Halfway Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a solid 16-day window ahead at Halfway, but don’t expect perfection every day—there’s a lot of wind and energy to work through before we hit the real sweet spot.

The overall pattern is consistent south-west swell, but it’s accompanied by a persistent cross-off wind from the east-southeast. That breeze is going to keep things clean but not glassy, so the waves will be workable, not pristine. The swell energy is moderate to strong, with the combined energy readings mostly in the three-digit range, and even hitting four digits at times—like 912 on Saturday morning (18 July) and climbing to 2052 on Monday morning (20 July). That’s a decent amount of grunt in the water.

For the first few days, from Saturday 18 July through to Tuesday 21 July, we’re looking at waist-to-chest high swell, around 4 ft to 5 ft, with a long period of 13 to 16 seconds. That’s proper groundswell, which means better shape and more energy, but at a beach break like Halfway, those long-period waves can sometimes stand up a bit too straight. The wind is a steady 18 to 19 mph from the ESE, so it’s cross-off—clean enough to surf, but it’ll be a bit bumpy. The scores are low across the board, so don’t get your hopes up for epic sessions just yet.

The mid-week from Wednesday 22 July to Friday 24 July sees the swell drop back to under 3 ft on some afternoons, and the energy dips to around 500–700. Not great, but the wind eases to 12–16 mph, so it’s a bit more manageable. Still, water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual.

Now, the standout period starts to build from the end of the first week and into the second. On Monday 27 July, we get a 21-second period swell from the SSW at 4 ft, with offshore wind in the morning—that’s a game-changer. The energy jumps to 1466, and the combo of offshore wind and long-period groundswell at Halfway (a point setup) is a recipe for clean, lined-up waves. That’s the first real highlight, but it’s still building.

The real gem is Tuesday 28 July morning. That’s the day to circle. We’ve got a 5 ft SSW swell with an 18-second period, offshore wind from the ESE at 16 mph, and the combined energy hits 1966. The wave comment says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers,” and I’m with that. The swell is over 5 ft, so it’s not for beginners, but for intermediate and above, this is the best on offer. The direction is right on the optimum SW, and the offshore wind will keep the faces clean. No crowds mentioned, but it’s a consistent spot, so you might have company.

From Wednesday 29 July into the first few days of August, the swell stays solid—5 ft to 7 ft, with periods of 15 to 18 seconds. The wind remains cross-off, so not as clean as Tuesday 28 July, but still surfable. The energy readings are strong, hitting 2998 on Sunday 2 August morning. That’s a lot of power, but the wind isn’t helping it get perfect. If you’re an expert, you’ll find something to enjoy, but for the average surfer, the Tuesday 28 July morning window is the one to aim for.

No major gaps in the swell—it’s pretty consistent throughout, but the quality is held back by the wind. The best bet is Tuesday 28 July morning, and Monday 27 July morning is also worth a look if you can’t wait.

Rusty out.

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