Surf Coast

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.

Jan Juc gets a lot of surf action - mainly due to the fact that it's the closest decent beachbreak in the vicinity of the quality reefs found in the Torquay area. Located in front of the Torquay golf club, Juc can serve up some quality surf when the right conditions come together. Thing is, when the conditions are right here, it's often firing at the nearby reefs. This means a lot of people use it as a backup spot when the swell is getting a touch small or the wind is getting into Bells and Winki. The peaks tend to shift around a bit at Juc, and it can get a touch crowded, but it can still serve up the goods, particularly when the reefs haven't been firing for a while and the locals need to get wet. It's also a useful testing ground for those wanting to practice their air-time in cross-onshore days. When surfing at Juc, keep your eye on Bird Rock, at the western end of the beach - it can provide some short, sucky barrels on mid to high tide. Small takeoff spot.

Kennett River is a pretty mellow wave that can be fairly long. Best on lower tides, it also offers some protection from southerlies. It's a good option for surfers of all skill level.

The beachbreaks of Thirteenth Beach extend from the rocky headland at Barwon Heads for several kilometers towards the small town of Breamlea to the west. It's a favorite of surfers from Victoria's Surf Coast as unlike a lot of other waves in the region, it works on a northeast wind, a direction which reduces wave quality in the Bells area. Rocky outcrops are dotted along the beach and are visible at low tide. They provide excellent reefs within the shifting sand bottom, and as a result Thirteenth is one of the most consistent beachbreaks on the west coast. Thirteenth can break from two feet and hold up to six feet with the lower tides usually providing the best conditions. As the swell gets larger, Bomboras out the back start breaking and are worth a look for the more adventurous surfer. Otherwise, head west to the more famous points near Torquay. There are usually several shifting peaks to choose from, with the best quality and greater power found at the eastern end of the beach (known as the Beacon) and smaller, gentler waves to the west for beginners. And if you're getting closer to the large windmill you're getting closer to the pumping station - that's sewage treatment. Don't swallow the water around here. Have a photo for this break? Send it over!