Beaches
We want everyone to safely enjoy our beaches, so make sure you know where to go to get good information:
- Life Saving Victoria is your go to source for information on beach closures and shark safety.
- Beachsafe provides a comprehensive guide to water safety, life saving and ocean conditions within Australia (check out their website or download their app)
Can I walk my dog at the beach?
Patrolled beaches
Always swim between the flags, as ocean conditions change regularly. Surf life saving services operate in Surf Coast Shire from November through to late February. For all patrolled details, visit Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority and Life Saving Victoria.
Beach safety tips
- Always swim or surf at patrolled beaches
- Swim between the red and yellow flags. They mark the safer area for swimming
- Never swim, surf or fish alone
- Read and obey the signs
- Be aware of rip currents (know how to spot one and how to escape from one)
- Don't swim under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Never run or dive in the water, even if you have checked before as water conditions can change
- If in doubt stay out
- Seek advice from the lifesavers and lifeguards
Surfing
The Surf Coast is home to a vast array of high quality surf breaks. For more information on specific conditions visit Swellnet and for information on specific Surf Coast breaks visit wannasurf or have a chat to a local surf shop staff member.
Popular surfing beaches
Beginner: Cosy Corner, Anglesea main beach and Lorne
Intermediate-advanced: Bells Beach, Winkipop, Torquay Point, Jan Juc and Fairhaven
Seaweed on Surf Coast Beaches
Please remember to respect the marine environment. Refrain from littering to conserve Surf Coast’s beaches and waterways for the enjoyment of residents and visitors and for local fauna and flora.
All native seaweeds are protected in Victoria, whether in the ocean or washed up onto beaches. Seaweed provides an important habitat for fish and other marine life. Even the seaweed on the beach is often providing shelter to some marine creatures. Penalties apply for collecting seaweed without a permit and from beaches within national parks.
The Department of Energy, Environment & Climate Action (DEECA) can issue permits to collect limited amounts of seaweed from beaches outside of our national and marine parks such as the Point Addis Marine National Park and the Great Otway National Park. Please contact DEECA for further information: https://www.deeca.vic.gov.au/our-department/contact-us
Getting involved
Are you interested in protecting Surf Coast’s marine environment?
Are you interested in helping out at your local surf life saving club?
Be an active patrol member saving lives on the beach, manage the Nippers on weekends, or volunteer as a club official behind the scenes at one of the five surf life saving clubs in Surf Coast Shire: