
Surf Forecasts:
Bells Beach - Bowl surf forecast from 22 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 29 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 29 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 16s period, SW swell with 10,661 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 26 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 12s 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 Sunday (Jul 26) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 12s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Bells Beach - Bowl in the next 16 days are 4.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Sun 26th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 15ft (4.5m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 15ft (4.5m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bells Beach - Bowl over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here, looking at the next few weeks for our patch. We’ve got a solid run of SW groundswell on the way, but you’ll have to be a bit selective with the winds. The real standout window is later in the period, with some long-period gems that’ll have the bowl at Bells looking its best.
We’ve got a gap of no decent surf right at the start, but it kicks off on Thursday the 23rd of July. That morning, a big 11.5 ft SW swell (with a combined energy of 6859) is pushing in from the southwest, but there’s a moderate cross-off breeze. The Bowl is exposed to that swell, and with a 14-second period, there’s plenty of grunt, but the wind will be making it a bit fighty. Thursday afternoon gets even bigger to 13.1 ft SW (energy 7834), still with a cross-off wind – it’s going to be powerful and for advanced surfers only.
Friday the 24th sees the swell dip a little but still solid. The morning has 8.2 ft from the SSW (energy 3766) with cross-off wind, but the real pick is Friday afternoon: 13.1 ft SW (energy 8240) and a lighter cross-off. That’s a heavy day, but the bowl will be sucking up those 14-second lines. Only for the experienced crew.
Saturday the 25th is smaller in the morning at 6.9 ft SSW (energy 1394), but it cleans up in the afternoon with clear skies and a 9.8 ft SW swell (energy 3962). Still cross-off, so not perfect but workable.
Sunday the 26th is where we get a bit of a lull – the morning drops to 3.9 ft (energy 346) and the afternoon, while it goes glassy with light offshore wind from the WNW, only has 3.6 ft of swell. Clean but tiny.
Monday the 27th has a fresh 18.6 mph offshore from the NW in the morning, but the swell is only 3.3 ft (energy 284) – clean but not doing much. The afternoon has light rain and a 3.6 ft SW swell (energy 403), still small.
Tuesday the 28th shows the swell slowly building again. Morning is 4.6 ft SW (energy 858) with cross-off wind, and the afternoon gets to 5.6 ft SSW (energy 1424) with a longer 16-second period. It’s building.
Wednesday the 29th is a write-off. A solid 11.5 ft SSW swell (energy 4407) but it’s blowing cross-onshore from the south at 12.4 mph, making it choppy and poor. Not worth the paddle.
Thursday the 30th is better but still not great. A light cross-onshore breeze with 5.9 ft SSW swell (energy 1094), but the wind is from the ESE, so it’s messy enough to keep the quality low.
Friday the 31st is a sneaky little gem. The morning has 3.0 ft SSW swell (energy 222) with a light cross-off breeze, clean. But the afternoon – glassy with zero wind and 3.0 ft SSW swell (energy 304) – that’s the kind of clean, small, long-period wave where the bowl can be super fun on a log or a mid-length.
Now, here’s the best run of the outlook, starting Saturday the 1st of August. The morning has 4.6 ft SW groundswell with a 15-second period (energy 885) and a gentle offshore from the WNW. That’s clean, lined up, and has proper push. The afternoon holds steady at 4.3 ft SW (energy 804) with light cross-off. Beautiful.
Sunday the 2nd of August keeps it going. The morning sees 3.9 ft SW (energy 712) with that same gentle offshore. Perfect for a session at the Bowl.
Monday the 3rd of August is another stunner. Morning with 3.6 ft SW (energy 671) and offshore from the NNW. The afternoon is even cleaner with a 3.9 ft SW (energy 665) and a light offshore from the NW. These long-period 14 to 15-second swells are pure groundswell, and at Bells, they’ll wrap around the point and bowl up nicely.
Tuesday the 4th of August is a bit breezier, with a moderate cross-off and 3.9 ft SSW swell (energy 472). Still clean, but less exciting.
Wednesday the 5th is back to good form. The afternoon has 3.9 ft SW (energy 813) with a light cross-off breeze – clean and inviting.
And then the real standout for the experienced crew arrives on Thursday the 6th of August. The morning has 4.6 ft SW swell with a 16-second period (energy 1487) and a gentle cross-off. That is excellent surf for those who know the bowl. The afternoon goes glassy with a 4
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Fri night. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat morning, min 9°C on Thu morning). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Tue night. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon morning, min 7°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Sun afternoon, strong winds from the SSW by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 13 | SSW 15 | SW 16 | SW 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
5453 | 5945 | 9973 | 3464 | 5761 | 1686 | 1362 | 2966 | 647 | 379 | 328 | 265 | 220 | 198 | 406 | 203 | 1018 | 3144 | 7238 | 5733 | 1662 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 5:30PM1.72m | 6:48AM1.62m | 6:02PM1.61m | 7:41AM1.55m | 6:37PM1.52m | 8:44AM1.51m | 7:19PM1.43m | 9:57AM1.51m | 8:17PM1.36m | 11:09AM1.55m | 9:38PM1.32m | 12:07PM1.63m | 11:00PM1.33m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:41AM0.76m | 00:10AM0.32m | 12:23PM0.89m | 00:50AM0.38m | 1:11PM1.00m | 1:35AM0.44m | 2:12PM1.09m | 2:29AM0.49m | 3:35PM1.13m | 3:34AM0.51m | 5:06PM1.10m | 4:41AM0.50m | 6:14PM1.02m | ||||||||
7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | |
— | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
Temp °C | 11 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 |
Feels °C | 4 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 16 | SW 15 | — | — | SSW 14 |
1761 | 1761 | 3594 | 3464 | 2445 | 1686 | 1362 | 1066 | 647 | 379 | 328 | 265 | 220 | 198 | 406 | 203 | 1018 | 2358 | — | — | 1662 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 18 | — | S 15 | — | — | S 13 | — | — | SW 17 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | — | SSW 15 | S 15 | — | — | — | — |
— | 128 | — | 298 | — | — | 32 | — | — | 11 | 11 | 26 | 34 | 53 | — | 199 | 72 | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 16 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 47 | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | — | SW 14 | WNW 3 | — | SW 12 | — | — | — | — | NW 2 | NW 3 | N 3 | NNW 4 | NW 4 | SW 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 7 |
5453 | 5945 | 9973 | — | 5761 | 6 | — | 2966 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 19 | 3144 | 7238 | 5733 | 236 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 32 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 524 | 35 | 200 | 294 | 294 | 555 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Torquay | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










