Right on the western side of Cape Otway on the Great Ocean Road, Victoria, the beach break of Johanna beckons. It is a fun but powerful break with spots of reef that keep sand in place. Powerful rips will drag sand out from other areas, creating good paddling channels for when the size picks up. The waves can be challenging here, but give opportunity for power carves and turns for up to 100 meters. When the eastern side of the cape is flat, Johanna will be working as it picks up any scrap of swell.
What are the best surf conditions for Johanna?
Johanna gets good between waist-high and triple overhead. On smaller days bring a longboard or fish, but when the size picks up bring a shortboard or step up. This break is best suited to intermediate and advanced surfers due to the power of the waves. Long paddle outs and hold downs are the norm when it begins pushing head high. There is almost always a wave here (9/10) and the crowds usually stay away (3/10). The best winds are offshore from the Northeast. Johanna is best on lower tides but will still work on high tides. It likes any swell from the South, Southwest and West.
The water temperature is a bit low even in the summer; around 16 degrees. A 3/2 wetsuit is necessary. In winter a 4/3 is recommended with water temperatures bottoming out around 12 degrees. See the temperature chart below for more details.
