Gilligans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Gilligans is a reef break that’s very consistent and exposed to the south-west swells we’ve got coming. The water temperature is sitting at 86°, which is pretty bang-on average for this time of year, so no surprises there. The wind is gonna be the main character in this story, and for the first few days it’s not a friendly one.

Right now through Friday 24th and Saturday 25th July, it’s messy. Cross-shore and cross-onshore winds around 19 to 16 mph are lumping up a 7 ft swell from the SSE. The combined energy is moderate to strong (950 to 1071), but the surf quality is poor. Honestly, it’s more of a kite session than a paddle session if you’re after any real fun. That size, with that wind, makes it a choppy mess.

Sunday 26th stays a bit ordinary. Swell drops to 5 ft, period short at 9 seconds, and energy is still moderate (561). Wind’s still cross or cross-on, so the waves are lumpy and uninspiring. Not worth rushing out for.

Monday 27th brings a slight improvement. Swell settles to 4 ft with a longer 11-second period, and the wind eases to a light breeze. The wave state is still a bit crossed-up but the morning session is the cleaner call, with energy moderate (638). It’s a marginal day but you could get a few if you’re keen.

Tuesday 28th and Wednesday 29th start to show some hope. Mornings are clean with light cross-off breezes from the ESE. Swell is small, around 3 ft to 4 ft, but the period stretches to 14 seconds, giving the waves some shape. The energy is moderate (559 to 612). It’s not big, but the conditions are good, and you’ll find some fun little runners if you’re patient.

Now, the real standout comes on Thursday 30th July. The morning session is firing: a 4 ft SSW swell with a very long 19-second period, light cross-off wind, and clean conditions. The energy is strong at 1212. This is a groundswell, and at a reef break like Gilligans, those long-period lines will set up beautifully. It’s a classic setup for experienced surfers—the waves will have heaps of push and a clean face. The only thing to watch is that the swell direction is SSW, which matches the optimum swell direction for this spot. This is the best session of the whole period.

Friday 31st July through to Sunday 2nd August sees the swell bump up a bit—4 ft to 5 ft—with periods between 16 and 20 seconds. Energy stays strong (1052 to 2168). The wind remains light, but it’s cross or cross-on, so the surfaces aren’t glassy. The mornings on Friday 31st and Saturday 1st August offer a light cross-shore, which is workable, but the real magic from Thursday morning doesn’t quite repeat. By Sunday 2nd August, the cross-on wind and storm risk make it a marginal call again.

The second week holds some promise, but it’s less certain. Monday 3rd August brings a 6 ft swell with 16-second period and strong energy (2988), but the wind is cross and there’s a storm risk. Tuesday 4th August morning is worth a look: a solid 8 ft SSW swell, 17-second period, and a clean cross-off breeze from the NNW. Energy is very strong at 3169. This is a solid, powerful swell—too big for beginners, but experts will love the juice. The afternoon stays clean too, with 8 ft waves.

Wednesday 5th and Thursday 6th August drop back a bit, with 5 ft to 6 ft swells and light winds. The mornings on Thursday 6th are clean with a gentle cross-off, offering a solid 5 ft wave and moderate energy (947). It’s a good day, but not a standout.

The final highlight is on Friday 7th and Saturday 8th August. Friday morning has a 3 ft SSW swell with an 18-second period and clean cross-off wind—excellent for experienced surfers. Energy is strong (1121). Saturday 8th August, the last day in the window, looks absolutely stunning: glassy conditions with a 7 ft to 8 ft SSW swell, 17 to 18-second period, and very strong energy (3044 to 3623). That’s a massive, clean, long-period groundswell hitting the reef with no wind. It’s going to be a ripper. Expect some crowd, since Gilligans can get populated when it’s good, but for those in the know, this is the session to circle on the calendar.

Overall, the first week is rough until Thursday 30th July, which is the standout, with a smaller but perfect window on Saturday 8th August as the long-range cherry on top.

Rusty

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