Donkin Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty, and I’ve got the goods on the next 16 days at Donkin Bay (a reef and point break). We’re looking at a pretty solid run of surf, but you’ve got to pick your moments. There’s a bit of a slow start, but once we get past the first few days, the quality really starts to shine. The water’s sitting at 56°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year.

Alright, first up, Wednesday the 5th is a write-off. The swell’s there, with a 4 ft SW groundswell and a long 16-second period, but the NW wind is blowing cross-on at 12 mph, making it choppy and poor. Combined swell energy is weak at 808. Not worth a paddle.

Thursday the 6th shows more size – 8 ft from the WSW with a 13-second period – but the morning’s still cross-on with a light breeze. The afternoon cleans up nicely with a cross-off S wind at 12 mph, getting a score of 3. The combined energy is strong at 2113. It’s getting there.

Now, Friday the 7th is a standout. Friday morning is the pick of the whole run. You’ve got 8 ft of WSW swell at 13 seconds, clean conditions with a slight SSE breeze blowing cross-off, and combined energy of 2148. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. The water’s still that bit colder, but who cares when it’s this good.

Saturday the 8th is still solid size – 7 to 6 ft from the SW – but the morning’s clean with a fresh S breeze before it gets lumpy in the afternoon. Worth a dawny.

Sunday the 9th is a beast, but it’s too much of a good thing. We’re looking at 10 ft of SW swell with a 13-second period. The combined energy is a massive 4126. The wind is favourable, and it’s clean, but the swell is predicted to be too big for this break. Only for the experts, if anyone.

Monday the 10th drops back to 5 ft from the SW, clean, but the combined energy drops to 595. It’s marginal.

Tuesday the 11th is tiny – 2 ft – with strong offshore ESE winds at 19 mph. The combined energy is 243. Not much going on.

The next real highlight is Thursday the 13th. The morning is glassy – calm wind, zero knots – with 5 ft of WSW swell at a very long 16-second period. Combined energy is 1196. This is excellent surf. The afternoon stays clean with a light cross-off breeze. This is a proper stand-out session for experienced surfers.

Friday the 14th is still good with 5 ft clean surf in the morning, but it gets a bit jumbled later.

Saturday the 15th and Sunday the 16th see size around 4 ft to 5 ft, with Sunday the 16th morning looking very good again – glassy, 5 ft, and 12-second swell from the WSW.

Monday the 17th is back to 5 ft to 5 ft, but the wind is cross or cross-on, so not as clean.

Tuesday the 18th bumps back up to 7 ft to 8 ft, but with onshore and cross-onshore winds, it’s messy.

Wednesday the 19th and Thursday the 20th taper off with smaller, choppy conditions as the wind picks up.

So, the best on offer is Friday morning the 7th and Thursday morning the 13th. Both are excellent, with clean conditions and solid, long-period groundswell. If you can only get out once, make it Friday morning.

Rusty

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