
Surf Forecasts:
Bells Beach - Bowl surf forecast from 25 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 30 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 14s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 30 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SW swell with 3,893 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 26 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 11s 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 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 18s. 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 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 30) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Sun 26th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Thu 30th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Thu 30th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bells Beach - Bowl over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, it’s Rusty. We’ve got a ripper 16-day window for Bells Beach – Bowl, a proper reef and point set-up that loves a solid SW groundswell. Water temp is sitting at 56.7°, which is about average for this time of year, so nothing wild there. The overall pattern kicks off with modest but clean surf, builds into some serious energy through the middle of the run, and then tapers off into smaller, wind-affected stuff in the second week. The clear standouts are around Thursday 6th and Friday 7th August – that’s where the magic lines up.
Starting Sunday 26 July, a nice 4.3ft SSW groundswell with 11-second period rolls in under cloudy skies, wind is a cross-off 15 km/h from the WNW keeping it clean. Energy is moderate (399). That afternoon glass off with NW wind at just 5 km/h – you’ll be surfing 3.6ft glassy SW lines. Monday morning 27 July sees 3ft SSW swell, 11 seconds, with a light NNW offshore at 15 km/h – clean and gentle. The afternoon gets windier, cross-off at 20 km/h, still clean but only 3ft. Tuesday 28 July morning picks up with 3.6ft SW groundswell, 13-second period, and a solid NNW offshore at 25 km/h – moderate energy (444) but the wind’s a bit fresh. That afternoon the swell jumps to 3.9ft SW with a 15-second period – very long period – and an offshore 30 km/h from the WNW, energy now moderate (673). The longer period means better shape but longer lulls. Wednesday 29 July gets messy – strong 5.2ft to 5.9ft SW swell, 16-second period, but a cross-shore SW wind at 30-35 km/h has the surface lumpy and chopped. Energy is strong (1877-1896), but this is more for the experienced crew or maybe kite surfers. Thursday 30 July morning cleans up with 5.2ft SSW groundswell, 13 seconds, cross-off W wind 20 km/h, energy moderate (870). The afternoon pushes 7.9ft SW swell, same period, but cross-shore SW wind at 25 km/h creates a cross-chop – energy is very strong (2541), expert only.
The first big standout lands Friday 31 July morning – clear skies, 3.6ft SSW swell at 12 seconds, offshore WNW wind at just 10 km/h – glassy clean lines, energy moderate (398). That afternoon light cross-on, so morning wins. Saturday 1 August morning has a 2ft SW groundswell at a very long 17-second period, clean offshore NNW 10 km/h, energy moderate (390) – small but perfect. The afternoon is a gem: 3.6ft SW swell, 16 seconds, offshore WNW at 10 km/h, clean as a whistle, energy moderate (640). Sunday 2 August morning keeps it going with 3.6ft SW, 16 seconds, cross-off NNW 10 km/h – clean, energy moderate (658). The afternoon turns cross-shore from the NE, still light, but less clean. Monday 3 August offers 3.6ft SW, 15 seconds, cross-off NNE 25 km/h – clean but a stiffer breeze, energy moderate (568). The afternoon drops to 3.3ft. Tuesday 4 August morning is another highlight – 3.9ft SW, 13 seconds, gentle offshore NW at 15 km/h, clean, energy moderate (798). That afternoon jumps to 8.2ft SW, 12 seconds, cross-off W 20 km/h – very strong energy (3116), but that size is expert territory.
Now the true standout window. Wednesday 5 August morning is clean, 3.3ft SSW with a super long 18-second period, gentle cross-off W 15 km/h, energy moderate (931). But Thursday 6 August is where it’s at: morning delivers 6.2ft SSW groundswell, 14 seconds, light N wind at 10 km/h, cross-off and clean, energy strong (1485) – excellent for experienced surfers. That afternoon brings 4.9ft SSW, 14 seconds, glassy offshore NNW 5 km/h, clean, energy strong (1435). Friday 7 August morning has 4.6ft SW, 14 seconds, cross-off NNW 25 km/h – clean, energy strong (1136). The afternoon pushes 5.2ft SSW, 14 seconds, cross-off NNW 20 km/h, energy very strong (1607). Saturday 8 August morning drops to 4.6ft SSW, 14 seconds, wind picking up, energy moderate (884), and the afternoon is 3.9ft with a stiff breeze. By Sunday 9 August, a fresh 35 km/h cross-off NNW wind smashes the 2ft swell – poor. Monday 10 August sees 2
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon morning, min 7°C on Tue afternoon). Winds increasing (calm on Sun afternoon, fresh winds from the SW by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Very mild (max 12°C on Fri morning, min 9°C on Wed afternoon). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Wed morning, calm by Fri afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | |||||||||||||||
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 11 | SW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 11 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
372 | 263 | 189 | 223 | 195 | 469 | 444 | 631 | 1045 | 1330 | 1581 | 3893 | 850 | 1892 | 473 | 353 | 289 | 233 | 243 | 595 | 823 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | glassy | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 7:19PM1.43m | 9:57AM1.51m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:12PM1.09m | 2:29AM0.49m | 3:35PM1.13m | 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 | ||||||||
7:30 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | |
— | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 5 | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 11 |
Feels °C | 12 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 11 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
372 | 263 | 189 | 223 | 195 | 469 | 444 | 631 | 1045 | 1330 | 1581 | 1351 | 850 | 649 | 473 | 353 | 289 | 233 | 147 | 595 | 823 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | S 15 | — | S 16 | SSW 15 | — | — | — | S 14 | — | S 23 | SSW 21 | SW 20 | SW 18 | SW 17 | S 16 | S 16 |
27 | 11 | 24 | 56 | 82 | 42 | — | 42 | 77 | — | — | — | 4 | — | 11 | 45 | 97 | 86 | 243 | 45 | 47 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 14 | — | SW 23 | — | SE 4 | S 14 | E 12 | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | — | 21 | — | 3 | 16 | 3 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | NW 3 | N 4 | NNW 4 | NW 4 | WNW 3 | SSW 8 | S 7 | SW 14 | — | SW 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 3 |
— | — | — | — | 2 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 4 | 547 | 315 | 3893 | — | 1892 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 29 | 233 | 336 | 294 | 358 | 230 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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.










