Campbells Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s in store for our stretch of coast over the next couple of weeks. Don’t get too excited just yet, because we’ve got a bit of a slow start before anything really gets going.

The first real glimmer of something rideable shows up on Monday the 6th of July. It’s not much to write home about though. We’ve got a long-period groundswell rolling in from the SSW, coming in at about 3 ft with a period of 15 to 16 seconds. That translates to moderate wave energy at around 462 to 497. The problem is the wind – a fresh 35 km/h (about 22 mph) from the ENE, blowing mostly cross-off. That keeps the surface clean, but the real kicker is the quality. It’s just poor, with a touch of marginal at best on Monday afternoon. This spot is Campbells, a reef break that’s exposed to the SSW, which is good, but it’s also inconsistent and can get crowded. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual there.

Tuesday the 7th and Wednesday the 8th are pretty much the same story: 3 ft of SSW swell, period dropping to 14 seconds, energy falling off to 357 and then 257. Still that fresh ENE cross-off wind keeping it clean, but no real punch. It’s poor surf.

Thursday the 9th and Friday the 10th see the swell drop off even further, down to 2 ft to 2 ft. The period on Friday does jump to 20 seconds from the SW, which is very long, but with energy under 180 (weak), it’s just not enough to do anything worthwhile. Still clean, still poor.

We finally get a little tick up on Saturday the 11th of July. The swell goes 2 ft to 3 ft from the SW at 18 seconds, and the energy climbs to 370-413 (moderate). More importantly, the wind goes fully offshore from the ENE, 30 to 35 km/h (19 to 22 mph). It’s clean, but still marginal. The combination of a very long period and a small swell at a reef break could mean some slippery, straight lines, but if you’re patient, you might find a couple of runners.

Sunday the 12th and Monday the 13th see the swell build a little more, back up to about 3 ft from the SSW, 15-16 seconds, and energy just over 500 (moderate). Winds stay cross-off for Sunday, but Monday afternoon actually gets that fresh offshore again. This is the highlight of the first week. It’s still only a marginal forecast, but if you hit Monday the 13th afternoon at Campbells, with that 3 ft SSW swell and fresh offshore ENE breeze, it could clean up nicely. Be ready for crowds though, as this spot gets hit often.

Now, looking further out, the second week is a bit of a mixed bag. Tuesday the 14th and Wednesday the 15th bring a shift in direction from the west, with swell building to 3 ft to 3 ft, periods 16-19 seconds, and energy jumping up to 661-798. That’s a solid moderate wave energy, but the wind stays cross-off at 30 km/h (19 mph). The surf is still in that marginal zone. Thursday the 16th has a bit of both, but it’s nothing special.

The standout of the whole period, and the one to circle on your calendar, is Tuesday the 21st of July. That morning, the swell holds at 3 ft from the south, period at 13 seconds, but the energy is still a modest 254. The real winner here is the wind – light 15 km/h (9 mph) from the east, a gentle breeze. That combination is flagged as “expect good surf conditions.” It’s the best call of the entire run. It’s still a low-energy, small day, but with those light winds, Campbells should actually have some clean, rideable lines. Just remember, it’s a long way out, so the forecast might shift, but as it stands, that Tuesday morning is the one.

So, overall, there are no huge swells, no massive west groundswells for the experts. This is more about picking the clean windows. If you’re a beginner, this is fine – nothing over 5 ft, so it’s all manageable. If you’re a kite surfer, honestly, with this much consistent cross-off wind and small, clean surf, you might have more fun out there than a paddle surfer most days.

Stay patient, and keep an eye on that Tuesday the 21st of July.

Rusty.

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