Bonny Hills Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s talk about what’s in store for Bonny Hills.

Honestly, the next couple of weeks are a mixed bag. We’ve got a bit of a flat spell to start with, but if you can wait, there are some proper standouts for the experienced crew right at the end of the outlook. Bonny Hills is a consistent point break, exposed to swell, and it’s a beginner-friendly spot when the waves are small. Right now, the water temperature is sitting at 19°, which is bang on average for this time of year.

The first real chance for a surf comes Thursday morning, the 20th of August. We’ve got clean conditions with a light north wind blowing cross-off, and surfable waves at 4 ft from the east. It’s ordinary but you’ll find something. The swell period is short at 7 seconds, so it’ll be a bit weak and a bit on the softer side. The wave energy is low at 196, so not much push.

Friday morning the 21st is more of the same – 4 ft from the northeast, cross-off northerly breeze, but still only a 6-second period. Clean, but the energy is dropping to 130. Saturday the 22nd has a real small one: 2 ft from the northeast in the morning with light cross-off wind, but Saturday afternoon turns glassy – a rare treat – with a south wind of just 3 mph. The waves are tiny at 2 ft though, and the energy is a paltry 41. Not gonna get your heart pumping, but for a longboard or a beginner session, it’s clean and quiet. Crowds are only sometimes an issue here, so you might have it to yourself.

Sunday the 23rd and Monday the 24th offer similar small, clean conditions, but nothing really stands out until Tuesday morning the 25th of August. That morning we see a bump: 5 ft from the northeast with a 7-second period. The cross-off north wind keeps it clean, and the combined energy climbs to 236 – finally some noticeable push. This is your pick for the first week if you want something with a bit of size.

After that, it gets ugly for a stretch. Wednesday the 26th through Sunday the 30th of August is mostly messy with poor conditions – cross-onshore winds, chop, and inconsistent lumps from the south. The swell height bounces around from 3 ft to 3 ft but it’s all cross-on and rubbish. The water is still about average temp. There’s a brief moment on Friday morning the 28th of August that looks promising – 3 ft from the south with a longer 11-second period and glassy conditions from a light northeast breeze. That’s a good window for a clean, lined-up wave at the point. The energy is 317, which is moderate and solid for that size. But that afternoon it turns cross-on again.

Now, if you’re experienced and hungry, hang in there. The real standout is Monday the 31st of August through Tuesday the 2nd of September. This is for experts only. Monday afternoon, the 31st, sees a massive 12 ft south swell with a 13-second period, pumping out a combined energy of 5790 – that is very strong energy. The wind is a light cross-onshore from the ENE, so it’s not perfectly clean, but the power is insane. The break is forecast to be too big for this point, but if you know what you’re doing, those long-period south swells groom the point beautifully. Tuesday the 1st of September holds similar 12 ft swell from the SSE, still 13 seconds, still massive energy. Wednesday morning the 2nd of September keeps the 12 ft south swell, but the wind goes light cross-shore from the north. Wednesday afternoon is the absolute highlight: 10 ft from the SSE at 12 seconds, combined energy 2900, and a light cross-off north breeze. The report says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers” – and I can feel it. That’s the session to circle on your calendar.

Thursday the 3rd of September drops down to 8 ft from the southeast, 11 seconds, light cross-shore wind from the NE – still solid but more manageable for strong intermediates. After that, the energy fades.

So to sum it up: small, clean, ordinary waves for the first week, with Tuesday morning the 25th being the best of a quiet bunch. Then an ugly gap. Then a monster swell hits at the end of August into early September – that’s where the real story is. If you’re not ready for 12 ft at a point, give it a miss, but if you’ve got the skills, Wednesday the 2nd of September morning and afternoon are absolute magic.

Rusty.

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