Victoria as cold as it may be, hosts some of the best surf beaches in Australia, if not the
world. it is also home to much of Australia's elite surfing companies, including Rip Curl
and Quicksilver. Broadly defined according to their location with relation to port Phillip
Bay at the center, Victoria's surf beaches are divided between those on the East coast
and those on the West Coast. See below for a brief tour of a few of Victoria's finest.
East Coast - Phillip Island
Although great surfing beaches are far less prolific on the east Coast vis a vis the West
Coast, they nonetheless offer spendid qulaity waves. Perhaps the best example of these
are to be found on Phillip Island at the entrance to Western Port Bay.
Phillip Island as a unique, world– class destination, has a rich surfing history and it
produces waves that suit all kinds of weather and abilities. Some breaks provide
truly exceptional waves, while others are important for their history as well as
providing safe breaks for both experts and novices.
Surfing Phillip Island
The Phillip Island National Surfing Reserve comprises four main breaks.
The first is Woolamai. This is a unique beach with many quality beach breaks along its
length stretching from 'Magic Lands' to 'Forrest Caves'. With much sand overlaying a shallow rock reef the seasonal winds and currents manufacture crescent– shaped
sandbanks perfect for surfing.
The second is Smiths Beach which incorporates the Island’s premier barreling reef
break ‘Express Point’ as well as some mellower waves for beginners. Express Point
is said to provide the most challenging barrelling wave on the Island and works in
conditions with two metre or greater swell, at half to high tide with a north to north
west wind.
The Third is Summerland. This is the historical birthplace of surfing on Phillip Island.
Dating back to the 1920s,its iconic reef breaks that work in the largest of swells.
The point is ideally suited to longer boards and mals. The reef break to the western end
of Summerland Beach, known as ‘Centre–Break’ is a quality low tide wave that was
originally bodysurfed and then became a favourite with modern short board surfers.
Summerland has two reef breaks that work in the wintery conditions of big swells, high
tides and strong north west to south west winds – when other Phillip Island waves are
blown out.
The Fourth is Cat Bay. It has high quality left and right hand reef breaks that allow
surfing in big swells when the south–facing Island Beaches are onshore. The Cat Bay
area is home to numerous reef breaks of varying standards with Flynn’s Reef and Right
Point being the stand out breaks. The area provides surf-able conditions mainly during
summer when the swell is greater than 2 metres and a south to east wind. With these
conditions this is one of only a few locations in Victoria that provides high quality
surf-able waves and this area is popular for surfing competitions.
West Coast
The Great Ocean Road and its surrounding region is the heart of Victoria's West Coast
and it contains some of the world surfing professionals' favourite surf spots. Most
famous of all is internationally renowned Bells Beach, home to the annual Rip Curl Pro
event as part of the Association of Surfing Professionals world tour.
Along the Great Ocean road from Point Lonsdale to the 12 Apostles the coast line
boasts many surf spots dotted along it. As well as the fantastic surf at beaches like Bells
and Johanna, there are some more sheltered coves and bays with gentler waves terrific
for beginners. See below for some of these iconic beaches.
On from Torqay and Bells there are many other fine beaches including Anglesea,
Fairhaven and Lorne, Jan Juc, Winki Pop plus others. Additionally along the coast,
between Lorne and Apollo Bay, there are good surf spots at Cumberland River, Wye
River, Baldy Rock, Skene's Creek, Sawmills and Kennett River.
Torquay
At the beginning of the Great Ocean Road, Torquay is the birthplace of surf culture.
The leading surf brands of Rip Curl and Quicksilver were established here and for
years they have been global market leaders in clothing and equipment for surf, snow
and adventure sports.
Surfing Torquay 2013
Bells Beach
Along the Great Ocean Road the most famous of all beaches is internationally
renowned Bells Beach, home to the annual Rip Curl Pro event as part of the Association
of Surfing Professionals world tour. Historically and spiritually, Bells Beach is the
home of Australian surfing. At the country’s oldest and most prestigious professional
surfing event; nowadays named the Rip Curl Pro, the winner still receives the
traditional clanging bell trophy.
At Bells swells from the Southern Ocean slow down and steepen over the shallow reefs
to produce outstanding surf that can rise to five metres or more, so when it gets big,
most of us are best advised to think of surfing Bells as a spectator sport.