Raffs Beach (Ocean Grove)
- Freeride, Shortboard
- Best for
- Beginner to Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Chop, Small waves
- Spot Type
- Busy
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Raffs Beach (Ocean Grove) is a tidal, sand-bottom ocean beach break with clean water and generally small to medium surf. Multiple guides describe it as consistent and beginner-friendly, but surf size and shape can change across the tide, and conditions can get hazardous near the Barwon River mouth. For waves, sources point to a beach-break setup with peeling characteristics and an exposed position. Surf guidance is somewhat mixed on the best tide (mid tide in one guide; high tide in another), but there is a clear warning that the break behavior changes with the river-mouth zone—ride quality and safety can deteriorate on the outgoing tide. On larger swells, one guide notes a tendency to close out when swell exceeds about 2.5 meters. Wind conditions support multiple sports. One dataset reports north winds as the best direction and highlights May as a best month; another emphasizes summer sea breezes, typically building in the afternoon, with stronger performance in the Southeast sector. Wind reliability is described as low in one guide (12.6%) but higher during summer for sea-breeze days; typical kitesurf wind ranges are reported around 15–25 knots, and light gusting is mentioned. Safety is the dominant consideration. Strong tidal and rip currents near the river mouth are repeatedly flagged as dangerous for beginners who can’t stay upwind (especially for kitesurfing). Expect rocks near the western end/river mouth, and also keep an eye out for driftwood after storms. Rescue is reported as limited, with seasonal lifeguard coverage during the summer peak; in emergencies call 000.
- Beginner-friendly, consistent beach-break surf
- Kitesurfing can work even when surf is too small (shallow chop)
- Strong currents/rips near the river mouth—use caution
- Beginner-friendly surf described as a small, consistent beach break.
- Kitesurfing can be possible even when surf waves are too small, with conditions shifting from shallow chop to mixed wave/chop.
- Clean water reported across sources.
- Low wind reliability reported by one guide (12.6%); wind pattern may vary.
- Strong tidal currents and rip currents near the Barwon River mouth make it risky, especially for beginners who can’t stay upwind.
- Rocks and possible driftwood add hazards (especially near the river mouth/western end).
- Seasonal high crowds can make access/parking difficult.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- N, W, E, ESE, SE, SSE, S, SW, S, S
- Offshore directions
- N
- Wind Range
- 15–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Sea breeze — Sea-breeze influence reported, with summer afternoons building typically from the Southeast.
- Reliability
- low (12.6% reported by one guide); higher in summer for sea breezes
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts
- Best Months
- January, February, March
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Chop, Small waves
- Beach
- Sand
- Beach Size
- Tidal
- Waves
- Small — Some data describes small waves; other sources describe medium waves depending on conditions.
- Chop Level
- Moderate chop — Chop reported; also described as shallow, choppy water for kitesurfing when waves are small.
- Launch
- Medium — Wide sandy launch at low tide, becoming much narrower at high tide.
Through the year
Very high in December and January; moderate during other months.
Winter months (June–August) see the most frequent rainfall and storm fronts.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Can be suitable when surf waves are too small for surfing; conditions vary from shallow chop to a mix of chop and wave depending on wind and swell. One source describes it as popular with the best conditions occurring in Southeast sea breezes.
- Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Suitable for wave and freeride/bump-and-jump style sailing; reported as challenging for beginners at the beach break.
- Sail Sizes
- 5–6.5 m²
Possible with care due to shore break and strong currents near the river mouth; best at higher tides to avoid sandbars.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes
- Min Depth
- 1.5 meters
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
Consistent beach break with small fun waves for beginners; size can decrease toward the Barwon River mouth.
- Optimal Swell
- SW, WSW
- Swell Height
- 1–2 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid — Also reported as high tide for surf (conflicting tide guidance across sources).
- Shelter
- Exposed — Shelter reported as exposed in one guide; another describes it as slightly more sheltered than the main Ocean Grove beach (contrasting views).
- Wind Effect
- North-west to westerly winds provide best conditions; offshore in North winds can clean up the swell significantly.
- Bigger Swell
- Tends to close out when swell exceeds 2.5 meters.
- Wave Quality
- Average — Rated good by one guide; another describes average quality overall.
- Wave Power
- Soft — Some guides describe small, beginner-friendly/soft power; other data indicates moderate power overall.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling
- Peel Speed
- Medium
- Ride Length
- Medium — One guide cites about 75 m typical rides depending on sandbar formation.
- Typical Ride Length
- 75 m
- Ride Length Details
- Waves can provide 50–100 meter rides depending on sandbar formation.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Raffs Beach (Ocean Grove) in the full forecast view.
Raffs Beach (Ocean Grove) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 3–16 ktsGusts 27 kts
- Direction
- SW226°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2516 kts
- Windy days
- 1/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 1.3–2.5 m10s period
- Temperature
- 8–18 °C
Over the next 7 days, Raffs Beach (Ocean Grove) is forecast for daytime winds of 3–16 kts, peaking around 16 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 27 kts. The prevailing direction is SW. Waves run 1.3–2.5 m with a period of about 10s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- strong tidal currents near the river mouth
- rip currents
- rocks
- sharks
- heavy shore break on large swells
- potential for driftwood after storms
- scattered rocks near the western end and river mouth
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Nearest staffed rescue point during summer reported at Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue availability reported as limited; summer patrolling is available via lifeguards/lifesavers.
- Emergency Info
- In emergencies dial 000.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild
Rules of the spot
Avoid kiting close to swimmers/flags; seasonal exclusion zones may apply near the main swimming/lifesaving areas.
- No kiting within 50 meters of flags or swimmers
- Seasonal exclusion zones near the Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club
- Be wary of the 'washing machine' effect near the river mouth on outgoing tides.
- Mid tide is generally best for the surf break to help avoid it becoming too fat or closing out.
- Beach breaks decrease in size toward the river mouth.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Geelong
- Nearest Town
- Ocean Grove
- Nearest Airport
- Avalon (AVV) and Melbourne (MEL) reported in access notes
- Parking
- Parking available in various car parks along the spit; can get very crowded during summer weekends.
- Public Transport
- V/Line buses connect Ocean Grove to Geelong (regional connection to Melbourne network)
- Access
- Accessible via the Barwon Heads–Ocean Grove Road; located at the western end of the Ocean Grove Spit. Melbourne to Ocean Grove is approximately a 1.5-hour drive via Geelong; bus service from Melbourne to Geelong with connecting service to Ocean Grove.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Ocean Grove Holiday Park and various beachfront rentals nearby.
- Food & Drink
- Multiple cafes and restaurants in Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads within a 5-minute drive.
- Equipment Rental:
- Surfboard and wetsuit rentals available at local surf shops in Ocean Grove.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Raffs Beach (Ocean Grove)?
The best overall months at Raffs Beach (Ocean Grove) are May. The best wind months are January, February, March.
Which wind directions work at Raffs Beach (Ocean Grove)?
Raffs Beach (Ocean Grove) works with N, W, E, ESE, SE, SSE, S, SW, S, S winds. Offshore directions are N.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Raffs Beach (Ocean Grove)?
Recommended equipment sizes at Raffs Beach (Ocean Grove): Kitesurfing: 9–12 m² · Windsurfing: 5–6.5 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 15–25 kts.
What skill level is Raffs Beach (Ocean Grove) suitable for?
Raffs Beach (Ocean Grove) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Beginner to Intermediate · Windsurfing: Intermediate · Wingfoiling: Intermediate · Surfing: Beginner.