Map
13th Beach
Today's Surf Conditions at 13th Beach
Spot Conditions Map
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Today's Surf & Wind Forecast (Hourly)
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Spot Overview & Description
13th Beach stretches over six kilometers along Victoria’s southern coast, a go-to playground for surfers from nearby Geelong and beyond. This exposed stretch faces squarely into the Southwest swell, capturing a wide spectrum of wave shapes across its length. Multiple pull-offs along Barwon Heads-Torquay Road make it easy to scout peaks on the fly, from the sand-scraping beach breaks to the rock-ledges that add a little extra push. The surf here is remarkably variable. It wakes up with as little as a foot of swell, but really shines on a Southwest pulse with an incoming tide. Bottom contours shift from sand to rock ledge, serving up both beach and point-style rides. When the Northeasterly offshore winds groom the faces, long lefts and rights unfold—ideal for intermediate surfers looking to sharpen their rail-to-rail game. Low to mid-tide often delivers the most consistent, user-friendly waves. Key landmarks punctuate the lineup: Turd Rock anchors the far western end with a lumpy, sometimes shifty peak, while Beacons is known for its clean A-frame setups that peel both ways. Conditions aren’t always firing, but when the wind and tide align, 13th Beach offers a low-key, rewarding session that belies its proximity to the city crowds.
Best Surf Season & Climatology
Best Surf Season (May – August)
The Southern Hemisphere winter unleashes its fury upon the Bass Strait, and 13th Beach reaps the rewards. This is prime time. Dominant SW and SSW swell trains roll in with consistent 1.5-2.5m faces, powered by 12-12.5s periods – the kind of long-period groundswell that makes the sandbars light up. Crucially, offshore winds from the N, NNW and NW become more frequent, with ideal wind percentages hitting 25-29%. The synoptic setup: a semi-permanent low-pressure trough over the Tasman Sea and highs tracking south of Australia funnel clean, cool air from the interior, grooming wave faces to perfection. Expect pumping, hollow peaks and long, rippable walls.
Fair Surf Season (April & September)
Shoulder months serve as a transition between regimes, offering a mixed bag. April sees the last of the long-period summer SW swells (still 1.6m, 12.3s) but ideal wind odds jump to 25%, with N’ly streams beginning to dominate. September, the spring flip, brings an uptick in westerly winds and a still-robust swell (1.7m, 12.6s) but also more onshore S-SW flows. You’ll need to pick your windows – early mornings often deliver offshore conditions before sea breezes kick in. When it all lines up, the quality is very high.
Low Surf Season (October – March)
Austral summer is the sleepy season for 13th Beach. The South Pacific high-pressure belt sits far south, generating weaker, shorter-period swell (averaging 1.5m, 11.1-11.5s). While SW and SSW swell directions still dominate (often 47-50% of total), the wave heights frequently hover in the 1-1.5m fun-sized range. The real killer is the wind: onshore S, SSE and SE breezes blow over 40% of the time, destroying wave shape. Ideal offshore wind from the north quadrant drops to a paltry 14-18%. You’ll find the best chances in early mornings with light N’lies or after a rare cold front passage. Still, when a southerly groundswell coincides with a northerly wind – those are the golden, glassy sessions that keep you coming back.
Detailed Surf Information for 13th Beach
Detailed Surf Forecast
Access our detailed 8-day swell and wind forecast charts for 13th Beach with tidal graphs, period ranges, and daily forecast text summaries.
Swell & Wind Statistics
Explore historical swell consistency, wave heights, and offshore wind windows month-by-month, compiled from over 40 years of data.
Historical Surf Report
Browse the historical database archives to view past wave reports and understand spot climatology during specific years and months.
