Bells Beach
Bells Beach Vacation & Travel Guide
Bells Beach is a world-famous beach in the Surf Coast region of Victoria, Australia, located 100 kilometers (62 mi) southwest of Melbourne. It is one of the most popular surfing destinations globally and is one of only a few places where a right-hand point break reaches the shore uninterrupted for over a kilometer.
The beach is named after John Bell, one of the first people to surf there in the early 1930s.
Bells Beach is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Victoria. It is also a popular spot for fishing, with many people catching salmon and other fish.
The Torquay Surf Life Saving Club patrols the beach during the summer months. A surf lifesaving club has been based on the beach since 1935.
The Bells Beach Surf Classic is an annual surfing competition held at Bells Beach since 1976. It is part of the World Surf League (WSL) Tour.
Bells Beach History
Surfers first used Bell's Beach in the 1930s, but it was not well known outside the local area until 1956, when American surfers Peter Cole, Phil Edwards, and Mike Hynson rode the waves there. The Bells Beach Ocean Baths (now the Bells Beach Surf Life Saving Club) was a popular seaside resort. The three surfers had been living in Australia since the end of World War II and had heard about the excellent surf at Bells Beach from a friend stationed at the air force base near Geelong. They decided to travel to Torquay to investigate.
When they arrived at Bells Beach, they found the ocean baths empty. They were advised to try the beaches further south, at Lorne. However, they persisted with Bells and were rewarded with excellent waves. That evening they returned to the ocean baths and were surprised to find that the place was full of people who had been drawn to the waves by the sound of the surf. After that, the Beach became a popular surfing destination.
The popularity of the Beach increased further when, in January 1959, it was featured in a color spread in Australian Geographic magazine.
Bells Beach in the media
In the film The Endless Summer, Bruce Brown mentions that beaches in California are more challenging than Bells and that it is a mistake to think that the best surfing is to be found in California. He then says that the waves at Bells Beach are the best in the world.
The opening scene of Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Best of Both Worlds" shows Captain Picard surfing at Bells Beach.
Bells Photos
Videos
Beach infrastructure
Occupancy
On Bells Beach, most of the year, there are quite a few people.
Bells Beach Weather
It has been very hot in Australia since early December. In the south, the average temperature is 23 degrees Celsius, while in the northern part of the country – at least 35 degrees. In January, the air temperature remains the same, and the number of rainy days reaches seven. In February, the sweltering heat continues, although in the southern regions the night temperature may already drop to 17 degrees. Daylight hours last 13 hours, precipitation does not exceed 39 millimeters. Spring in Australia is characterized by climatic autumn. The air temperature drops slightly. The rainy season begins in the capital of the country, the average temperature varies within 25 degrees. At night, the thermometer can drop by 7-8 degrees. Precipitation is about 68 millimeters, the number of sunny days in March is 17.
April is determined by off-season weather, it is cool at night and warm and sunny throughout the country during the day. The air temperature averages 22 degrees Celsius. The rainy season ends, precipitation falls no more than twice a month, their amount does not exceed 16 millimeters. But in the south of the country, on the contrary, at least 66 millimeters of precipitation falls. In May, the weather becomes truly autumnal. The air temperature in Melbourne is 14 degrees Celsius, at night the thermometer drops by 6-7 degrees. The warmest in the north and center of the country.
With the onset of June in some regions of the country, the temperature drops below zero degrees. In the southern part, the average daytime temperature is 17 degrees, and at night – 10 degrees. July is considered the coldest month in the country. The daytime temperature in the south is 15 degrees Celsius, and in the north – 27 degrees Celsius. In August, the temperature remains the same, except that the amount of precipitation increases slightly. With the onset of September, a climatic spring comes. It is getting warm and sunny, the air temperature reaches 32 degrees Celsius, precipitation falls at least 45 millimeters. In October, the air temperature will increase by 1-2 degrees, with almost no precipitation. Statistics say that October is the sunniest month of the year. In November, heat spreads throughout the continent, with an average temperature of 29 degrees Celsius.
Air and water temperature
In January and February the air temperature at Bells Beach is perfect for sunbathing.
Water temperatures usually do not drop below 10 degrees during the whole year but remain quite cold.
Average Monthly Rainy Days
From April to December Bells Beach has rainy season. This is something to keep in mind when planning your trip since it is quite possible that you may be unable to sunbathe.
Sports on the Beach
Diving
Kiting
Surfing
Windsurfing
How to get to the Bells
Easy to walk.
