Beach Safety: Beachsafe is an online beach safety portal for all Australians and visitors. - Bridgewater Bay Surf

Bridgewater Bay Surf, Cape Bridgewater

Vic 3305
Sharks Topographic rips

Toilets Toilets Shops Public phone Park BBQ Picnic Shade Drinking water Dressing shed Showers Parking Boat ramp Bus Train
Passenger ferry Passenger ferry
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UNPATROLLED BEACH TODAY

Beach number: vic554
Includes beaches: Bridgewater Bay Surf
State/Region: VIC - Cape Bridgewater
Beach name: BRIDGEWATER BAY SURF
General Beach Hazard Rating: 7
Least hazardous: 1-3
Moderately hazardous: 4-6
Highly hazardous: 7-8
Extremely hazardous: 9-10
Hazard rating refers to physical beach and surf conditions ONLY and does not include potentially dangerous marine life.
Beach

Bridgewater Bay is the site of the Portland Surf Life Saving Club, which is located on this western, 2.8 km long section of beach. This beach also has the best public access of the eight Bridgewater Bay beaches. The eastern half of the beach is backed by 20 to 30 m high, dune-capped calcarenite bluffs that extend east to the calcarenite bluff that separates it from the previous beach. The surf lifesaving club is located toward the western end, where the beach faces south-east and is partially sheltered by Cape Bridgewater.

The area around the surf club has a car park, toilets, showers and a kiosk. Apart from a few houses, tea rooms etc. on the other side of the road, these buildings comprise the only development along this large bay. The original Portland Surf Life Saving Club was founded in 1947, with the current club at Bridgewater Bay established in 1971. It averages 3 rescues annually.

The beach at the surf club consists of fine sand, with waves averaging 1.4 m. These produce a wide, flat beach and surf zone. West of the surf club, the waves and surf decrease, however to the east, the waves and surf rapidly build and widen. There are usually widely spaced rips located along the inner bar, with even more widely spaced rips on the outer bar. In addition, rocks and reefs outcrop along the beach, inducing strong, permanent rips.

 

Swimming

The only safe place to bathe on this beach is in the western patrolled area and on the shallow bars. Do not bathe at the eastern end, in the rips or near the rocks.

 

Surfing

The wide surf zone is more popular with wind surfers than board riders, though learners will find the wide, inner surf zone a good place to practise. Bigger swell can generate beach breaks at Bombers and Shelly, while further out on the rocks is a right hand break called Boatshed.

 

Fishing

There is increasingly high energy beach fishing to the east along the beach, while safer rock fishing is available out along the rocks in Fisherman Cove.

 

General

An attractive, if isolated, bay and beach. It is most popular during summer in low wave conditions and when it is patrolled. Higher waves rapidly produce a hazardous beach.

 

Carpark

Type: Formal parking area
Spaces: 50

 

If this information is inaccurate, please click on the contact us link and advise

 

SLSA provides this information as a guide only. Surf conditions are variable and therefore this information should not be relied upon as a substitute for observation of local conditions and an understanding of your abilities in the surf. SLSA reminds you to always swim between the red and yellow flags and never swim at unpatrolled beaches. SLSA takes all care and responsibility for any translation but it cannot guarantee that all translations will be accurate.

Weather
Today
 
13°
wind
N/9 km/h
 
  • Thu
    17°
  • Fri
    17°
  • Sat
    15°
  • Sun
    15°
  • Mon
    16°
  • Tue
    17°
    10°
PORTLAND AP AWS (7 km) issued at 19:30 (EST)
Water
17
Issued at Thu, May 17 13:01
Swell Forecast
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
  • AM
  • PM
  • AM
  • PM
  • AM
  • WSW
    1.3 m
  • SW
    1.4 m
  • WSW
    1.6 m
  • WSW
    1.5 m
  • WSW
    1.7 m
Cape Bridgewater issued at Thu, May 17 16:00 (EST)
 
Today's Tide
  • Low
    3:41
    0.52m
  • High
    11:24
    0.91m
  • Low
    18:15
    0.69m
  • High
    21:22
    0.73m
 
issued at Thu, May 17 10:00 (Local Time)
UV Index
2
 

Portland Surf Life Saving Club

Organisation Colours Green and Yellow

Club Cap Description Green and Yellow Striped

Physical Address Bridgewater Road, Cape Bridgewater, VIC, 3305

Postal Address PO Box 222, Portland, VIC, 3305

Phone 03 5526 7233

Email katrinaantony@bigpond.com.au

Website

Beach Name of location of organisation Bridgewater Bay Surf

Beach Key of base location vic554

*Although SLSA has tried to ensure that this information is accurate, as it has been provided by surf life saving club(s) and/or other organisations, SLSA takes no responsibility for its accuracy. Please contact the entity(s) displayed directly if you need any further information. .

Portland Surf Life Saving Club

29 January to 26 April
  • Sat
  • Sun/PH
  • 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm
  • 11:00 am to 4:00 pm


04 December to 19 December
  • Sat
  • Sun/PH
  • 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm
  • 11:00 am to 4:00 pm


25 December to 26 January
  • Sat
  • Sun/PH
  • 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
  • 10:30 am to 5:00 pm


Date: Thursday, May 17, 2012

There is no beach service this week.

Click here to visit general beach safety information

 

If this information is inaccurate, please click on the contact us link and advise

 

SLSA provides this information as a guide only. Surf conditions are variable and therefore this information should not be relied upon as a substitute for observation of local conditions and an understanding of your abilities in the surf. SLSA reminds you to always swim between the red and yellow flags and never swim at unpatrolled beaches. SLSA takes all care and responsibility for any translation but it cannot guarantee that all translations will be accurate.

BRIDGEWATER BAY SURF Statistics July 2011 - June 2012
Rescues First Aids Preventative Actions
Beach Totals: 3 19 23
 
Breakdown of statistics by organisation
Portland Surf Life Saving Club
Rescues First Aids Preventative Actions
Total: 3 19 23
 
Breakdowns: 3No Gear 9Minor Marine Stings 23Preventions
6Minor Cuts/Abrasions
2Major Wounds
1Fractures/Dislocation
1Other