You must head to these local beaches if you’re looking for that next new wave.
Sitting pretty on the doorstep of the world-famous breaks of the Great Ocean Road, the Bellarine Peninsula is the perfect place to learn how to catch a wave, work on your skills or show off what you’ve got on a surfboard.
Here are some of the best Bellarine surf spots you need to paddle out at:
Keep up with the latest Victorian travel destinations, news and tips here.
Thirteenth Beach, Barwon Heads
A popular destination for surfers in the know, this 4.5-kilometre stretch of picturesque coastline west of Barwon Heads is a must-visit. Readily accessible from the main road and patrolled without massive crowds, the beach provides varied conditions to suit both learners and advanced surfers with a lovely wide stretch of sand spreads between looming sand dunes and crashing waves.
According to the Surf Reporter at Rasta Surf Co (with 23 years of experience), the wave shape is generally more critical and higher in energy. Most people learn at Ocean Grove then graduate to the Thirteenth Beach breaks, and then the 13th beach reef sections. 13th Beach also holds more wave size too, making it heavier to surf.
13th Beach has The Beacon (the area in front of the shipping beacon), considered one of the heaviest waves for its size in the region, a heavy hollow fast barrelling wave.
Beyond that, Thirteenth is also ideal for a refreshing walk, jog, sandcastle-making or ball play with the dog when you need a break from surfing.
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Ocean Grove Main Beach, Ocean Grove
Ocean Grove Main beach is two kilometres of family-friendly surf beach situated at the centre of the stretch of beach that spans from Point Lonsdale to the Barwon River mouth. Here you’ll find a cafe, kiosk, toilets, showers, surf patrol and impeccable conditions with the Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club at its heart.
The beach is seasonally patrolled with excellent ocean swimming and surfing, and according to Rasta Surf Co, is one of the safest beaches to learn to surf on the coast. There are no significant rips out to sea, it’s a long flat beach with generally mid-sized waves on the mid to high tides waves. The wave shape and movement is usually easier for beginners… Just watch out for rips.
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Raffs Beach, Ocean Grove
Another gem, Raffs Beach extends from the western side of Ocean Grove to the mouth of the Barwon River. Here surfers will find that the beach breaks decrease in size all the way to the river mouth, while moderate swell and north-west to westerly winds provide the best conditions for surfers. With small fun waves, this spot is great for beginners.
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Point Lonsdale Back Beach, Point Lonsdale
Another famed local spot, Point Lonsdale Back Beach is an exposed beach and reef break that has reasonably consistent surf and can work at any time of the year. Offshore winds blow from the north while clean groundswells prevail and the optimum swell angle is from the southwest. The beach break offers both left and right-hand waves as well as left and right-hand reef breaks.
It’s often crowded and patrolled during summer, but the best surf can be found around mid-tide. Just be careful of the rocks.
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You can get daily 13th Beach Surf Reports from Rasta Surf Co here.
