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Western Port Bay

Western Port Bay has a number of spots that break when the swell gets bigger. Probably the best known and most consistent is Point Leo, though First and Second Reef, Honeysuckle, Crunchy Point and Pines have their days too.  These spots are set out roughly in the order they run up the bay from Balnarring to Flinders.

Balnarring Point

the point

This picture postcard looking line-up shot shows how good Balnarring can get, but don't hold your breath! It's rare that it's this good, and then the parochial locals are all over it. It's a good horse-shoe-right hander when it works and you can go left too but it's short and deep. The little peak to the right of the picture is a short but intense little wave, sometimes called Texas Reef but most often known as 'Chinas'. [Photo: Paul Tainsh]


Treolars

treolars
milky

A bit like the fabled 'Fishoes' on the West Coat, Treolars needs plenty of swell before you even c0nsider it, but it's protected nature also means that it can be milky and clean with fun lefts and rights especially suited to longboarders and beginners. And, when it's good it can actually get crowded (see below from the Trigger Cam 25th Sept 2003)

winter


Crunchie Point

crunchy

Another wave that seems to have emerged in the last twenty years is Crunchie Point (or Crunchy Point as I prefer it) A good long right-hander especially when there's a bit of swell around, and can handle a lowish tide as well. It's also one of the more picturesque spots in the Point Leo region, wrapping around into the sheltered bay near the boatshed and all.

crunchy

Above: the view of Crunchy from the top lookout; it's always a little hard to judge the size. Below: Front view: the day AFTER the big swell of 14th June 2003, with everyone surfed out, lines still continue to push through Crunchy Point.

crunchy

Below: A year later and colder than it looks at the end of June 2004 as Crunchy Point temporarily resembles the legendary Maalea, mythical disappeared right-hander. Make your own comparison HERE.  [Photo: Trigger Webcam]

crunchy


The Hump

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The waves they are a changin.' Rare shot of 'The Hump' a wave that doesn't often break now, commonly ridden in the late 70s. [Photo: Warrick]


Point Leo (aka Suicide)

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Above: This is the classic 'Peak Rock' version of Point Leo. At high tide the right hander breaks from the rock and on good days horse-shoes its way down the line. This shot on a grey day in July 1999 shows how it looks from the top of the steps. [Photo: Warrick]

This is the classic aerial shot of Point Leo taken by Gavin Duffy in 1980 showing the Point and Crunchy Point in full flowing form!- Note the lack of development behind First Reef. Click on the shot for an ever bigger version!  [Photo: Duffy]

 

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Western Port Bay and Point Leo are extremely tidal so that what looks flat at low tide can result in 3-4' waves when the tide comes in. This shot shows a small day coming up to high tide. [This shot from the excellent Trigger Brothers web site and their daily cam]

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A bigger day at 'The Point'. Predominantly a right hander, the left works on high tide when it's not too big. [This shot from the excellent Trigger Brothers web site and their daily cam]

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Small and ugly; unfortunately Point Leo can often look like this, especially in summer. [This shot from the excellent Trigger Brothers web site and their daily cam]


new.gif (297 bytes) Spot X

Remarkably, recently a new wave is beginning to emerge: it's featured on its own page at SPOT X   

 


First and Second Reef

First Reef is a left and right that breaks on the beach. When we were young we imagined it was Pipeline. Second Reef is a somewhat mushy right that breaks further out. The kid in the picture above imagines he's about to pull in at Off the Wall.

I'm looking for good shots of First Reef (they'll have to be from the past because it seems to have stopped breaking), Second Reef, and Honeysuckle. This cam grab from the Trigger site shows First Reef on an onshore ordinary day.

 Below: a better shot of the Reefs beginning to line up on the first day of Winter 2002. Ryan Chalmers sent me this shot from the Trigger cam:

 


Honeysuckle Bombi

On its day it's probably one of the longest waves on the coast; the Honeysuckle Bombi needs plenty of swell, a half tide and an offshore. Then watch the sets form miles out and come sweeping through a long long right. Notoriously difficult to photograph, these photos from April 2006 by Aaaron Finn.


Honeysuckle

Seeking good photos of this spot, especially a great water shot of the barrelly point.


Little Noosa

the left

It doesn't look this too often but there were some good days over the winter of 2001 including one memorable glassy afternoon here. The fun thing is to take the wave all the way in, then walk around the beach and jump off the point for another. [Photo: Duffy above, and Little Noosa viewed from Pines. Photo: Warrick]

little noosa


Pines

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Above: Picturesque line-up shot of the 'Pines', a right-hand point break that breaks better the bigger it gets and arguably the best wave on the Hoax Coast.  Unfortunately, it is often over-crowded with mal riders who think they're at Rincon or somewhere. [Photo: George Paterson]

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Another shot of a small day at Pines from beach level. On sunny days like this in winter, no place is more fun. [Photo: Warrick]


Lefts and Rights

Seeking good photos of this fabled spot.


The Farm

Seeking good photos of this fabled spot.