Dairy Beach (New Pier) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let me level with you. The outlook for Dairy Beach (New Pier) for the next 16 days is a proper rollercoaster of near-misses and a couple of windows that are worth the early alarm.

This spot deals mostly with east and southeast swells, but the wind is going to be a serious pain in the neck for most of this run. The water temp is around 70-71°F, about what you’d expect for late summer.

We kick off on Saturday, August 30. It’s not all-time, but there’s something to ride. Saturday morning sees chest-high swell around 5 feet from the ENE, with a 9-second period. The wind is a cross-offshore from the SSW at 18 mph, keeping the surface reasonably clean. The wave energy is moderate (401). It’s surfable, but the report calls it ‘poor surf conditions’. That afternoon, the swell drops a touch to 4 feet from the east, but the period stretches to 10 seconds, giving a bit more shape. Wind stays cross-off, and it’s still just ‘surfable but very ordinary’.

Sunday, August 31 eases up. The wind becomes light, just 6 mph from the SSE, cross-offshore. Swell holds at about 4 feet from the east with a 9-second period. The wave energy is low (226). You’ll find knee-to-waist high waves that are clean, but gutless. Again, the comment says ‘surfable but very ordinary’, so don’t get too excited.

Then we hit a dead zone. Monday, September 1 through to Wednesday, September 3 is mostly a bust with poor surf and messy wind. There’s a tiny blip on Wednesday afternoon, the 2nd, with a 5-foot swell from the south but a short 7-second period, and cross-off winds from the SSE. A weird little window in a flat spell.

Here’s the good part – the one that gets my heart rate up. Thursday, September 4. Friday morning delivers a solid pulse of 10 feet from the SSE, with a 9-second period. The wave energy is strong (1619). And the wind? It’s offshore – a fresh 18 mph from the SSW. That’s big, clean, powerful surf. At over 8 feet, it’s strictly for experts. The afternoon stays decent with 8 feet and cross-off winds, but that morning session is the highlight of the whole forecast.

After that, it goes wonky again. Saturday, September 5 sees a long-period groundswell rolling in from the south, with a 16-second period, but it’s smashed by a strong onshore wind from the NE. Sunday the 6th is the same story – onshore wind ruining an otherwise interesting 12-second swell. It’s a tease.

There is a bit of a cleanup on Monday the 7th and Tuesday the 8th. Tuesday afternoon the 8th is actually labelled ‘expect good surf conditions’. We have 7 feet from the ENE, a 7-second period, and a light cross-offshore breeze from the SSE. The wave energy is moderate (477). That’s a rare window of clean, head-high surf with friendly wind.

But then it all turns to custard again. Wednesday the 9th and Thursday the 10th are back to poor or marginal conditions with fresh winds. Friday the 11th of September sees a massive pulse – 12 feet from the ENE with a 9-second period and a colossal 2304 energy reading – but it’s all ruined by a solid onshore wind from the NE. It’s a total washout for paddling; that’s a day for the kite surfers.

The final weekend, Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th, is the same old tune: decent swell sizes (7 feet to 8 feet) and good energy, but the wind stays onshore and strong. A frustrating end to the window.

So, bottom line: the morning of Friday, September 4 is your best bet – big, clean, offshore power for the experienced. Tuesday afternoon the 8th is the secondary call for intermediate surfers, with manageable size and clean wind. The rest is either flat, blown out, or just not worth the hassle. Keep your wetsuit handy.

Rusty

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