Back Strands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s take a look at what’s coming for Back Strands. Honestly, the next couple of weeks are a real mixed bag — we start off with hardly a thing, and it’s going to feel like a long wait for anything worthwhile. The first real recommendation doesn’t show up for over a week.

We’re talking about Back Strands — a reef break. Right now, the water’s sitting at 61°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you might not need a thick wetsuit if you’ve got a good spring suit.

The outlook kicks off Sunday 12 July but don’t get stoked — it’s tiny. Early morning there’s some clouds, a cross-off breeze from the east at 12 mph, and a tiny 1 ft swell out of the WNW with a period of 8 seconds. Combined wave energy is only 22 — it’s weak. The surf is poor. That theme sticks all day and into Monday 13 July and Tuesday 14 July. We’re talking 0.7 ft to 1 ft waves, consistent east breezes, and energy readings staying in the teens or low 30s. Nothing worth paddling out for.

Wednesday 15 July through to Saturday 18 July is more of the same: tiny 0.7 ft to 1.0 ft swell, periods between 8 and 9 seconds. On Thursday afternoon and Friday morning we get a few hours of glassy conditions, which would be beautiful if there was any wave to surf. But there isn’t. This stretch is dead.

Now, Sunday 19 July brings a little pulse — 2 ft swell with a 12-second period in the morning, energy at 83. But it’s onshore from the northwest at 6 mph, and the surf quality is still poor. Not your day.

Monday 20 July things start to lift. Morning shows 4 ft from the west, 8-second period, but cross-onshore winds and energy at 190 — moderate, but messy. By the afternoon, it jumps to 6 ft, energy hits 465, but wind’s still cross-onshore and it’s choppy. Not great.

Tuesday 21 July the swell builds to 6 ft out of the west, periods around 9–10 seconds, energy up to 646. But it’s still cross-onshore and fairly choppy. Not clean, but you can see the size coming.

Here’s the standout: Wednesday 22 July. Early morning, it’s 8 ft from the WNW with an 11-second period — that’s a proper groundswell. Combined energy is a massive 1720 — that’s strong to very strong wave energy. The wind is cross-off from the south-southwest at just 9 mph, and the surf is clean. This is excellent for experienced surfers — it’s over 8 ft, so it’s only for the crew who know what they’re doing. The swell direction is WNW, which matches the optimum from the west — that’s a good fit for this reef. That morning window is your best bet across the whole outlook. Crowds are possible here — it’s listed as “sometimes” busy, so get in early.

The afternoon on Wednesday 22 July drops off with a cross-shore wind at 16 mph and marginal conditions — not worth it.

Thursday 23 July the swell drops to 5 ft, but wind stays cross and cross-onshore, choppy. Friday 24 July is messy and dropping quickly — 3 ft with onshore winds up to 22 mph. The rest of the outlook into Saturday 25 July and Sunday 26 July is tiny again, 2 ft to 2 ft, mostly onshore or cross-off but no size.

Monday 27 July sees a small 3 ft pulse in the afternoon from the WNW, energy at 126, but it’s cross-shore and choppy.

Summing it up: you’ve got over a week of tiny, poor surf, then a brief window of proper size on Wednesday 22 July morning. That’s the one to circle on the calendar — but it’s for the experienced only. For everyone else, keep an eye on the forecasts; things can change.

Rusty

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