13th Beach is a long beach break near Barwon Heads that runs for more than 6 km, so there's a lot of coast to spread out along and plenty of peaks to pick from. The waves break over a mix of sand and rock ledge and peel both left and right. At the western end sits Turd Rock, a right-hand point by the sewage pumping station. Further along, Beacons throws up proper A-frames over the sandbars, while up towards Barwon Heads sits The Hole, a set of rocky reefs that can turn hollow.
When It Works
The beach draws swell from southwest through southeast, and southwest (SW) is the best match. It's a consistent spot that works from 0.3 m / 1 ft to 3.7 m / 12 ft. Beacons in particular comes alive when a southwest swell lines up with a north wind, hissing over the sandbars.
Wind and Tide
Look for northeast (NE) offshore wind. The beach breaks on low and mid tide, with a rising tide the better call. Up at The Hole, northeast winds on an incoming tide are what bring out the hollow reef sections.
Local Tips
This is an intermediate wave, and the lineup gets busy when it's on.
Access
Getting in is easy, with plenty of entry points along the road between Barwon Heads and Torquay. You'll find restrooms, showers, and lifeguard cover, and parking ranges from a free car park to paid and roadside options.
