Woolamai is the beach on Phillip Island that faces straight into the Southern Ocean. It's often the biggest and most powerful wave on the island, and it has a reputation for strong rips that every local lifesaver takes seriously.
Why it's so powerful
Woolamai faces south, open to the full force of Southern Ocean swell. It rarely goes flat. When the wind is north to north-east, blowing offshore, the beach can produce heavy, hollow peaks. When it's onshore, it's often a mess.
The hazards
The rips at Woolamai are strong and move with the banks. The beach is patrolled in summer; outside those times, there's no one watching. If you're not an experienced, strong surfer, choose a more sheltered beach. Read rip currents explained before your first visit.
Other options on the island
- Smiths Beach: more sheltered, a common learning beach.
- Cat Bay and the north-facing spots: work on different winds and swells.
- Forrest Caves and Express Point: more exposed options for experienced surfers.
Our alert for Woolamai is tuned to this break alone, so a swell that's perfect for the beach next door won't set it off. When the swell, wind and tide line up together, you get a text.
Want to see what real alerts look like? Our firing board shows the spots that have actually turned on recently, with the swell and wind at the time.
Related reading: Groundswell vs. Windswell and Onshore vs. Offshore Wind.
Closest spot guides
- Jan Juc, about 90 km away
- Winkipop, about 90 km away
- Bells Beach, about 90 km away
- Clifton Beach, about 530 km away
Or browse every break we cover in our Australian surf spot guides by region.
Woolamai rarely lacks swell. Wind is the question.
Get a text when it lines up.
Get alerts for Woolamai