Got a pretty good job opportunity coming up in the melbourne cbd, currently live in quiet old adelaide. im considering going for the move, but factors such as friends and family are holding me back.
anyway does anyone here live in melbourne and surf?
im used to racking up the ks surfing only on weekends in south oz (45mins to the mid coast, 1.5 hours to the south coast (both pretty average quality) and at least 3 hrs out west). Whats the drives like to get from melbourne to places like mornington or torquay or 13th etc (or whatever else is worth driving to)?
Melbourne surf
Moderators: jimmy, collnarra, PeepeelaPew, Butts, beach_defender, Shari, Forum Moderators
-
puurri
- Owl status
- Posts: 4832
- Joined: Sun Oct 09, 2005 11:56 am
- Location: Coogee Heights (estate agent speak)
See the Moto GP last weekend? (plenty of breaks on show)iggy wrote:there's no surf in melbourne itself...
unless you want to hit up williamstown beach, st kilda and altona in a massive southerly swell in the middle of winter with 100 mph shoulder high freezing cold mush burgers...
you're still gonna have to drive 1.5 hours plus normally to get to the surf...
depending on where you're positioned in melbourne i'd recommend the east coast (mornington penninsula stretch, phillip island, killcunda etc) over the west coast on most occassions...
almost always seems to catch alot more swell...
^^^
Mornington Peninsula is a lot more consistent than the "surf coast" swell wise. Unless you're planning on heading west of Cape Otway (and if so add another 1 hours drive!) so I'd be looking at staying somewhere to the south-east of the Melb CBD.
West of Cape Otway has some epic surf but you won't find details about it on Swellnet or Coastalwatch, never surfed it myself but been down that way enough to know great surf when I see it.
Summer swells are smaller as well which means that the Gunnamatta to Portsea stretch is generally the best place to be if you're working in Melbourne.
Mornington Peninsula is a lot more consistent than the "surf coast" swell wise. Unless you're planning on heading west of Cape Otway (and if so add another 1 hours drive!) so I'd be looking at staying somewhere to the south-east of the Melb CBD.
West of Cape Otway has some epic surf but you won't find details about it on Swellnet or Coastalwatch, never surfed it myself but been down that way enough to know great surf when I see it.
Summer swells are smaller as well which means that the Gunnamatta to Portsea stretch is generally the best place to be if you're working in Melbourne.
CBD to 13th or Torquay - About 1 hour 20 mins (both totally dependant on Geelong traffic!)
CBD to Gunnamatta - About 1 Hour 40 mins
It is good living in near the city as you get choice of which coast to go to.. it doesn't matter what size swell.. and aslong as you don't get a southerly to easterly wind.. there is a wave on somewhere!
CBD to Gunnamatta - About 1 Hour 40 mins
It is good living in near the city as you get choice of which coast to go to.. it doesn't matter what size swell.. and aslong as you don't get a southerly to easterly wind.. there is a wave on somewhere!
I wouldn't live near the cbd again, least if it's at all comparable to syd, despite always having a great choice of which beach.SDA wrote:CBD to 13th or Torquay - About 1 hour 20 mins (both totally dependant on Geelong traffic!)
CBD to Gunnamatta - About 1 Hour 40 mins
It is good living in near the city as you get choice of which coast to go to.. it doesn't matter what size swell.. and aslong as you don't get a southerly to easterly wind.. there is a wave on somewhere!
Believe it or not you can get surf in Port Phillip Bay.Buff_Brad wrote:Melbourne surf = oxymoron?
No doubt Ringmaster's feathers will be ruffled.
As Iggy mentions if you get a massive wind storm you can get some waves, the Beaumaris area is known to have good surf spots.
BTW the Eastlink tollway has slashed the travel time from Melbourne to the Mornington Peninsula too, handy if you want to get down for the early and trust me in summertime you do because the carparks start filling up by 7am at the latest.
The secret:
Live in Geelong.
47 minute express train to Melb CBD for work. (only costs $56 a week)
weekly rent for a unit is $160, opposed to $280 for apartment in CBD
only 18 Minutes to 13th beach/ Posso's,
20 minutes to Torquay point/ JanJuc
30 mins Bells, Winki, etc
a small sweeet drive to Anglesea, Fairhaven, Lorne ..............
If you decide this is the go, best geelong suburbs are geelong west, herne hill, manifold heights, belmont and a few others (avoid corio, norlane and whittington)
squids.
Live in Geelong.
47 minute express train to Melb CBD for work. (only costs $56 a week)
weekly rent for a unit is $160, opposed to $280 for apartment in CBD
only 18 Minutes to 13th beach/ Posso's,
20 minutes to Torquay point/ JanJuc
30 mins Bells, Winki, etc
a small sweeet drive to Anglesea, Fairhaven, Lorne ..............
If you decide this is the go, best geelong suburbs are geelong west, herne hill, manifold heights, belmont and a few others (avoid corio, norlane and whittington)
squids.
I've done the reverse Stokie - living in Adelaide ex-Melbourne. I haven't surfed here enough to do a real comparison (just a few sessions at Knights), but from what I hear the Victor to Goolwa stretch is usually lacking quality even when swell and wind conditions are right. So in general you are driving 3hours+ for good quality waves?
Melbourne to Phillip Island, Mornington Peninsula and the Surf Coast is all approx 1.5hrs (a little less off peak). There are great waves in all areas if you pick your days.
Heavy (but fickle) beachies on the Mornington Peninsula (plus the states best lefthander if you have a boat). Phillip Island has amazing waves and handles a variety of wind conditions. The Surf Coast is often fat and slow, but up around 13th there are some great beachies. Winki is a great reef break but often crowded. If you head past Cape Otway (3hrs ish) there are great uncrowded waves too (with more swell than you could want most of the time).
I've skipped over a lot of places, but if you're there in summer and autumn you can't go wrong. Overall Melbourne is just like a big Adelaide and it's not that much of a journey back home.
Tom Tom - I get the impression you may not have found some of the states better reef breaks if you are claiming they are all stick friendly. The Bells area is a yawn for a bodyboard but I'll PM you some other spots.
Cheers.
PS here are a few samples of what's in store.....
Melbourne to Phillip Island, Mornington Peninsula and the Surf Coast is all approx 1.5hrs (a little less off peak). There are great waves in all areas if you pick your days.
Heavy (but fickle) beachies on the Mornington Peninsula (plus the states best lefthander if you have a boat). Phillip Island has amazing waves and handles a variety of wind conditions. The Surf Coast is often fat and slow, but up around 13th there are some great beachies. Winki is a great reef break but often crowded. If you head past Cape Otway (3hrs ish) there are great uncrowded waves too (with more swell than you could want most of the time).
I've skipped over a lot of places, but if you're there in summer and autumn you can't go wrong. Overall Melbourne is just like a big Adelaide and it's not that much of a journey back home.
Tom Tom - I get the impression you may not have found some of the states better reef breaks if you are claiming they are all stick friendly. The Bells area is a yawn for a bodyboard but I'll PM you some other spots.
Cheers.
PS here are a few samples of what's in store.....
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 273 guests