Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.37° S 144.28° E

Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 am 06 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Bells Beach - Bowl sea temperature is
13.6°C
0.6° 

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 5 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 10 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 18s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 9 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 18s period, SW swell with 8,227 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 6 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 14s 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 Sunday (Sep 06) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.9m and 12s is also forecast. 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 3.5m 18s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 09) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 7PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10AM (Sun 6th Sep)2.5ft (0.8m) 14s
Best Surf 4AM (Thu 10th Sep)10ft (3.0m) 18s
Most Powerful 7PM (Wed 9th Sep)11ft (3.5m) 18s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Bells Beach – Bowl. This is a legendary reef and point setup, and it’s exposed to the SW swell, which is exactly what we want. The pattern is pretty clear: we’ve got a slow start, then a few standout windows, especially for the more experienced crew.

The water temp is sitting at 57°F, which is about average for this time of year, so nothing out of the ordinary there.

We’re not seeing much to get excited about right away. The first real chance to paddle out comes Sunday morning, the 6th of September. It’s small, with a clean 3ft SW swell, and a light cross-off wind. The energy is moderate (583), and the waves will be clean, but it’s not going to blow your socks off. The afternoon is a different story – the swell jumps to 8ft from the SW, with a 14-second period. The energy is strong (2955). This is excellent surf, but only for experienced surfers; it’s a bit much for the groms. The wind is a cross-off, so expect some decent shape.

Monday the 7th and Tuesday the 8th are a mixed bag. Monday is a write-off with strong cross-onshore winds and short-period, choppy slop. Tuesday morning, however, is a real beauty. The 8th of September brings a clean 3ft SW groundswell with a very long 18-second period. The energy is strong (1070). That long period means the waves will have real push and shape, which is perfect for the point here. Light cross-off winds will keep it glassy. Afternoon gets a bit lumpy, but the morning is the pick of that day.

Wednesday the 9th sees the swell pump up to 12ft from the SW with an 18-second period, and the energy is massive (13595). This is huge, powerful, and really only for the experts. The wind is a strong cross-shore, so it’ll be lumpy and challenging. Thursday the 10th is still big, with 10ft to 8ft SSW swell, but the wind stays messy, making it marginal.

Now, Friday the 11th and Saturday the 12th of September are the real standouts. Friday morning offers a clean 6ft SSW swell with a 14-second period, light cross-off winds, and strong energy (1364). It’s excellent for experienced surfers. Saturday is even better: both morning and afternoon are firing. The morning has 6ft SSW swell, clean with a light cross-off. The afternoon is the crown jewel: 5ft SSW swell, 16-second period, and a perfect light offshore breeze from the NW. The energy is solid (1266). The waves will be clean, lined up, and the crowd profile says it gets busy sometimes, so get in early for the best of it.

The second week has some promise, but it’s less certain. Sunday the 13th is smaller, around 3ft, but clean. Monday the 14th is a write-off with strong winds and rain. Tuesday the 15th looks like another heavy-hitter: 7ft SSW swell, 16-second period, strong energy (2513), and light winds. That’s a solid one for the experts. The rest of the week fades a bit, with a brief glassy window on Thursday the 17th (3ft, 17-second period, glassy) but it’s small. The weekend of the 19th and 20th has some size, but winds are strong. Monday the 21st of September is the final standout: 8ft SW swell, 18-second period, massive energy (4208), and gentle offshore winds. That’s a fitting end to the run, but again, it’s expert territory.

So, to sum it up: the best of the best is the Saturday afternoon session on the 12th of September. Perfect conditions for a classic Bells day. The Tuesday morning on the 8th and the Monday morning on the 21st are also top-tier, but be ready for the size.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Tue night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun morning, min 7°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Mon night, fresh winds from the SW by Tue night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu afternoon, min 7°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Wed morning, calm by Fri night).

Sunday
6
Monday
7
Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
Friday
11
Saturday
12
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
4
4
0
0
1
4
3
4
2
6
6
4
3
4
4
1
4
4
4
3
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
14
2.5
SW
14
2.2
WSW
12
1.3
SSW
6
1.6
SSW
8
0.6
SW
12
0.9
SW
18
1.4
SW
17
3
SW
16
2.5
SSW
16
3.5
SW
18
3
SSW
18
3
SSW
17
2.5
SSW
16
2
SSW
15
1.7
SSW
14
1.9
SSW
15
2.1
SSW
16
1.7
SSW
16
1.5
SSW
16
1.2
SW
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
289
2267
1430
149
306
120
522
1073
4915
2887
8055
6059
4552
3192
1739
1261
1568
2075
1536
1112
623
Wind (km/h)
10
W
15
WSW
10
WSW
25
SSW
25
SSW
10
SW
10
W
10
SSW
30
SW
30
SSW
30
SW
15
WSW
15
SW
20
SW
10
W
10
WSW
20
S
5
W
10
NNE
5
NW
15
NNW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
off
cross-off
High Tide
5:04PM1.75m
6:38AM1.73m
5:53PM1.66m
7:47AM1.64m
6:58PM1.56m
9:09AM1.59m
8:32PM1.49m
10:28AM1.62m
10:16PM1.52m
11:30AM1.68m
11:38PM1.64m
12:19PM1.75m
00:41AM1.78m
Low Tide
11:26AM0.80m
11:48PM0.15m
12:18PM0.90m
00:47AM0.26m
1:27PM0.98m
2:00AM0.37m
3:00PM0.97m
3:26AM0.45m
4:31PM0.86m
4:50AM0.47m
5:39PM0.68m
5:58AM0.45m
6:31PM0.49m
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:37
6:37
6:35
6:33
6:31
6:31
6:28
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:04
6:05
6:06
6:07
6:07
6:08
6:08
 mm
1
Temp °C
15
15
14
12
11
10
12
14
10
11
12
10
14
15
11
12
11
9
17
20
14
Feels °C
13
12
9
5
5
7
9
11
6
3
5
5
11
11
8
8
7
7
14
17
11
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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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