Dairy Beach (New Pier) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s on the cards for Dairy Beach (New Pier). The next couple of weeks are a bit of a rollercoaster, but there are a few windows where it’ll be worth suiting up.

The first real action kicks off on Saturday, August 1st. Early morning brings some clouds, a moderate SSW breeze blowing offshore, and a solid 7ft SE swell rolling in with a 9-second period. The wave energy is moderate (783), and the combo of offshore wind and clean conditions means the surf should be pretty good. This is a consistent intermediate spot, fairly exposed to the swell, and it’s drawing from the east – the optimum direction. Crowds are often here, so expect company. The water temp is about average for this time of year. By Saturday afternoon, the wind swings S and picks up to 16 mph, turning cross-offshore, and the swell pushes to 8ft SE with a 10-second period and stronger energy (988). The surf gets a bit more marginal, but still rideable.

Sunday morning, August 2nd, offers clear skies with a gentle 9 mph SSW cross-offshore breeze. The swell is up to 8ft SE, period stretching to 11 seconds, and the energy jumps to 1834 – solid moderate-strong stuff. The waves will have more shape, but the cross-off wind might keep it from being perfect. Sunday afternoon sees the swell peak at 10ft SE with a 12-second period and very strong energy (2089). That’s getting big – over 8ft, so it’s expert territory only. The cross-off wind is still there, but the size and power make it a serious challenge.

Now, Monday morning, August 3rd, is a standout. The wind drops to glassy – just 3 mph from the SE, and the swell holds at 7ft SE with a 10-second period. The energy is moderate (971), but the glassy conditions mean the waves will be clean as a whistle. This is the best session on offer for the early part of the forecast. Monday afternoon, the wind shifts to a light cross-onshore, the swell backs off a bit, and the quality drops.

From Tuesday, August 4th, through to the end of the week, it’s a rough patch. Onshore winds, dropping swell, and poor surf conditions dominate. The swell dips below 5ft, and the energy tanks. Thursday, August 6th, has a brief uptick with a 6ft S swell and a short 6-second period, but the wind is howling at 25 mph – it’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle session.

The next real highlight shows up on Monday, August 10th, in the afternoon. A big 12ft S swell hits with a long 13-second period and massive energy (4422). That’s very strong and very long-period groundswell, best suited for a point or reef – but this is a beach/pier break, so it might break too straight and be a handful. The wind is a moderate 12 mph SSW cross-offshore, keeping it clean, but the forecast warns the swell is too big for this break. Strictly for experts, and even then, it’s a maybe.

The rest of the run into the second week – from Tuesday, August 11th, onward – is mostly onshore, messy, and not worth your time. Swells sit around 6-10ft, but the wind is relentless from the NE, and the quality is poor. There’s no standout in that period. The long gap of poor conditions starts after August 3rd and runs through to August 10th’s big swell, with only that one moment of interest.

So, to sum it up: the best bet is Monday morning, August 3rd, with glassy conditions and solid 7ft SE swell. After that, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

Read more