Bells Beach Surf Guide

Bells Beach Surf Guide

Winki is without doubt a world-class wave. When it's on, it breaks for over 250 meters over a flat reef bottom. It's rideable from three-feet (choose the lower tides), great from five-feet, and unforgettable from eight-feet and up (all tides). On a typical, three-to-five-foot day there are two distinct sections, Uppers and Lowers. Get the right wave from Uppers and you'll connect through Lowers for one of the rides of your life. Many opt to sit at Lowers where it's less likely to close out on you. You've got two choices for the paddle-out. When it's small you can head out in front of the break. When it gets bigger, paddle out from the beach at Bells. Take the path from the Winki car park and head to the right, down onto the sand at Bells. Watch the sets breaking out at Bells and wait for a nice gap. You want to be a good ten meters away from the reef to your left, known as The Button. Keep your eye on the Button as you express paddle through the shorebreak - you do not want to get swept onto it. Once you get around it, you'll drift quickly into prime location at Uppers.

Bells Beach has two defined waves. Rincon breaks on high tides when the waves are four-feet and under, peaking on a distinct ledge and then peeling nicely beneath the limestone cliffs all the way through to the beach. The Bowl is the premier wave, though when the swell is four-feet and under it only breaks on low tide. Over five-feet, though, and the Bowl comes into its own. Get Bells Bowl at ten-feet and you'll remember it for the rest of your life. When it's this big, paddle out from the inside corner of the beach, closest to the cliffs. Timing is crucial - the sweep will quickly drag you sideways along the beach. You'll probably need to punch through chunky shorebreak waves before you make it into open water.