Donuts Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – it’s a tough stretch ahead for Donuts. This reef break is sheltered and fussy, and the next two weeks are mostly a write-off for decent waves. We’ve got a long, dry gap from now through to the 21st of July, with hardly anything worth paddling out for. The water’s sitting at 70°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least you won’t freeze while you’re waiting.

The first sign of life comes on Tuesday the 21st of July, with a marginal surf forecast – a 3 ft swell from the southwest at 16 seconds. That’s a long-period groundswell, which can mean better shaped waves at a reef like Donuts, but the energy is moderate (464) and the wind is light and onshore, so it’s not going to be clean. It’s a “maybe” day, not a standout.

The only real standout in the whole 16-day window is Saturday the 25th of July. That morning, we see a 5 ft swell from the south-southwest, with a period of 14 seconds – that’s solid groundswell energy. The combined energy hits 1014, which is strong stuff. But here’s the catch: the wind is blowing cross-onshore at 9 mph from the west-northwest, making it choppy. The forecast still says “poor surf conditions,” so while the size is there, the quality is going to be rough. This is not a day for beginners – 5 ft is pushing it for the less experienced, and the chop will make it tough. It’s the best on offer, but it’s a bit of a brute.

Donuts is inconsistent, and it rarely breaks well. With crowds listed as “sometimes,” you might have a few others out there, but honestly, most people will give this period a miss. The south-west swell direction is right in the optimum window for this spot, but the wind just never lines up right. If you’re desperate, the 25th is your best shot, but keep your expectations low.

Rusty.

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