Surf Forecasts:
Bells Beach - Bowl surf forecast from 29 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 30 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 13s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 3 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, SW swell with 3,038 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 30 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 13s period with SSW 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 Thursday (Jul 30) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 13s 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 3.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 03) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 02) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Thu 30th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Thu 30th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bells Beach - Bowl over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s look at it in feet and miles.
We’ve got a solid run of swell coming in for Bells Beach – Bowl. The pattern is clean, persistent SW groundswell, and the winds are mostly behaving. It’s a classic winter stretch.
Starting Thursday the 30th of July, we’ve got a 5ft SSW swell with a 13-second period, giving a moderate wave energy of 837. The wind is cross-off, so the face is clean. Good start, but the real standout is Saturday the 1st of August. That afternoon, the swell is 5ft from the SW, but the period stretches to 17 seconds, and the energy jumps to 2010. That’s powerful groundswell. With a clear sky and light cross-off breeze, the Bowl will be offering excellent, long, lined-up waves. This is the pick of the first week – but that long period means it’ll be more powerful, best for those who know the place.
Sunday the 2nd of August is cleaner with lighter wind, but the swell starts to drop. Monday the 3rd of August brings rain showers and stronger wind, and the swell rises to 8ft by the afternoon, with energy at 2405. That’s expert-only, and a bit raw. Tuesday the 4th of August is still big in the morning at 8ft, but gets messy with a cross-chop by the afternoon.
Mid-week, Wednesday the 5th of August drops right off. Tiny 2ft sets, but a 19-second period – you’ll feel the pulse. Clean, but small. Thursday the 6th of August is similar, small and clean.
Then Friday the 7th of August has a solid 7ft SW swell, 16-second period, but the wind is onshore from the SE. That’s a blown-out mess, so skip it.
The long-range standout is Monday the 10th of August. That morning, 6ft SW swell, 15-second period, energy at 1978, with a gentle cross-off from the NNE. Excellent surf – powerful and clean. The afternoon goes offshore from the NW, too. This is the one to watch, but it’s over a week out, so keep an eye on the forecast.
Later in the second week, Wednesday the 12th of August afternoon has a nice 4ft SW swell, 19-second period, energy over 1000, and clean conditions. Then Thursday the 13th of August afternoon is a beauty – 5ft SW, 17 seconds, with a gentle offshore breeze. That’s proper groundswell and clean faces.
The water temperature is about average for the time of year. The best windows are Saturday afternoon (1st August) and Monday the 10th of August – those are the standouts. Crowds are possible at Bells, so get in early.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat afternoon, min 9°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun morning, min 9°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Mon morning, light winds from the W by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SSW 9 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SW 17 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 837 | 649 | 410 | 341 | 299 | 255 | 309 | 1165 | 1335 | 823 | 597 | 472 | 479 | 2570 | 2275 | 1365 | 676 | 201 | 248 | 214 | 224 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 12:51PM1.71m | 00:08AM1.38m | 1:28PM1.78m | 1:02AM1.46m | 2:00PM1.83m | 1:49AM1.54m | 2:29PM1.87m | 2:31AM1.62m | 2:56PM1.88m | 3:11AM1.69m | 3:22PM1.87m | 3:50AM1.75m | 3:48PM1.85m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:02PM0.92m | 6:32AM0.42m | 7:40PM0.80m | 7:16AM0.40m | 8:13PM0.68m | 7:56AM0.39m | 8:43PM0.56m | 8:34AM0.41m | 9:12PM0.45m | 9:09AM0.45m | 9:40PM0.35m | 9:45AM0.51m | 10:11PM0.26m | ||||||||
 | |  | | |  |  | | | | | | |  |  | | | | |  | | |
 | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — |
 | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 11 |
Feels °C | 7 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SSW 8 | SW 14 | SW 17 |
| kJ | 837 | 649 | 410 | 341 | 299 | 255 | 144 | 1165 | 1335 | 823 | 597 | 472 | 412 | 1363 | 1278 | 773 | 410 | 201 | 68 | 179 | 224 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 8 | S 23 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 17 | SW 13 | SSE 17 | S 16 | SSE 16 | NNE 4 | SW 13 | SW 20 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 21 | SW 14 | SSW 18 | SW 13 |
| kJ | — | 35 | 11 | 18 | 98 | 91 | 309 | 545 | 56 | 46 | 24 | 1 | 479 | 15 | 80 | 67 | 84 | 108 | 164 | 214 | 101 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 17 | — | — | — | — | — | S 14 | — | — | — | SSW 12 | SW 15 | SSW 19 | S 7 | SSW 7 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 12 | 12 | 3 | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | 35 | — | — | — | 14 | 55 | 248 | 27 | 15 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 3 | N 3 | NW 3 | WSW 8 | SW 13 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 10 | — | — | — | NNW 3 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 5 | 2 | 71 | 2570 | 2275 | 1365 | 676 | — | — | — | 3 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 32 | 294 | 6 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Torquay | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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