Jan Juc Beach to Bells Beach

The Surf Coast Walk between Jan Juc and Bells Beach is 7.6 km of clifftop track above two of Victoria's best known surf breaks, and the deciding fact for dog owners is that the track and the sand play by different rules. Dogs are welcome on lead along the walking track year round; the beach below depends on the month and the hour.

The walk

Allow two to two and a half hours one way for the full distance, rated moderate, with the effort coming from steady climbing between Bird Rock and Bells rather than any single hard section. The surface is formed clifftop path with steps in places, and you can turn back at any point, so it works as a shorter return walk if the full 7.6 km is more than your dog wants. The views take in Bird Rock, Winki Pop and the main break at Bells.

Leash status and rules

Dogs must be on lead on the Surf Coast Walk tracks between Jan Juc and Bells Beach, which are managed by the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority, with Surf Coast Shire regulations applying across the beaches. Summer timeshare rules ban dogs from parts of the beach from 1 December to 28 February between 9am and 7pm, so a January midday visit is a clifftop walk only. Dogs are also prohibited at all times from the fenced dune and coastal vegetation zones, which protect habitat for the vulnerable rufous bristlebird, and the Bells competition reserve carries extra restrictions during the Easter surf contest.

Max: the fencing along the dunes is not decorative. It is the line between a legal walk and a fine, and the cliff edges past it are unforgiving. Keep the lead short at the lookouts.

Water and hazards

Bring your own water for both of you. The track is exposed coastal walking with little shade between the two ends, and the ocean is no place for a dog to swim even where beach access is allowed, given the rips these breaks are famous for. Cliff edges are unfenced in sections, so a dog that ranges wide needs watching at the lookouts.

Getting there and parking

There are car parks at both ends, at Jan Juc near Bird Rock and at Bells Beach. Bells fills early with surfers, so the Jan Juc end is usually the easier start, and walking it one way means leaving a car at each end.

When to go

Outside the December to February window, any time of day works, with early morning low light at its best. Through summer, walk before 9am or after 7pm if you want the beach as part of the day. This suits big runners who can handle the distance without needing to get wet.

More walks nearby

The next section north, the Surf Coast Walk from Point Danger to Bird Rock, joins this one at Bird Rock for a longer day, and Jan Juc Dog Beach is the spot for an off-lead sand session close by. Sandbah Cafe in Torquay handles the coffee afterwards, and Torquay Foreshore Caravan Park takes dogs if you are staying the weekend.

More options are on the Victoria dog walks guide and the Jan Juc destination page.