Conto Springs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty, and I’ve been staring at the charts for Conto Springs, and I’ve got to tell ya, it’s a bit of a mixed bag for the next couple of weeks. The spot itself is a very consistent reef break, exposed to the swell, so it needs the right conditions. For the first few days, the wind is gonna be a real problem, but there are two windows of absolute magic that are worth circling on the calendar. The water temp is about normal for the time of year, nothing to complain about there.

So, we start with Wednesday the 15th – it’s a write-off. We’ve got a 10ft cross-on swell from the SW with a 17-second period, but with a 22 mph NNE wind, it’s just poor, lumpy conditions. The energy is moderate (4522). That afternoon doesn’t get any better. Don’t bother paddling out.

Thursday the 16th is where it starts to get interesting. A solid 12ft SW (WSW) groundswell with a 14-second period rolls in, and the wind swings to a light 6 mph SSW, giving us clean, cross-off conditions. The energy is strong (4926). This is excellent for experienced surfers – it’s big, powerful, and clean. The morning is the pick, but the afternoon holds a similar 10ft with the same light S wind and clean lines. This is a proper standout.

Friday the 17th, the wind turns onshore from the NW, and the 7ft to 8ft swell gets messed up. It’s marginal at best, and the afternoon is a total loss. Saturday the 18th sees a massive 18ft swell from the WSW, but a 25 mph cross-on W wind makes it an absolute mess. The energy is extreme (10156), but it’s not for paddling – this is kite-surfing territory. Sunday the 19th and Monday the 20th are all cross-on and choppy, with moderate to strong winds. The swell drops back to 8ft-12ft, but the consistency is ruined by the wind. Tuesday the 21st is also marginal with fresh cross-shore winds.

Now, here’s the second standout. Wednesday the 22nd. This is the one. On the morning, we get a 13ft SW groundswell with a 16-second period, and a gentle 9 mph SSE offshore wind. The energy is very strong (7685). That afternoon, the wind drops to a light 6 mph SSE, the swell bumps up to 15ft from the SW, and the energy hits 9245. The report says “exceptional” – it’s glassy, clean, and powerful. This is a day for experts only, but it will be absolutely firing. Crowds are possible here, so bring your patience.

After that, Thursday the 23rd through Tuesday the 29th is a long stretch of mediocrity. The swell drops to 5ft-10ft, and the wind is either cross-on or cross-shore from the NNE, keeping things choppy and lumpy. The energy is moderate to strong, but the wind kills the quality. Sunday the 26th has a moment – a glassy afternoon with a 4ft SW swell and a very long 19-second period, but it’s tiny. The 27th and 28th are marginal to poor.

The final day, Thursday the 30th of July, throws a massive 12ft swell at us with a 16-second period from the WSW, but a 19 mph onshore NNW wind and rain make it a total loss. The energy is extreme (12509), but the conditions are unsurfable.

So for the whole 16 days, the two true standouts are Thursday the 16th and Wednesday the 22nd. The 16th is a big, clean swell for intermediates and up, and the 22nd is a proper expert session with offshore winds and a massive groundswell. Everything else is either too windy, too messy, or too small. Get out there on those days if you can.

Rusty.

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