Bicentenial Park Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on the menu for Bicentenial Park over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this is a tough stretch. We’re looking at a long, dry spell with hardly any surf worth paddling out for. For the first week and a half, from the start of the period right through to the morning of the 19th of August, it’s pretty much a bust. The swell is tiny, mostly around 0.7ft to 1ft, and the energy is weak, with combined energy values sitting between 10 and 39. That’s just not enough to get a decent wave. The wind is all over the place too, often cross or onshore, making it choppy and messy. There are a few glassy mornings, like the 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th of August, but when there’s no swell to work with, clean conditions don’t mean a thing. You’re just looking at a flat, pretty lake.

Now, things do start to get a little more interesting by the 19th of August. On the Wednesday morning, we see a bump in the swell to 2ft from the east, with a slightly longer period of 11 seconds and a light offshore wind from the west. The combined energy ticks up to 86, which is still moderate but a step in the right direction. The water temperature is about average for this time of year. This is the best window we’ve got in the whole 16-day forecast, but it’s still not what I’d call a standout. The break is a reef, and while it’s an exposed spot, it’s also inconsistent and very beginner-friendly. The optimum swell direction is from the east, and that’s exactly what we’re getting, so the geometry is right. But the surf quality is still just "ordinary" – it’s surfable, but nothing to write home about. Plus, the crowds are always there, so expect company.

After that, it’s back to the doldrums. The 20th of August rolls around and the swell drops off again to 2ft, and the wind turns onshore, making it all poor. The following days from the 21st to the 27th of August are a repeat of the same story: small, weak swell from the east-southeast, mostly onshore winds, and combined energy rarely breaking 60. The 25th of August morning has a clean window with a light cross-offshore wind and a 0.7ft swell from the east at 11 seconds, but again, it’s just too small to get excited about. The 27th of August morning has a clean offshore wind too, but the swell is still only 1ft.

So, the honest truth? There’s no true standout here. The closest thing to a surf window is the morning of the 19th of August, but even that is just “ordinary.” For a place that’s inconsistent, this kind of blank run is pretty normal. The forecasts can change, but right now, there’s no reason to rush. If you’re desperate, that Wednesday morning on the 19th is your best bet, but keep your expectations in check.

Rusty.

Read more