Cape Schanck Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.50° S 144.89° E

Cape Schanck Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 pm 16 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Cape Schanck sea temperature is
13.9°C
1.2° 

Cape Schanck surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Cape Schanck surf forecast from 16 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 23 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 15s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 22 Sep, 4PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, SW swell with 4,013 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 23 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 15s period with SW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Cape Schanck this week:

The surf forecast for Cape Schanck over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 23) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.3m and 15s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Cape Schanck in the next 16 days are 3.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 22) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 13s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 19) at 4PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4AM (Wed 23rd Sep)7.5ft (2.3m) 15s
Best Surf 4AM (Wed 23rd Sep)7.5ft (2.3m) 15s
Most Powerful 4PM (Tue 22nd Sep)10ft (3.0m) 16s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cape Schanck over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here, and we’ve got a proper 16-day run to talk through, coming at us from Cape Schanck. It’s a reef break, known to handle a bigger SW groundswell, and we’ve got a heap of that on the way. The water’s sitting at a touch warmer than normal for the time of year, about 57°, so it’s a bit of comfort for the long sessions ahead.

Right now, we’re staring down a solid pulse of SW swell that kicks off Wednesday the 16th. We’re looking at a 9.8ft SW swell with a very long period of 15 seconds. That’s a lot of energy – the combined swell energy is belting in at 5708 (moderate to strong), so you can feel the grunt. But the wind’s a problem early on; it’s a cross-on SSW breeze at 15.5 mph, making it choppy and poor. This one’s for the advanced crew only at this size – over 8.2ft, so beginners, sit this out.

Thursday the 17th and Friday the 18th clean up a little with onshore and cross-shore winds, but the surf quality is still marginal. The swell stays solid, around 6.6ft to 6.9ft with 14-second intervals, but it’s messy with moderate to fresh breezes. The combined energy is still hefty (1889 to 1810), but it’s not the clean, groomed face you want.

The weekend – Saturday the 19th and Sunday the 20th – we see a bit more size, 7.2ft to 7.5ft from the SW, but the wind is swinging around. Saturday’s got a cross-shore NW breeze at 18.6 mph, lumping it up. Sunday, a strong N/ NNW cross-offshore at 24.9 mph keeps it clean for the most part, but the swell drops to 5.2-5.9ft and the energy dips to 933 (weak). Still, the quality is poor, so it’s more of a skip.

Monday the 21st and Tuesday the 22nd are where the spark returns. Monday morning’s got a 7.2ft SW swell at 12 seconds, but the onshore SSW wind at 15.5 mph is messing it up. The afternoon sees the same swell jump to 7.9ft with a 16-second period, and a combined energy of 2768 (moderate), but again, poor conditions with that wind. Tuesday is the real standout of the week: the morning delivers clean cross-offshore ESE winds at just 9.3 mph, on a 7.9ft SW swell with a 15-second period. The combined energy is strong at 2924 (moderate to strong). The waves are clean and powerful, perfect for the advanced crew. This reef loves a long-period groundswell like this – it’ll hold its shape, not break too straight. This is your best pick in the first week.

Wednesday the 23rd holds a bit of leftover energy, 6.6ft SW with 15 seconds, and clean cross-offshore winds from the N/NNE at 12.4-18.6 mph. It’s marginal but rideable, with combined energy around 1718 (moderate). Not the top call, but a runner-up.

We hit a flat patch from Thursday the 24th through to Saturday the 26th. The swell drops to 3ft to 4.3ft, and while the winds are light and clean at times (Friday morning, SE 6.2 mph), the combined energy is weak – 326 to 521 (weak). The surf is poor to marginal, nothing worth paddling out for.

Sunday the 27th, we see a resurgence. A 5.9ft SW swell with a 17-second period rolls in, with clean cross-offshore ENE winds at just 6.2 mph. The combined energy hits 2082 (moderate), and the forecast calls for excellent conditions for experienced surfers. This is the second standout of the run – a solid, clean groundswell with a gentle breeze. The long period means it’ll be a point-break-style ride at the reef, with long, smooth walls.

Monday the 28th and Tuesday the 29th are smaller, 3.6ft to 4.3ft SW, with glassy to clean conditions. Monday morning is glassy – dead calm, no wind – which is a major positive for a clean, smooth surface. The combined energy is light (739 to 478), so it’s small but fun for a cruiser session.

Wednesday the 30th sees a bump in swell size, up to 7.9ft by the afternoon with a short, 9-second period. The combined energy is 938 (weak), but the morning has offshore ENE winds at 9.3 mph, delivering

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri afternoon, min 8°C on Thu night). Mainly strong winds.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sun afternoon, min 10°C on Tue morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Sat night, strong winds from the SW by Sun night).

Wed
16
Thursday
17
Friday
18
Saturday
19
Sunday
20
Monday
21
Tuesday
22
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
1
0
1
2
1
1
0
1
1
3
0
0
0
0
0
1
3
2
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3
SW
15
2.5
SW
15
2.1
SW
14
2
SW
14
2
SW
14
1.7
SW
14
1.7
SW
13
2.1
SW
14
2.3
SW
13
2.2
SW
13
2.1
SW
16
1.8
SW
14
1.6
SW
13
2.2
SW
12
2.2
SW
12
2.4
SW
16
2.5
SW
15
2.4
SW
15
3
SW
16
2.5
SW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
3444
2982
1855
1485
1464
1044
966
1812
1750
1609
2147
1280
933
1462
1381
2768
2562
2449
4013
3001
Wind (km/h)
25
SSW
20
SW
20
SW
20
SW
20
NW
30
NW
30
NW
40
NW
30
NW
20
SW
15
NNW
40
N
40
NNW
40
WSW
25
SSW
25
SSW
20
S
15
ESE
30
SE
25
ENE
Wind State
cross-on
on
on
on
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
on
on
on
cross-on
cross-off
cross
off
High Tide
3:37AM1.71m
3:24PM1.60m
4:13AM1.66m
3:55PM1.55m
4:48AM1.58m
4:25PM1.49m
5:25AM1.50m
4:56PM1.42m
6:06AM1.41m
5:29PM1.34m
6:56AM1.33m
6:10PM1.26m
Low Tide
9:10PM0.11m
9:35AM0.47m
9:45PM0.14m
10:08AM0.53m
10:18PM0.19m
10:41AM0.60m
10:52PM0.27m
11:14AM0.68m
11:28PM0.35m
11:52AM0.77m
00:08AM0.43m
12:39PM0.84m
00:59AM0.52m
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:18
6:16
6:16
6:13
6:13
6:11
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:09
6:10
6:12
6:13
6:14
6:15
6:15
 mm
Temp °C
11
11
10
10
11
17
19
16
17
14
15
23
24
16
11
11
11
10
11
12
Feels °C
5
5
5
6
7
11
13
9
14
11
10
14
15
8
4
4
5
6
4
7
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Cape Schanck Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Cape Schanck provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Cape Schanck can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Cape Schanck surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Cape Schanck) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).

Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Cape Schanck may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.

Cape Schanck is 34 km (21 miles) from Mornington. If you plan a holiday in Mornington Peninsula, look for hotels and other accommodation in Mornington. Mornington has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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