Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.37° S 144.28° E

Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 pm 23 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Bells Beach - Bowl sea temperature is
14.0° 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 23 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 15s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 15s period, SW swell with 11,393 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 24 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 15s 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 Friday (Jul 24) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 5.0m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 3.0m and 16s. 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 5.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) at 4AM. 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 TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4AM (Fri 24th Jul)16ft (5.0m) 15s
Best Surf 4AM (Fri 24th Jul)16ft (5.0m) 15s
Most Powerful 4AM (Fri 24th Jul)16ft (5.0m) 15s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a solid run of surf ahead at Bells Beach - Bowl, but you’ve got to pick your moments. This is a reef and point setup that loves a good SW groundswell, and boy, it’s going to get some serious energy. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so nothing unusual to report there.

It kicks off Friday the 24th of July with a fair bit of size, but conditions are messy. Friday morning sees a hefty 13ft SW swell with a very long 15-second period, and the combined swell energy is pumping hard at 11390 (strong to very strong wave energy). The wind is a cross-off at 15 mph, but it’s a moderate breeze, and the wave comment flags marginal surf due to tide issues. It’s still clean enough for the experienced crew, but that size is firmly in expert-only territory. By Friday afternoon, the swell drops to 8ft SSW, but the wind picks up to 19 mph cross-off and the quality tanks. Saturday the 25th still has plenty of juice – an 12ft SW swell in the morning (5080 energy, moderate to strong) with a moderate cross-off breeze, but again it’s marginal. It stays rideable for the advanced lot, but nothing special for the weekend.

Sunday the 26th is a drop-off day. The morning has a weak 4ft SSW swell with only 430 energy, and the wind is cross-off. It’s not worth the drive. Sunday afternoon brings back an 8ft SW swell (1843 energy), but the moderate cross-off wind keeps it from being great. Then Monday the 27th offers something different: the swell drops to just 3ft SW, but the wind turns offshore from the WNW at 12 mph, and it’s described as having good surf conditions. Small and clean – a fun board option for the patient surfer. Tuesday the 28th has a fresh offshore breeze at 19 mph with a 5ft SSW groundswell (15-second period, 958 energy), but the wind strength makes it tricky. It cleans up a bit in the afternoon with 5ft SSW and fresh offshore wind.

The true standout arrives on Saturday the 1st of August. That morning you get a 5ft SW swell with a very long 17-second period, a light offshore from the NNW at 9 mph, and the report says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” The combined swell energy is a solid 1216 (moderate wave energy). The crowd factor is “sometimes,” so you might have company. The afternoon is even better – 6ft SW at 18 seconds, gentle offshore from the WNW at 9 mph, 1925 energy, and still excellent. This is the pick of the whole forecast: clean, powerful, long-period groundswell, and it’s a Sunday shout too with Sunday the 2nd of August offering 5ft SW in the morning (1521 energy) with a moderate offshore. The long-period swells mean the point break nature of Bells will handle the lines beautifully. This is for experienced surfers only; it’s not a beginner wave.

After that, Wednesday the 5th of August sees a swing to cross-shore and onshore winds, and the quality drops off. The swell sticks around at 4ft to 6ft SW/SSW, but it’s marginal. By Friday the 7th of August, it’s a write-off with small 3ft-3ft swells and poor conditions. The forecast wraps up with Saturday the 8th of August offering a tiny 3ft SW swell at 16 seconds, but it’s cross-on and barely worth a paddle.

So, lock in Saturday the 1st of August and Sunday the 2nd – that’s your window for clean, pumping Bells with good winds. The first week has size but wind issues. After the 2nd, the window slams shut for a few days. Get it while it’s good.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun afternoon, min 10°C on Thu night). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon afternoon, min 10°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Tue afternoon, light winds from the SSW by Wed morning).

Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
Monday
27
Tuesday
28
Wednesday
29
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
6
8
2
3
5
3
2
1
3
2
2
2
1
2
3
7
3
2
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3
SSW
16
4
SW
15
2.4
SSW
15
2.2
SSW
14
3.5
SW
13
1.8
SSW
12
1.5
SSW
12
1.3
SSW
11
2.5
SW
11
1.2
SW
10
1
SW
10
1
SW
11
1.2
SW
13
1.4
SSW
15
1.6
SSW
15
3.5
SW
14
2.1
SSW
14
2.1
SSW
14
1.7
SSW
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
3921
7698
2349
1852
3739
1016
625
403
1432
316
212
242
471
840
1209
4716
1848
1629
987
Wind (km/h)
30
WSW
25
W
30
W
25
WNW
20
W
20
W
20
WNW
20
WNW
20
W
15
WNW
20
WNW
15
NW
20
NNW
30
NNW
35
WNW
15
W
10
SW
10
S
5
W
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
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
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
part cloud
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light rain
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clear
part cloud
cloud
clear
rain showers
part cloud
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clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:31
7:31
7:30
7:28
7:28
7:26
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:27
5:28
5:28
5:29
5:30
5:30
 mm
2
1
Temp °C
10
12
12
13
14
14
12
13
15
12
15
16
13
16
15
11
12
12
10
Feels °C
3
6
6
10
9
9
8
8
11
8
11
13
9
9
8
6
8
8
6
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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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