Bells Beach - Torquay

Description

Bells Beach is located 6kms south west of the small Surf Coast shire town Torquay, around 100 kms south west of Melbourne, Victoria. It is situated off Bells Blvde, near the start of the Great Ocean Road.
Access to the beach is usually via car, as it is fairly isolated. You can walk from Torquay or Jan Juc along the Surf Coast walk to Anglesea, but if your planning on going for a surf a car is the most practical way to get there.
Bells is a sandy beach, around 300 metres long, surrounded by a bushy incline with a steep rocky headlands at both ends. It faces South to South East.

Surfing

Bells is an internationally famous surfing location, home to the longest running surfing competition, the Rip Curl Pro. The local council is called the Surf Cost Shire, which includes other prime surfing locations such as Torquay, Jan Juc, Angelsea and Lorne.

Nearby

Bells is a fairly secluded beach, with no real facilities within the immediate area accept for a carpark and toilet block. Access to the beach was restricted until 1960 when a group of surfers hired a bulldozer and cleared a permanent path through the bushland, now part of the Surf Coast walk.
The platform just north of Bells is home to Winki Pop surf break, which is usually more consistent than Bells. There is a separate walking track down to the rock platform, there is no sandy beach on that side.
Further north is Jan Juc, then the famous surfing town of Torquay.

Name

Bells Beach was named after John Cavert Bell, whos family held a pastoral lease in the area in the 1840's.

Bells Beach Map

Toilet Block

Sunbathing is popular on this beach, but swimmers should be cautious due to very strong wave action and rips.

Point Break and Reef Break, works best in south west swell.

The Surf Coast Walk follows the coast from Torquay to Angelsea, a total of around 40 kms

Surf Break

World Class point break and reef break that works best in south west swells. Off shore wind is from the north west. Best tide is mid to high. Fairly consistent, though can go for a while without a wave while nearby breaks are working. Works best from April to November.