
3. Point Lonsdale Back Beach – Powerful Banks with Serious Rips
Point Lonsdale Back Beach faces Bass Strait and is known for its solid, often powerful beach and reefy sections (including the Glaneuses area). It can serve up great waves for experienced surfers, but strong permanent rips and exposed reefs mean it demands respect. Visit Victoria home+1
Ideal for:
Advanced surfers only
Shortboards
Best conditions:
Swell: low–moderate S–SW
Wind: N–NW
Tide: Mid to high (reefs exposed at low tide)
Surf Coast Classics (Torquay to Anglesea)
This is the heartland: the start of the Great Ocean Road, home to Bells and Winki, with everything from mellow reef runners to world-class power.
4. Torquay Front Beach & Cosy Corner – Gentle & Protected
Right in town, Torquay Front Beach and nearby Cosy Corner offer sheltered waves that are perfect when the open coast is too big or messy. These spots are popular with:
surf schools
longboarders
families looking for a safe swim and small waves
Ideal for:
Beginners & longboarders
Tiny-day fun when everywhere else is maxed
5. Jan Juc – The All-Rounder Beach Break
Just around the headland from Torquay, Jan Juc is a more exposed, punchier beach break with multiple banks along the cliffs. It’s a local favourite when the banks line up, offering:
wedgy peaks
rippable shoulders
the occasional hollow section on the right sand
It’s less forgiving than Torquay Front, so better suited to surfers who are already comfortable in the ocean.surfline.com+1
Ideal for:
Intermediate–advanced surfers
Shortboards and performance funboards
Best conditions:
Swell: small–medium S–SW
Wind: N–NW
Tide: Mid
6. Bells Beach – The Icon
Bells is the jewel of the Surf Coast – a long, powerful right-hand point that hosts the Rip Curl Pro and sits firmly on most surfers’ bucket list. It breaks in different sections (Rincon, Bowl, etc.) depending on swell size, and lights up on solid south-west groundswells with light northerly winds.surfline.com+4Surf Atlas+4surf-forecast.com+4
On its day, Bells serves up long, reeling right walls with plenty of room for big rail turns. It’s also exposed to heavy water, strong rips and big sets, so it’s not the place for first-timers.
Ideal for:
Confident, fit intermediate–advanced surfers
Shortboards, step-ups
Best conditions:
Swell: medium–large SW groundswells
Wind: N–NW
Tide: Mid on the push
It’s pretty special living on the coast.
7. Winki Pop – Fast, Technical Right-Hander
Just around the corner from Bells, Winki Pop is a faster, more technical right-hand reef that really rewards sharp surfing and good timing. It thrives under a similar swell/wind combo to Bells, with SW swell and offshore N–NW winds.surfline.com+1
Take note: Winki gets crowded with seriously talented locals. Good etiquette and respect are non-negotiable.
Ideal for:
Advanced surfers
High-performance shortboards
8. Point Addis – Scenic Reefs & Variable Crowds
Between Bells and Anglesea, Point Addis offers a selection of reef setups in a stunning national park setting. It’s semi-sheltered from large swells and strong winds, and can offer more manageable waves when other spots are wild.surf-forecast.com+2Torquay Surfing Academy+2
Recent cliff collapses and erosion here have led to safety warnings – always obey closures, keep clear of unstable cliff edges and access tracks, and keep an eye on official signage.Herald Sun
Ideal for:
Intermediate–advanced surfers in good conditions
Reef-savvy riders comfortable around rocks and rips
Best conditions:
Swell: small–medium SW
Wind: N–NW (with some shelter from SW)
Tide: Mid on the rise
Safety & Local Etiquette
Before paddling out anywhere along the Bellarine or Surf Coast, keep these in mind:
Check the forecast: Use a reputable surf forecast to assess swell size, wind direction and tide before you drive. Bells, Winki, 13th and Point Lonsdale can all get heavy in the wrong conditions. surf-forecast.com+2surf-forecast.com+2
Respect patrol flags: At patrolled beaches, always surf/swim between or near the flags if you’re unsure.
Watch the rips: Many of these breaks have strong, permanent rips and shifting banks – watch the lineup for a while and ask a local if you’re unsure. Visit Geelong and The Bellarine+1
Follow surf etiquette: Don’t drop in, don’t snake, and be extra respectful at world-class reefs like Bells and Winki.
Leave no trace: Many access points run through sensitive dunes and national parks. Stick to marked tracks and take everything you brought with you. Torquay Surfing Academy
