Wavesailing Guide: Victoria
After windsurfing many of the best down the line spots in Australia and around the world, it is easy to appreciate just how good Victoria can be.
While lacking in consistency and temperature, Victoria strongly compensates with reliable swell and a coastline that handles just about every possible wind and swell combination. With some lifestyle flexibility, scoring true down the line conditions that QLD, much of NSW and WA would be envious of can be a regular occurrence.
Browse the sections with the links below, and find detailed information about each spot by clicking through to their respective guides.
Phillip Island:
Phillip Island is the most versatile and consistent place in Victoria for quality wavesailing conditions. Thanks to the local geography there is a spot for cross-cross offshore wind in almost any direction, and it does not suffer from the large wind shadow of the Otway Ranges like the Surf Coast.
The spots here range from swell magnet beach breaks to quality reefs tucked away in hidden pockets, needing solid swell to come alive.
Key Spots:
Click on the spot names to see the full guide for that location or browse on the map below.
| Spot | Wind | Swell | Tide | Rider Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woolamai | E-SE / N-NW | Small-Medium | Mid | Intermediate-Advanced + |
| Surfies Point | W-NW | Medium-Large + | Mid | Intermediate-Advanced + |
| Flynns Reef | N | Large + | Mid-High | Intermediate-Advanced + |
| Cat Bay/Right Point | S-SW | Large + | Mid-High | Intermediate-Advanced + |
Above: Right Point is a rare gem, offering extremely good, high performance wavesailing on the right day – just watch out for the rocks, surfers and maybe a shark or two.
Location:
Mornington Peninsula:
The Mornington Peninsula offers the closest real wavesailing conditions for most of Melbourne’s population, and especially for those living in the SE suburbs.
Like Phillip Island, the Peninsula is versatile with a range of breaks that cater to a range of abilities. The mellow reefs of the Point Leo area are very popular winter windsurfing spots, and swell magnet Gunnamatta is reliable as an after work summertime option.
Key Spots:
Click on the spot names to see the full guide for that location or browse on the map below.
| Spot | Wind | Swell | Tide | Rider Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gunnamatta | E-SE / NW | Small-Medium | Mid | Intermediate-Advanced + |
| Flinders – Big Left | E-SE | Large + | Mid-High | Intermediate-Advanced |
| Flinders – The Gunnery | W-WNW | Medium-Large | Mid-High | Intermediate-Advanced |
| Point Leo – Suicide | WSW-SW | Large + | Mid-High | Intermediate + |
| Point Leo – Crunchy Point | S-SW | Large + | High | Intermediate + |
| Shoreham: The Pines | S-SW | Large + | High | Intermediate + |
| Quarantine | S-SW | Large + | Slack | Expert Only |
Above: Gunnamatta is the most convenient choice for after work wavesailing sessions on summer time easterly patterns. Never flat, and sometimes epic depending on the sand banks.
Location:
South Gippsland:
2-3 hours South East of Melbourne lies Sandy Point and Waratah Bay – a favourite for Victorian wavesailors.
Consistently strong wind on both tacks, and soft playful waves comparable to Gerroa in NSW make it a popular choice, especially for beginner and intermediate level riders. This area can be plagued by small swell in summer – Venus Bay is a convenient backup option to find some bigger waves.
Key Spots:
Click on the spot names to see the full guide for that location or browse on the map below.
| Spot | Wind | Swell | Tide | Rider Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venus Bay | E-SE / NW | Small-Medium | Mid | Intermediate-Advanced + |
| Inverloch | E-SE / W-NW | Medium | Mid | Beginner-Intermediate + |
| Sandy Point | ENE-ESE / NNW-NW | Medium + | All | Beginner + |
| Waratah Bay | W-NW / E-NE | Medium-Large | All | Beginner + |
Above: Long Arms at Sandy Point is the crown jewel of the area. Strong cross offshore wind, and groomed sand bottomed swells makes for playful sessions in the warmer months.
Location:
Surf Coast:
The Surf Coast is famous for …surf – Cape Otway bends the frequent westerly systems offshore to the north west delivering the classic groomed swell lines of Winkipop and Bells Beach.
Unfortunately this can make the Surf Coast more fickle in terms of wind than to Melbourne’s east, but when it turns on there are some great spots. Point Impossible is probably the pick, holding solid swells and offering long, peeling walls through to the bay – scoring it is notoriously tricky, but great when the tide, wind and swell all align.
Key Spots:
Click on the spot names to see the full guide for that location or browse on the map below.
| Spot | Wind | Swell | Tide | Rider Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13th Beach | W-NW | Medium | Mid | Intermediate-Advanced + |
| Poo Point | WNW-NW | Large + | Mid | Intermediate-Advanced + |
| Point Impossible | W-WSW | Medium-Large + | Low-Mid | Intermediate-Advanced + |
| Point Danger | SW-SSW | Medium-Large + | Mid-High | Beginner-Intermediate |
| Raffs | S-SW | Medium-Large + | Mid-High | Beginner-Intermediate |
Above: Poo Point in the western corner of 13th Beach is a classic winter spot for stormy conditions from the W-NW with a mix of smooth, soft sections and steep bowls to hit depending on the day.
Location:
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