Hennemans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – this 16-day window for Hennemans is a bit of a mixed bag, and it’s not firing on all cylinders. We’ve got a slow start, then a long stretch of marginal conditions, before a few sessions that might just get the heart rate up.

The first few days are a write-off. Friday the 17th and Saturday the 18th are a no-go – poor surf with cross-onshore winds and choppy, messy lines. The swell is small and weak, with combined energy around 234 to 461, and the wind is just ruining any chance of a clean wave. You’re better off staying home.

From Sunday the 19th through to Thursday the 24th, it’s a frustrating grind. The swell bumps up a bit – we’re seeing 3 ft to 5 ft from the SW and SSW – but the wind is persistently cross-onshore or onshore, and the conditions are described as marginal at best. The combined energy climbs into the 600s and 800s, showing there’s some push, but it’s not clean. A few sessions have a light breeze, which might offer a window, but the guidance calls it ‘questionable tide conditions’ or ‘fairly choppy’. It’s not the kind of surf you’d drive across town for.

Now, the standout window starts to appear around Friday the 25th of July. The morning sees a 3 ft SW swell with a very long period of 21 seconds, and combined energy of 1140 – that’s moderate to strong energy. The wind is a gentle cross-onshore, so there’s some texture, but the long period means better shaped waves and more energy, though it can make beach breaks a bit too straight. This is a reef, so that long period should work well here. The water is sitting at 72°, which is a notable 5° warmer than normal – very unusual for this time of year, so you might not need a thick wetsuit.

The real highlight, though, is Monday the 27th of July. The morning offers a 4 ft SW swell, period of 18 seconds, and combined energy of 1202, with a light onshore breeze. The afternoon looks even better: 4 ft SW swell, 19-second period, and a combined energy of 1362 – that’s strong energy. The wind swings to a light cross-onshore, which is as good as it gets here. The waves will have real push, and the long period will create some proper lines on this reef. It’s the best on offer, but keep in mind the crowds are listed as ‘sometimes’, so you might have company.

Beyond that, Tuesday the 28th still has decent energy (1025-1120) with 4-4 ft SW swell and light winds, but it’s a step down. From Wednesday the 29th onward, the energy fades fast, dropping into the 700s and then 200s by the 31st and into August, with poor surf conditions and small, weak swell.

So, to sum it up: the best days are the 25th and 27th of July, with Monday the 27th being the standout. It’s not a perfect run, but there’s promise in the second week. Keep an eye on the forecasts, because this reef can surprise you.

Rusty.

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