- Wind: SE–ESE (avoid too much S)
- Season: October to March
- Water: Clean ocean swell, some chop
- Skill: Advanced (remote, variable wind, river mouth dynamics)
- Ideal Tide: Mid–outgoing
- Launch Space: Ample beach (firmer sand further from mouth)
- Hazards: Flood-prone river mouth, fluky wind near cliffs, isolated access
Victoria – Aire River Mouth
Welcome to the wild and windswept Aire — tucked deep in Great Otway country where the river meets the Southern Ocean in a constant dance of driftwood, dunes, and shifting sandbars. It’s raw, remote, and rewards those who make the mission.
Access? 4WD only to the beach. Otherwise, you’re hoofing it in on foot or hitching a ride with one of the campers who’ve set up for the long haul. The beach stretches for miles with plenty of room to launch, but the best kiting is found further from the river mouth where the sand firms up and the wind runs cleaner.
Works best on SE to ESE — anything with too much south gets bent up by the cliffs and can turn fluky. Mid to outgoing tide gives more room to play, but always watch the river’s moods — it can flood quick after heavy rain and carve out unpredictable channels.
Not a beginner spot, but for the seasoned rider chasing solitude, this place is magic. Bring boots, bring bug spray, bring your sense of adventure. No signal. No shops. Just wind, waves, and wilderness.