Alexandra Headland Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's be real – this is a lean stretch for Alexandra Headland. The first week is mostly a waiting game, with a few glimmers but nothing you’d kick yourself for missing. The good news is we’re looking at a solid pulse of energy rolling in for the second week, but it’s a messy one, so we’ll have to be picky about when to paddle out.

The only real standout in the first few days is Sunday morning, the 9th. It’s not big, around 3ft, but it’s clean with a glassy surface and light offshore wind. The swell is coming from the east with a 9-second period, and the energy is moderate. That’s your best bet for a clean, fun session on the beach and point setup. It’s a beginner-friendly spot, so this is a great chance to get some easy waves without any stress. The water is sitting at 68°F, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll feel that nip in the air.

From there, the forecast falls off a cliff. We’re looking at a run of tiny, poor-condition surf from Monday through to the following Saturday. The swell dips to around 1ft to 2ft, and whatever’s there is chopped up by cross-shore winds. Not worth your time. The energy readings are weak, so there’s just nothing behind it. It’s a long, flat-feeling week.

Then things get interesting. Starting Sunday the 17th, the swell really kicks in. We’re talking 7ft on Sunday morning, jumping to 7ft on Monday and holding around 8ft to 8ft through the 20th and 21st. The energy readings are strong, hitting into the four-digit range. That’s a lot of power in the water, no doubt.

But here’s the catch – the wind is a mess. It’s mostly cross-shore and cross-on from the southeast, blowing at 15 to 19 mph. That’s going to have the place chopped up and lumpy. This is well over the 5ft mark, so it’s not for beginners, and at 8ft, it’s really expert-only. The swell direction is from the ESE, which is fine, but the period is around 8 to 9 seconds, so it’s a bit more short-period windswell mixed in. Not the cleanest groundswell we could ask for.

The best of this lumpy lot looks like Thursday afternoon, August 20th. You’ve got 8ft of ESE swell, a 9-second period, and the wind finally swings to a cross-off from the SSE at 15 mph. That’s the cleanest it’s going to get. The energy is strong, and while the conditions are still marginal, it’s the best you’ll find in that whole stormy stretch. This is a serious, powerful wave, so only experienced surfers should be out there.

The following days, the 21st and 22nd, are still big, around 7ft, but the wind stays onshore and the quality drops. The period stretches to 11 seconds on the 22nd, which is better, but the fresh cross-shore chop will ruin it. Honestly, for the beach and point setup here, this much swell with this much wind is going to be a battle. If you’re not a hardened local, you might be better off watching from the sand.

So, there you have it. A quiet start, a long flat spell, and then a powerful but messy finale. The standout is that Sunday morning glass, and for the brave, Thursday afternoon the 20th is the one to circle. As for the rest, it’s a good week to work on your pop-up on the carpet.

Rusty out.

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