
Surf Forecasts:
Bells Beach - Bowl surf forecast from 27 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 30 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 14s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 29 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 16s period, SW swell with 8,279 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 30 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 14s 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 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 14s 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 4.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 7AM. 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 (Jul 28) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Thu 30th Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Thu 30th Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 13ft (4.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bells Beach - Bowl over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, I’m Rusty, and I’ve been looking at the charts for the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a slow starter, but if you’ve got patience, there’s a proper session brewing that’ll make you forget the quiet days.
The first real surf worth paddling out for doesn’t hit until Wednesday afternoon, the 29th of July. That’s the standout – the rest of the run-up is pretty marginal. From the 27th into the 29th morning, you’re looking at small, weak groundswell with dodgy winds, so it’s a waiting game. Then Wednesday arvo, the place absolutely lights up.
Bells Beach – Bowl (reef and point) is the only break on the cards, and it’s a beauty for the crew who can handle it. That Wednesday afternoon, a solid 15 ft swell rolls in from the SW, with a period of 15 seconds – that’s proper groundswell energy. The combined energy is massive at 11100, so you’ll feel the ocean humping. The wind is cross-offshore from the WSW at 15 mph, which keeps the face clean. This is advanced territory, with the size over 8 ft, so it’s experts only. The crowds are ‘sometimes’ an issue, but with this much juice, there’ll be plenty of water to spread out. Water temp is sitting at 57°F, which is about normal for the time of year, so you won’t need a steamer thicker than usual.
Thursday the 30th backs off a touch – morning sees 5 ft from the SSW at 13 seconds (energy 941), with clean cross-off winds. Not the same punch but still a fun session for the experienced. Thursday arvo bumps up to 8 ft from the SW (energy 2337), with a gentle cross-off. Still clean, still solid.
Friday the 31st eases right down. Morning is 4 ft SW at 12 seconds (energy 366), light cross-off. The real gem is Friday arvo – glassy conditions with a SSE breeze at 3 mph, and 3 ft from the SSW at 12 seconds (energy 392). That’s a clean, cruisy session for those who want a paddle without the battle.
Saturday the 1st of August starts tiny with 2 ft from the SW at a very long 18 seconds (energy 495), but the arvo picks up to 5 ft from the SW at 17 seconds (energy 1803). That’s a long-period groundswell, so expect nice lines at the point, but it might wall up at the bowl. Light breeze, clean.
The first week of August holds some hope. Sunday the 2nd brings 4 ft SW at 16 seconds (energy 893) in the morning with fresh cross-off winds, then arvo has 4 ft from the SW at 16 seconds (energy 698) with offshore winds – clean and rideable. Monday the 3rd is 5 ft SW at 15 seconds (energy 871), gentle cross-off. Tuesday the 4th morning is 4 ft SW at 16 seconds (energy 678), offshore from the NW – that’s a clean, sneaky fun session.
By Wednesday the 5th, you get a 5 ft SW at a very long 18 seconds (energy 2210). That’s pushing into overhead territory, but with that long period, it’ll be best at the reef or point, not so much the bowl. Light cross-shore wind, so still okay.
The second week gets smaller and less reliable. Thursday the 6th sees 4 ft SW at 16 seconds (energy 573) in the morning with clean winds, but the arvo drops to 3 ft. Friday the 7th is tiny – 1 ft from the SSW at a super-long 23 seconds (energy 400). That’s a ghost swell, barely a bump. The weekend of the 8th and 9th is small, with 3 ft and 3 ft from the SW, but the wind turns ugly on Sunday arvo – fresh cross-shore from the SW at 22 mph with lumpy chop. That’s a write-off.
Monday the 10th has a pulse of 6 ft from the SW at 14 seconds (energy 1290), but it’s cross-onshore and choppy – not great for paddling, maybe more fun for the kite crew. Tuesday the 11th is onshore crap with 4 ft from the SW at 11 seconds (energy 502), then dropping to 3 ft – poor conditions all round.
So, the call is clear: Wednesday afternoon, 29th July, is the best on offer. Big, clean, and powerful. Thursday the 30th is a solid backup. After that, it’s a mixed bag of small days and a few clean windows. The second week is mostly a write-off, with a few small clean windows but nothing to get the heart racing.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon afternoon, min 7°C on Tue afternoon). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Tue night, light winds from the W by Wed night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat afternoon, min 8°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri morning, fresh winds from the WNW by Sun morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SW 12 | SW 14 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | WSW 18 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
195 | 529 | 284 | 795 | 1289 | 1978 | 8263 | 1748 | 837 | 1697 | 410 | 336 | 294 | 260 | 312 | 1086 | 1350 | 844 | 653 | 777 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:17PM1.36m | 11:09AM1.55m | 9:38PM1.32m | 12:07PM1.63m | 11:00PM1.33m | 12:51PM1.71m | 00:08AM1.38m | 1:28PM1.78m | 1:02AM1.46m | 2:00PM1.83m | 1:49AM1.54m | 2:29PM1.87m | 2:31AM1.62m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:34AM0.51m | 5:06PM1.10m | 4:41AM0.50m | 6:14PM1.02m | 5:41AM0.46m | 7:02PM0.92m | 6:32AM0.42m | 7:40PM0.80m | 7:16AM0.40m | 8:13PM0.68m | 7:56AM0.39m | 8:43PM0.56m | ||||||||
— | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | |
5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 9 |
Feels °C | 12 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 |
195 | 529 | 231 | 795 | 1289 | 1978 | 2837 | 1748 | 837 | 640 | 410 | 336 | 294 | 260 | 177 | 1086 | 1350 | 844 | 653 | 777 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | S 15 | SSW 16 | S 16 | — | — | — | — | S 9 | — | S 23 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 18 | S 17 | S 16 | WSW 18 |
82 | 42 | 284 | 42 | — | — | — | — | 104 | — | 11 | 18 | 98 | 93 | 312 | 717 | 103 | 49 | 45 | 753 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 13 | — | S 19 | S 17 | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | — | 7 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 2 | NNE 4 | N 4 | NW 4 | WNW 4 | SSW 9 | SW 15 | — | — | SW 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 4 | N 3 | WNW 3 | — |
1 | 16 | 18 | 24 | 30 | 707 | 8263 | — | — | 1697 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 5 | 4 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 9 | 336 | 329 | 535 | 701 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 230 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Torquay | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.










