Dreamland Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty, and I’ve got a good long look at what’s on offer for the next 16 days at Dreamland. It’s a beach and reef setup, fairly exposed to the swell, and the open water here is sitting at 79°F, with a water temperature anomaly of -0.2°F, which is dead average for this time of year – nothing weird going on in the ocean temp. The swell direction you want is from the SW, and that’s pretty much what we’re getting.

The pattern is a solid, sustained run of SSW groundswell, with a long period well over 15 seconds for most of it. This isn’t a quick, choppy windswell; this is real energy moving through. The combined energy of all swells directed here is into the strong to very strong range, with values like 3333 and 3610 kicking it off. That’s proper power. The catch is the wind. It’s consistently a cross-offshore breeze from the ESE or SE, moderate at 15 to 25 mph, which keeps the surface clean, but it’s not a true offshore. The waves are going to be lined up, but with that long period groundswell, Dreamland being a beach and reef, the sets might run a bit straight on the beach sections. The reef part could be holding it together better.

Starting on Friday, 7 August, it’s already 8 ft of SSW swell at 17 seconds, with a combined energy of 3333. The wind is a cross-off ESE at 16 mph, so the face is clean. This is on the bigger side, over 8 ft, which puts it in the expert-only zone. The waves will have grunt, but the tide could be a factor. Saturday, 8 August, holds similar size and energy, 8 ft at 16 seconds, still with a cross-off wind. The standouts here are the two days on Monday, 10 August and Tuesday, 11 August. Monday morning drops to 6 ft, still with a 19-second period, but the energy is up to 3796. The wind is lighter at 9 mph from the SE, cross-off, so it’s glassy. Then Monday afternoon bumps to 10 ft at 18 seconds with a combined energy of 5492. That’s a massive pulse. Tuesday morning is the best on offer: 10 ft at 17 seconds, energy at 5008, and a gentle 9 mph SSE breeze – clean and powerful. The score on that morning is the highest in the window, and it’s the only time the wave comment says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” That’s the one to circle. For experienced crew only, though – 10 ft is too big for beginners.

After that, Wednesday, 12 August, has a moment with a morning offshore wind from the ESE at 16 mph, a rare true offshore. Swell is 8 ft at 17 seconds, energy 3572. The wind state is “moderate offshore and clean,” which is a major positive. The rest of the first week holds steady, with Thursday, 13 August, seeing another big pulse at 12 ft in the morning, energy 6369, but that’s a monster and the wind is still cross-off. It’s fine for experts, but gnarly.

The second week, from around 15 August onwards, the swell drops back a bit. Saturday, 15 August, is 6 ft at 15 seconds, energy 2563, with a lighter 9 mph wind from the SSE. Still clean, but the energy is lower. The run from 17 August (Monday) shows a real dip – 5 ft and 5 ft, energy down to 1147 and 1196. That’s weak compared to the earlier stuff. Then it builds again: Tuesday, 18 August, afternoon at 8 ft and 17 seconds, energy 3393, back to solid. Wednesday, 19 August, has a 10 ft pulse at 18 seconds, energy 4958, and by Thursday, 20 August, the direction shifts slightly to SW, still 8 ft and 17 seconds. The last few days, Friday 21 August and Saturday 22 August, taper off to 7 ft and 6 ft, with the energy dropping to 1923 and 1576. The wind stays cross-off the whole time, so it’s always clean, but the punch fades.

Crowds at Dreamland are noted as “sometimes” busy, so you can expect a few people out, especially on the Tuesday morning standout. It’s a fairly consistent break, so it’s not a rare event, but this long-period groundswell and the size mean the reef section is your best bet for a proper wave. The beach might be too straight with that 15-17 second period.

The best on offer is Tuesday morning, 11 August. That’s the one. Monday afternoon, 10 August, is a close second with that massive 10 ft and 5492 energy, but Tuesday has the gentler wind and the highest quality rating. If you’re an expert, get in the water. For everyone else, the 6 ft to 7 ft days later in the second week, like 15 August or 16 August, are still clean and way more manageable.

Rusty.

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