A Local's Guide to Things to Do in Bells Beach: The Surf Coast's Most Legendary Break
I've lost count of how many times I've driven down to Bells Beach at sunrise before anyone else turns up. There's something about standing at that lookout with a coffee, watching the sets roll through, that never gets old. Bells is one of those places that gets into your blood. It's raw, it's dramatic, and the cliff faces that frame the bowl are unlike anywhere else on the Surf Coast.
I'm Sam, a Geelong-based photographer and the person behind every shot at Local Breaks. I shoot all of my Bells Beach photography personally, and it's a place I keep coming back to because no two visits look the same. The light changes, the swell changes, the crowd changes. But that bowl stays iconic every single time.
What Makes Bells Beach Special
Bells Beach sits about 10 minutes south of Torquay and has hosted the Rip Curl Pro since 1973, making it the longest-running professional surfing competition in the world. But you don't have to be a surfer to appreciate it. The amphitheatre-shaped cliff faces drop down to a powerful reef break that produces some of the most photogenic waves in Australia.
Even on flat days, the cliffs are worth the visit. The red and ochre tones in the rock face, the scrubby coastal heath along the clifftops, the view down to the break from the main lookout. It's a genuinely dramatic piece of coastline.
Best Things to Do at Bells Beach
Watch the Surf from the Clifftop Lookout
The main lookout above the bowl is where most people spend their time, and for good reason. You get a full view of the break, the headlands, and the ocean beyond. On a big south-westerly swell, the sets coming through are seriously impressive. Bring a coffee from Torquay and just watch for a while.
Walk the Clifftop Trail
The trail connects Bells Beach to Winki Pop and beyond toward Jan Juc. It's an easy walk with big ocean views the whole way. The light in the morning hits the cliffs from the east and makes the whole place glow. This is when I prefer to shoot.
Paddle Out (If You Can)
Bells is a powerful reef break and not one for beginners. But if you're a confident surfer, paddling out at Bells is a genuine bucket list moment. Even watching from the water is an experience. The Rip Curl Pro usually runs in March or April, which is an incredible time to visit if you want to see the break at its best with world-class surfers in the water.
Explore Nearby Winki Pop
Just around the point from Bells is Winki Pop, a right-hander that produces long, fast walls. It's less famous but often just as good. The walk along the cliff takes about 15 minutes and gives you elevated views over both breaks the whole way.
Take the Coast Home
I shot my Bells Beach Art Print I from the clifftop looking down into the bowl. The angle gives you a sense of the scale of the place, the way the headland wraps around and the water moves through the break. It's the kind of shot you can only get by knowing the location well and being there at the right time of day.
Bells Beach prints start from $89 for an unframed print on 250gsm premium matte art paper, printed using giclee archival inks so the colours stay rich for years. If you want it ready to hang straight out of the box, the shadow box frame is my most popular option. The glass sits 20mm off the print to create a subtle floating effect, and the frame is made from solid FSC certified timber. It's a proper, quality piece of wall art, not something you'd find mass-produced online.
If glare is a concern in your space, the premium shadow box upgrades to Tru Vue Museum Glass with 99% UV protection and near-zero reflections. It uses 308gsm Hahnemühle Rag Mount Smooth fine art paper and 11-colour giclee inks. If you're hanging a large print in a bright room, it's worth considering.
Prints are made to order and shipped free anywhere in Australia from Victoria. Check the size guide if you're not sure which size suits your wall.
I've also got a full range of Surf Coast wall art if you're after prints from Torquay, Anglesea, Lorne or further down the Great Ocean Road. And if you're deciding between framed or unframed, this post on framed vs unframed prints might help you work out what suits your space.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where exactly is Bells Beach located?
Bells Beach is on the Surf Coast of Victoria, about 10 kilometres south of Torquay and roughly 100 kilometres from Melbourne via the Princes Freeway and Surf Coast Highway. The turn-off is well signposted and there's a free car park at the top of the clifftop trail above the break.
Can you swim at Bells Beach?
Bells Beach is a surf break over reef and is not patrolled, so it's not recommended for swimming. The water is powerful and the reef is shallow in places. If you want a swim nearby, Torquay's Surf Beach and Jan Juc Beach are both patrolled and much more suitable for families and casual swimmers.
Where can I find Bells Beach photography prints to buy?
Local Breaks sells Bells Beach photography prints from $89, with options for unframed prints, classic frames, floating frame canvas, shadow box frames, and premium shadow box frames with Tru Vue Museum Glass. All prints are shot personally by Sam Piasente and are made to order in Victoria, with free shipping across Australia.
What size print works best for a Bells Beach photo?
For a living room feature wall, a Large (59.4x84.1cm) or XL (84.1x118.9cm) print makes the most impact and does justice to the scale of the location. For a bedroom or hallway, a Medium (42x59.4cm) works really well. Check the Local Breaks size guide for a room-by-room breakdown with dimensions you can map against your wall space.
If you love Bells Beach half as much as I do, I hope one of these prints ends up on your wall. There are few places on the Surf Coast that feel this alive.
