Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.37° S 144.28° E

Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 am 29 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Bells Beach - Bowl sea temperature is
13.7° C
0.4° 

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 29 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 30 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 13s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 29 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 14s period, SW swell with 6,716 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 30 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 13s 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 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 13s 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 14s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 7PM. 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 Monday (Aug 03) at 4PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7AM (Thu 30th Jul)6ft (1.8m) 13s
Best Surf 7AM (Thu 30th Jul)6ft (1.8m) 13s
Most Powerful 7PM (Wed 29th Jul)13ft (4.0m) 14s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s break it down.

We’ve got a mixed run on the way for Bells Beach – Bowl (reef and point). The next few days are nothing flash, but there’s some proper quality later, especially if you’re patient.

It kicks off Wednesday morning with a solid SW swell – 10ft SW at 16 seconds, big energy (4764). But the wind is SW at 22 mph, cross-shore, making it lumpy. Water temp’s about 57°, normal for this time of year. Not worth it.

Wednesday afternoon stays big at 12ft SW (15 secs, 9221 energy) but still cross-shore – messy.

Thursday morning (30th July) drops to 5ft from the SSW at 13 seconds, with a light west wind at 6 mph – cross-offshore and clean. Decent, but not a standout.

Thursday afternoon is smaller, clean, but only marginal.

Friday morning (31st July) clean with 4ft SW swell, 12 seconds – small but rideable.

Friday afternoon flips cross-on – skip it.

Saturday morning (1st August) is glassy but tiny – 2ft SW with a very long 17-second period. Clean but barely any push.

Now, Saturday afternoon (1st August) – this is one of the standouts. You’ve got 5ft SW swell at 17 seconds, 2024 energy, and a light north wind, cross-offshore. Clean, lined up, proper groundswell. Excellent for experienced surfers.

Sunday (2nd August) stays clean, winds moderate north, swell 4–5ft – nothing special.

Monday and Tuesday next week – clean but small.

Wednesday 5th August morning lights up again: offshore NW wind at 9 mph, 3ft SW swell with an 18-second period. Bells will love that. Clean and offshore.

Wednesday afternoon (5th August) is even better – 4ft SW, 17 seconds, 1166 energy, light WNW offshore wind. Excellent, clean surf.

Thursday 6th August morning holds quality – 3ft, 16 seconds, offshore wind. Thursday afternoon goes glassy – NNE at 3 mph, silky, but only 3ft.

The following week builds again. Sunday 9th August sees swell to 7ft SW at 15 seconds (1669 energy) but winds turn cross-shore from the NE in the afternoon. Morning is cleaner. Big enough that beginners should sit it out.

Tuesday 11th August brings a pulse: 5ft SW at a huge 21 seconds in the morning (2383 energy), then 8ft SW at 19 seconds in the afternoon (4782 energy). Both cross-offshore and clean. Long waits between sets.

The real monster hits Wednesday 12th August afternoon – 15ft WSW swell at 15 seconds, 12811 energy. Cross-offshore west wind at 16 mph. Experts only. That’s the big one. Morning is also solid at 10ft (16 secs, 4117 energy).

After that, it drops through Thursday 13th with clean offshore winds but smaller – 4–4ft.

Best calls: Saturday 1st August afternoon for clean groundswell, and Wednesday 12th August afternoon for the huge, expert-only session. The rest is average.

Crowds can pop up, but midweek and bigger days tend to thin out. For that Wednesday, expect committed crew only.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Fri morning, min 10°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Wed morning, calm by Fri night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat afternoon, min 8°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the N on Sat afternoon, fresh winds from the NW by Sun night).

Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
Friday
31
Saturday
1
Sunday
2
Monday
3
Tuesday
4
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
6
6
3
2
2
2
0
2
2
4
4
2
1
2
0
1
5
2
0
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3
SW
16
3.5
SW
15
3.5
SW
14
1.6
SSW
13
1.4
SSW
13
1.2
SSW
12
1.1
SW
12
1
SSW
12
0.9
SSW
12
0.7
SW
17
1.4
SW
17
1.6
SW
16
1.4
SW
16
1.2
SW
16
1
SW
15
0.9
SW
15
1.2
SW
14
3.5
SW
13
1.3
SSW
12
1.1
SW
12
0.5
SW
20
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
4764
5850
4364
837
640
410
341
299
255
309
1193
1318
940
711
424
355
581
4118
464
314
186
Wind (km/h)
35
SW
30
SW
20
WSW
10
W
15
WSW
10
W
10
W
10
S
5
NNW
10
N
10
N
10
N
20
N
25
N
25
NW
25
WNW
30
WSW
20
W
20
WSW
15
SW
10
W
Wind State
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
High Tide
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
2:56PM1.88m
3:11AM1.69m
3:22PM1.87m
3:50AM1.75m
Low Tide
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
8:34AM0.41m
9:12PM0.45m
9:09AM0.45m
9:40PM0.35m
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
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<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:26
7:26
7:26
7:24
7:24
7:22
7:22
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:30
5:31
5:31
5:32
5:34
5:35
5:36
 mm
2
Temp °C
11
12
10
11
12
11
13
12
11
14
15
12
14
15
13
11
12
9
11
12
10
Feels °C
3
5
5
6
7
8
11
9
10
11
12
9
8
9
6
4
5
3
5
7
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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