Crescent Head Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s break it down in feet and knots.

We’ve got a solid run of surf on the horizon here at Crescent Head, but it’s not all clean and perfect. The first few days are a bit of a mixed bag, but there are some real gems to chase if you time it right.

The first real action kicks off on Friday, July 31st. The morning session is the standout for the early part of the forecast. We’ve got a solid 7 ft swell rolling in from the S, with a period of 11 seconds. That’s a nice groundswell with decent energy. The wind is blowing cross-off from the SSW at 9 mph, and the conditions are described as clean. This is good, punchy surf for experienced surfers. It’s not a beginner wave at this size. The water temperature is about average for the time of year, so nothing unusual there.

The afternoon of the 31st gets a bit messy with the wind swinging more onshore and the swell dropping slightly. The cross-shore chop will make it less appealing.

Saturday morning, August 1st, cleans up nicely with a smaller 5 ft swell from the SSE and a light cross-off breeze. It’s clean, but the energy has dropped off a fair bit. Still a fun, manageable wave for a good session. The afternoon suffers from a cross-on breeze, so best to get it early.

Now, Sunday morning, August 2nd, is a real highlight. The swell drops to 3 ft, but check this out: it’s a 14-second period groundswell from the SE, and the wind is glassy – dead calm from the NNW. That’s going to be some of the cleanest, most lined-up surf you’ll see. The energy is moderate, and for a point break like Crescent Head, that long period will wrap in beautifully. This is a true stand-out session for the week. The afternoon gets a bit choppy again, so that morning window is the one to lock in.

Monday morning the 3rd is still clean with a 4 ft SSE swell and a light cross-off breeze, but it’s a bit weaker. Good for a cruise.

The middle of the week on Tuesday the 4th sees a real drop in size to just 1 ft. The energy is weak. That’s a flat spell, so don’t bother.

We get a nice little rebound on Wednesday the 5th and Thursday the 6th with 4 ft swells, but the wind is glassy on both mornings. The period is short (7-9 seconds), so it’s more of a windswell, but on a clean glassy morning, anything is surfable.

The weekend of August 8th and 9th is looking promising. The mornings are clean, with Sunday morning (August 9th) offering another glassy, calm session with a 4 ft SE swell. That’s a strong contender for the best session of the second week.

The second week sees a few more days of clean, cross-off wind, but the swell is generally smaller. The standout there is the glassy morning on Sunday the 9th. The later part of the week from the 13th onwards gets hit by strong 19 mph winds from the SW. Even though it’s cross-off, that’s a lot of wind, and the swell energy gets chopped up, making it a tough paddle.

So, look, the absolute best on offer is that glassy Sunday morning, August 2nd. The combination of a long-period groundswell and dead calm wind is a rare treat. The Friday morning, July 31st, is a close second for the bigger, more powerful session. The Sunday morning, August 9th, is the best bet for the second week, but it’s smaller.

Expect some crowds at Crescent Head, especially on those cleaner days, as it’s a popular spot.

Rusty.

Read more