Victoria

Where to surf in Victoria

The smallest mainland state punches way above its weight in terms of surf. It's also home to the oldest surf competition venue and the world's first Surfing Reserve, namely Bells Beach. Winter sees big SW swells bending into a plethora of righthand points along the incredibly scenic Great Ocean Road, creating a surf region so good, that it has spawned the modern surf industry in the once sleepy town of Torquay. Victoria is also the most densely populated state on the continent and crowds are a given at the best breaks, but the cold water and wet weather mean only the hardiest, core surfers will flourish in the conditions.

Victoria’s western coast continues the theme of a heaving ocean, howling winds and isolated reefs, toured by big sharks. Portland faces away from the SW swell which needs to be huge to get the insanely long rights of Blacknose to wheel down the point.

Port Fairy accommodates three great reefbreaks out by the lighthouse and some fun beachbreak in town for large or SE swells. Warrnambool has mellow breakers at the west end of Lady Bay and more challenging peaks out at The Cutting and Japs.

Monumental limestone ocean stacks dot the coast off Peterborough along with a couple of heavy barrelling righthanders made famous by Wayne Lynch, including the biggest, most powerful wave in VIC, Easter Reef. Port Campbell has a left reef at the entrance, breaking into the pier and beyond on macking swells.

The 12 Apostles bring tourists flocking to this coast, but only experienced surfers should take on the powerful, rippy waves at the bottom of the cliff cut Gibson Steps, or the heavy peaks of Princetown.

The Great Ocean Road surf needs little introduction as it is the original focus for Aussie competitive surfing at Bells Beach and Torquay is the birthplace of surf brand behemoths Rip Curl ands Quiksilver. Heading eastwards from the entrance into Port Phillip, the Mornington Peninsula and Phillip Island combined are another good reason to surf in Victoria.

Gippsland extends its isolated coast to the NSW border, shrouding some quality waves for searchers. West-facing Venus Bay is another of those long, lonely, windblown beaches, while Walkerville, Waratah Bay and Sandy Point are more protected and clean in N winds. The southern tip of the mainland at Wilsons Promontory is replete with adaptable beachbreaks at Derby, Squeaky and Oberon.

Then starts the 90 Mile Beach closeout up to Lakes Entrance where sandbars improve and Red Bluff lefts work occasionally. Cape Conran lefts are out of the onshore E winds and more long, wilderness beaches lead out to Mallacoota and a good righthander at Bastion Point.