Bunkers Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a proper look at what's on the menu for this stretch.

Right off the bat, we’ve only got one spot in the mix: Bunkers. It’s a beginner-friendly break, fairly consistent, but it's exposed to the west swell – and what’s coming down the pipe over the next couple of weeks is mostly a mix of longer-period SSW and SW groundswell. The water’s sitting at 58°, which is pretty normal for this time of year, so nothing weird going on there.

The first few days are a real struggle. Thursday the 27th of August and Friday the 28th of August are almost a write-off with poor surf conditions and cross-onshore winds messing things up. The swell is small, mostly under 3 ft, and the wind is just not playing ball. You’re looking at choppy, bumpy surfaces with low wave energy (347–538). Not worth paddling out for.

We get a bit of hope on Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th of August mornings. The swell starts to build slightly, hitting around 3 ft with some longer 16–18 second periods, and the wind swings offshore or light. The energy kicks up (743–1059) and those early sessions might give you a few cleaner, lined-up waves if you’re patient. But it’s still only marginal – tide might mess with it, and the break’s best direction is W, not SSW.

Monday the 31st of August through to Thursday the 3rd of September is a real mixed bag. The swell drops back to 2 ft – 4 ft, the period is still long, but the wind is mostly cross-onshore or light onshore. The energy fluctuates, but nothing screams “go now”. It’s frustrating because you can see the swell energy there – especially on the 3rd with 906 – but the wind is just enough to mess up the surface.

Now, here’s the standout – and I mean the real standout – of this whole outlook. Friday the 4th of September. We’re looking at a solid 8 ft swell from the NW with a period of 11 seconds, and the wave energy is absolutely pumping at 1961. That’s proper juice. The wind is cross-onshore, which isn’t perfect, but for a beach setup like Bunkers, the wave size and energy are where it’s at. This is a bigger swell – over 8 ft on the morning – so it’s strictly for the experienced crew. Beginners, sit this one out. The energy is strong, and you’ll get some powerful, solid lines. Saturday the 5th of September is still decent at 6 ft, but the energy drops off quick.

After that, things fade fast. From Sunday the 6th of September right through to the end of the window, we’re back to small stuff – 2 ft to 3 ft – with mostly cross-onshore or light winds. The energy is weak to moderate (335–660), and the period is long, which means the waves will be fat and rolling, but there’s just not enough size to make it fun at Bunkers. The 9th and 10th of September mornings look slightly better with some cross-offshore wind and a bit more energy, but it’s still just a marginal session.

So here’s the bottom line: if you’re an experienced surfer with a big board and patience, mark your calendar for Friday the 4th of September. That’s your best shot at some real size and power. The rest of the window is mostly small, wind-affected, and only worth a paddle if you’re desperate.

Rusty.

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