Posts Tagged ‘Surf’


Spring, wattle and waves at Bells Beach

The wave of egg yolk yellow wattle along the coast brings sunshine every day as winter ends and spring begins. The surf at Bells is booming with every surfer in the know playing the waves. My walk through the heath where all of the spring wild flowers are starting to sprinkle the green with yellow. white, blue and pink is quiet, broken only by distant sounds of surf and nearby bird calls.

The Superb Blue Wren and his wives, the rare Rufus Bristlebird, the New World Honey Eaters and their offspring, Wattle Birds and Crimson Rosellas are some of the birds met this morning. The kangaroos were happily grazing on the sweet new grass in the paddock across the road too.

Having returned from a trip to Brisbane last week where the effects of severe drought are evident everywhere in a place I remember as tropical green, it is easy to appreciate our fresh green hills and light air.

This is a perfect time of year to come to the Great Ocean Road and Torquay. Everything is fresh and clean and there are often accommodation offers that make a short trip away affordable.


Oooh! Wow! the surf is pumping at Bells, so is the walking, running and biking.

Bells Beach surfYou will need a thick wetsuit but if you love to surf this is the place to be today! As I walked to Bells Beach this morning the big waves and the black suited surfers sweeping down them drew my eyes to this fabulous winter display of long lines of Antarctic swells that break from Jan Juc to Bells. Walkers, bikers, runners and dogs with owners were all out enjoying the morning sunshine and the surf display with me.Runners with dog

If you are viewing this from the Northern Hemisphere you may not be aware that our winters are very mild – not unlike summer in many northern countries – so it is also perfect for walking, bike riding, and running with fabulous views always in front of you. You do not have to be a surfer to truly appreciate this wonderful natural environment so close to Melbourne (only 1and 1/2 hours) at the start of the Great Ocean Road.

Pink HeathWild life is abundant too. If you are a “twitcher” the heath is home to many native birds – Rosella’s, honey-eaters, blue wrens, and even the rare Bristlebird may cross your path. This morning a group of kangaroos were attracting attention on the hillside opposite Bells Beach. And for flower lovers the Pink Heath – Victoria’s floral emblem has just started to blossom.

Photos from mobile phone – sorry only device I had with me because I was taken by surprise by the spectacle.

Bike on heath