Bunkers Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for the next couple of weeks.

We’re starting off with a bit of a slow burner. The first real chance to get wet comes on Thursday 23 July, and honestly, it’s not much to write home about. Bunkers is our only option, and it’s a beginner-friendly spot that’s fairly consistent. The water’s sitting at 54°, which is a touch colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want a decent wetsuit.

Thursday afternoon sees a small 3ft swell from the SSW with a period of 14 seconds, and light NW wind blowing offshore. The energy is pretty weak (346), so it’s only going to be little crumbly waves. A bit of a session for the longboard or a learner, but not much else.

Friday 24 July picks up a little. The morning has a tiny 2ft SSW swell, but the period jumps to 24 seconds – that’s a seriously long period groundswell. The energy is moderate (628), but with that length, it’s going to be very straight at Bunkers since it’s a beach break. You might get a rare set, but it’ll be inconsistent. The wind is light offshore from the NNW at 5 km/h, so glassy conditions. The afternoon is the better call with the swell up to 3ft from the SW, same 24-second period, and the energy is strong (1300). Light NNW wind, still offshore. It’s still marginal, but that’s the pick of the week so far.

Saturday 25 July is similar. Morning sees 4ft from the SW at 21 seconds, with a strong energy (1494), but the wind is a cross-offshore from the W at 10 km/h. The afternoon is a touch cleaner with a light cross-offshore from the NNW, and the swell drops to 3ft. It’s all still pretty average – you’ll find a wave, but it’s not going to blow your mind.

Sunday 26 July through to Wednesday 29 July is a bit of a grind. Swell hangs around 3ft to 4ft from the SW and SSW, with periods dropping from 19 seconds down to 16 seconds. The wind is mostly a light cross-onshore breeze, so the faces are a bit bumpy. The energy is moderate to strong (856 to 1227), but the quality just isn’t there. Honestly, it’s more of a paddle than a proper surf.

Then we hit a bit of a gap. Thursday 30 July afternoon the wind turns onshore, and the swell shifts to a short-period 7ft from the NW at 8 seconds. That’s a messy, choppy combo. From Friday 31 July through to Monday 3 August, we’ve got a run of 6ft to 7ft swells from the NW and NNW, but the period is short (7 to 8 seconds), and the wind is consistently cross-onshore. The energy is moderate (509 to 752), but the waves will be lumpy and hard to ride. For a beginner spot like Bunkers, anything over 5ft is already too big for learners, and this is well over that. If you’re an expert, you might get a few roping closeouts, but the wind is ruining the shape.

From Tuesday 4 August onwards, things drop off. Swell sizes shrink, the wind stays onshore, and the energy fades. Wednesday 5 August into Thursday 6 August sees a tiny 2ft to 4ft mix, but the wind is moderate onshore, and the scores are all poor. The last few days of the forecast window are basically a write-off – small, choppy, and not worth the drive.

So, the standout? It’s got to be late Friday 24 July afternoon. The light offshore wind, the long period, and the strong energy (1300) make it the most interesting session in the whole run. It’s still only 3ft, so it’s not a classic, but it’s the cleanest wave we’ll see. If you’re a beginner, Thursday 23 July afternoon is your best bet, but keep an eye on the tide.

There’s a long dry spell from the end of July all the way through to the end of the outlook. Fingers crossed the forecasts change, because right now the second week looks pretty grim. For the more advanced crew, the big NW swell in early August might be better suited to a kite than a paddle.

Stay wet, stay keen.
Rusty

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