Cat Bay

Cat Bay offers a mellow, sandy beach break ideal for beginners looking to find their footing on a longboard or foamie. The waves break both left and right, with a forgiving, rolling nature that builds confidence. Best waves come from a west swell, though southern swells also produce rideable lines. Sizes start at a manageable 2 feet. The spot really comes alive with south-easterly winds, and the ideal tide window runs from mid to high tide, when the shore break loses its steepness. Expect a crowd on good days—this is a popular learning hub, so sharing the lineup is part of the deal. Once you’ve dialed in your technique, the neighboring reef breaks offer a natural progression. Right Point delivers fast, hollow sections over shallow reef—a test of reflexes and line selection. Left Point, by contrast, dishes out more consistent, slopey waves reminiscent of Cowrie Beach, perfect for practicing turns in a less intimidating setting. Cat Bay is your launchpad; the points are your next chapter.

Best Surf Season (November - March)

Cat Bay is a study in contrast: the beach faces north-northwest, but its most consistent surf actually arrives as southwest groundswell pushing through Bass Strait. That makes wind the true deciding factor. From November through March the subtropical ridge sits far enough south to keep the worst of the westerly storm track at bay, while average swell height holds in the playful 1.4-1.5m (4.5-5ft) range with periods around 11-12s. Offshore S, SSW and SW winds blow through 42-47% of the time, giving the bay clean, rippable waves. This is the most reliable window for quality surf.