Thirteenth Beach
Thirteenth Beach is a long stretch of sand near Barwon Heads that offers multiple peaks and consistent waves. The beach is more exposed than the town beaches of Torquay and Jan Juc, meaning it picks up swell when other spots are flat. The sandbars shift regularly, so checking multiple spots along the beach is recommended. When small to medium swells hit with light winds, Thirteenth Beach offers fun, rippable waves suitable for all abilities. It's a staple of the Melbourne surf scene and often the go-to when conditions are marginal elsewhere.
Today's Conditions
Find FlightsLocation & Conditions
Hourly Forecast, Tide & Strike Windows
Tide times today
Strike Score Breakdown
Plan Your Strike
Return flights to MEL, departing today with a 5-day trip window.
Search Flights on SkyscannerLocation & Conditions
Know when Australia is about to fire
Get the best strike windows in Australia — and worldwide — in your inbox every Monday & Thursday. Live Strike Scores, the swell behind them, zero fluff.
Get the full Thirteenth Beach trip window
Pro unlocks the 10-day forecast window, unlimited alerts, and custom spot tracking that help turn a good-looking surf report into a better travel decision.
10-day window
See the trip window before flights get expensive.
Unlimited alerts
Let the app watch your score threshold for you.
Custom spots
Track the breaks that actually matter to your travel plans.
Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- SSW (200°)
- Direction range
- 170° - 240°
- Size range
- 0.8m - 2.5m
- Ideal size
- 2.0m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 12s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- N (350°)
- Offshore range
- 310° - 30°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- all
- Optimal range
- 0.4m - 1.5m
Water temp
15°C
Wetsuit
4/3mm fullsuit
Difficulty
4/10
Crowd level
5/10
Access: Easy beach access from multiple carparks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What tide is best at Thirteenth Beach?
Thirteenth Beach works best on a mid tide, ideally between 0.4m and 1.5m on the local tide chart. The tide chart above shows today’s strike window.
What wind direction is offshore at Thirteenth Beach?
Offshore wind at Thirteenth Beach blows from the N (350°). Anything in the 310° to 30° range grooms the faces; outside it, expect chop or bumpy conditions.
What swell size and direction work best at Thirteenth Beach?
Thirteenth Beach wants SSW swell (170° to 240°) between 0.8m and 2.5m, with a period of 12s or more for quality waves.
When is the best time of year to surf Thirteenth Beach?
The main season at Thirteenth Beach is Apr-Sep. A secondary window runs Mar, Oct, Nov. Works year-round. More consistent than town beaches.
How do I get to Thirteenth Beach?
Fly into MEL, then allow about 90 minutes by road. Easy beach access from multiple carparks.
What kind of wave is Thirteenth Beach?
Thirteenth Beach is a beach break, a peak with lefts and rights. Difficulty is rated 4/10.
Best Season
Peak: Apr-Sep
Secondary: Mar, Oct, Nov
Works year-round. More consistent than town beaches.
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Point Impossible
🌊 Surf Coast sleeper • Less crowds than Bells • Two-section reef
Winki Pop
🔔 Bells' barrel neighbor • Local crew heavy • Victorian proving ground
Bells Beach
🔔 Where they ring the bell • Australia's competitive soul • Cold water power
Black Rock
🦭 Victorian reef right • Cold water barrels • Seal colony neighbor
Cape Woolamai
🐧 Phillip Island main break • Southern Ocean power • Wild Victoria
Johanna Beach
🌿 Great Ocean Road power • Otway backdrop • Wild Victorian coast