Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.37° S 144.28° E

Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 am 28 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Bells Beach - Bowl sea temperature is
13.5°C
0.5° 

Bells Beach - Bowl surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Bells Beach - Bowl surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 31 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 15s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 14s period, SW swell with 7,526 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 29 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 16s period with SW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Bells Beach - Bowl this week:

The surf forecast for Bells Beach - Bowl over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 16s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Bells Beach - Bowl in the next 16 days are 4.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 1PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Sat 29th Aug)4ft (1.2m) 16s
Best Surf10AM (Mon 31st Aug)4.5ft (1.4m) 15s
Most Powerful10AM (Fri 4th Sep)15ft (4.5m) 14s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bells Beach - Bowl over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Righto, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin' for the next couple of weeks down at Bells Beach - Bowl.

Alright, we’ve got a bit of a slow start, but the pulse really kicks in from Monday 31 August. The early stuff on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 August is pretty average—small, short period swell with some cross-on wind messing things up. Not worth paddlin' out for.

But then, look out. Monday 31 August is a beauty. Starting Monday morning with glassy conditions, a clean 3 ft SW swell rolling in with a solid 15-second period. The combined energy is strong at 1030 (moderate-to-strong). This is a top-notch morning for experienced surfers—long period groundswell, clean faces, and that famous Bells line-up will be working. The water temp is about average at 56°, so it’s a touch chilly but nothing wild for this time of year. Afternoon stays glassy too. Monday is the standout in the first week, no doubt.

Tuesday 1 September gets a bit breezy with a moderate offshore from the NNW, keeping it clean but a bit more challenging. Still, that 3 ft SW swell with 16-second period has plenty of energy (932). Worth a look if you can handle the wind.

The run of good swell continues into Wednesday 2 September with a glassy afternoon session: 3 ft SW, 15-second period, and energy at 1194 (strong). Excellent conditions for the experienced crew. Thursday 3 September is also clean with offshore winds and solid 3 ft SW swell.

Now, hold onto your board—Friday 4 September sees a big jump. A massive 15 ft to 16 ft SW swell hits, with combined energy readings through the roof (9616 Friday morning, 13007 Friday afternoon). This is expert territory only. The wind is cross-off and moderate, so it’ll be clean but absolutely huge. This is the second standout of the forecast—big, raw power for those with the skill and the nerve.

After that, Saturday 5 September drops back to a more manageable 3 ft to 3 ft SW swell with clean offshore wind. Sunday 6 September turns ugly—short period, cross-on wind, big and messy. Not for paddling. Monday 7 September offers a glassy 3 ft SSW swell with 11-second period and energy of 716—decent but not a standout.

The second week gets patchy. Tuesday 8 September through Wednesday 9 September is poor with cross-on wind and some rain. Thursday 10 September has a glassy 2 ft SW swell (14-second period, 401 energy)—clean but small. Friday 11 September sees a late-afternoon standout with a clean 3 ft SW swell, 18-second period, and strong energy at 2065 (very strong). Glassy offshore wind too. That’s a promising but less certain long-range highlight.

Saturday 12 September wraps things up nicely with a glassy 3 ft SW swell, 18-second period, and energy at 1591 (strong). Another excellent end-of-forecast session.

So, the two true standouts are Monday 31 August for that perfect glassy, long-period groundswell, and Friday 4 September for the massive, expert-only swell action. The rest is a mix of good windows and some slop.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Fri morning, min 8°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 20°C on Tue afternoon, min 9°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon morning, fresh winds from the NNW by Tue morning).

Friday
28
Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
3
2
1
3
3
1
3
4
4
4
2
2
3
3
4
3
4
3
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
SW
18
1.3
SW
17
1.2
SW
16
1.1
SW
14
1.1
SW
14
1.2
SSW
13
1.4
SSW
13
1.4
SSW
13
1.5
SSW
14
1.4
SW
15
1.4
SW
14
1.6
SW
16
1.4
SW
16
1.1
SW
15
1.2
SW
14
1.4
SW
15
1.6
SW
15
1.4
SW
14
1.6
SW
14
1.6
SW
14
2
SW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
442
907
710
466
469
465
659
659
895
893
763
1255
883
574
598
879
1155
799
992
938
1514
Wind (km/h)
15
WNW
15
SSW
10
WSW
10
WNW
15
S
5
WNW
5
W
15
S
5
WNW
5
NW
5
SSE
10
NNW
25
NNW
25
NNW
25
NNW
15
WNW
5
SSW
10
NW
25
NW
25
NW
30
W
Wind State
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
off
glassy
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
glassy
off
off
off
cross-off
High Tide
12:19PM1.63m
11:57PM1.42m
12:53PM1.70m
00:50AM1.55m
1:23PM1.76m
1:34AM1.69m
1:52PM1.81m
2:14AM1.81m
2:20PM1.83m
2:52AM1.90m
2:48PM1.85m
3:31AM1.96m
3:17PM1.85m
Low Tide
6:30PM0.86m
6:15AM0.52m
7:03PM0.71m
7:00AM0.47m
7:34PM0.55m
7:40AM0.45m
8:04PM0.40m
8:17AM0.45m
8:34PM0.26m
8:53AM0.47m
9:06PM0.15m
9:29AM0.52m
9:40PM0.08m
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:52
6:50
6:48
6:47
6:46
6:43
6:43
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:57
5:57
5:58
5:59
6:00
6:00
6:01
 mm
4
1
Temp °C
13
13
11
12
12
11
13
12
11
14
15
13
19
20
14
15
14
12
15
15
14
Feels °C
10
10
8
10
9
9
11
10
10
13
14
12
13
15
10
13
13
10
9
10
6
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Bells Beach - Bowl Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Bells Beach - Bowl provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Bells Beach - Bowl can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Bells Beach - Bowl surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Bells Beach - Bowl) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).

Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Bells Beach - Bowl may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.

Bells Beach - Bowl is 26 km (16 miles) from the city of Geelong. If you plan a holiday in Torquay, look for hotels and other accommodation in Geelong. Geelong has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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