Big Ben Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, if you’re looking for a surf around here, you’ve got to be patient. Big Ben’s the only show in town, and it’s a beach/jetty setup, exposed to the east. It’s inconsistent, so you can’t just rock up any day.

The first real chance we get is on Sunday the 30th of August. Morning’s your best bet, with a 2ft E swell, period 11 seconds. The wind is cross-off from the NNE at 9 mph, which will keep things pretty clean. The combined energy is a moderate 103. It’s surfable, but very ordinary. Don’t get too excited.

Things stay flat and ordinary through the rest of August and into the start of September. Monday morning the 31st has a touch more energy (194) but the rain and cross-shore wind will make it messy. Tuesday the 1st of September sees the swell push to 3ft from the E with a 12-second period and moderate energy (465), but the wind is cross and cross-on, so still marginal. The whole first week is a write-off for anything truly good.

We’ve got a real gap here. The surf just doesn’t stack up until the second week of September. It’s a long wait.

Now, come Sunday the 6th of September, things start to change. Morning has a 6ft E swell with an 8-second period and strong energy (581). The wind is cross-off from the NNE at 12 mph, so it’ll be clean. This is a big step up but at 6ft, it’s getting solid for beginners. Still, the setup at Big Ben could handle it.

The standout window looks to be Tuesday the 8th of September morning. You’ve got a solid 8ft ESE swell, 10-second period, and very strong energy pumping in at 1602. The wind is light cross from the NE at 6 mph, keeping it glassy. This is expert territory at that size—too big for learners—but for those who can handle it, the light cross-shore wind will give you some nice, clean walls. The swell direction (ESE) is a good match for the break’s optimum SE.

The following days through to the 10th keep the energy high, with Thursday morning the 10th standing out again: a 8ft SE swell with a very long 12-second period, cross-off wind from the NNE at 22 mph, and an enormous combined energy of 3057. That’s a lot of power. Clean, but that long period can make it straight at a beach break; it might work better if the jetty offers some shape. Definitely a morning for experienced surfers only.

From the 11th onwards, the wind turns nasty and onshore, with storms and strong winds making a mess of things. The 14th of September Monday morning offers a reprieve: a 6ft SSW swell, clean cross-off wind from the NNE, and moderate energy (1224). It’s the best quality conditions in the whole forecast, but by then we’re two weeks out, so treat it as a hopeful possibility rather than a sure thing.

So to sum it up: if you want the best, circle Tuesday the 8th of September morning for the biggest, cleanest surf. Bring your big-wave board and know what you’re doing. The 10th is also promising but more of a gamble with the long-period swell. The rest is a waiting game.

Rusty.

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