Hideaway Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Hey folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks. We’ve got one spot, and one spot only, that’s worth paddling out for: Hideaway. This is a shallow reef setup, so it’s for advanced crew only, and it’s a rare breaker – it doesn’t fire often, so when it does, you gotta be on it. The water is sitting at 77°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no wetsuit dramas.

The first proper swell hits on Monday, 20 July, with a solid pulse of 6 ft from the SSW. That’s a long-period groundswell at 20 seconds, packing a massive 3618 (strong energy) in the water. The wind is cross-off from the ENE at 12 mph, so it’s clean but not perfect. It’s a bit of a challenge, and the tide might play games, so it’s a “marginal” call for experienced surfers only. The same 6 ft carries into the afternoon, but the wind picks up to 16 mph, making it less appealing.

Tuesday, 21 July, sees a slight drop to 5 ft, but the period stays long at 16 seconds, and the energy is still very strong at 1533. Morning winds are light and cross-off at 6 mph, so it’s clean and fun for the advanced crew. The afternoon is similar, with 5 ft and 16-second period, but the wind stays light and cross-off. This is a decent window for those who know the reef.

Wednesday, 22 July, is the real standout. In the morning, we get a glassy 4 ft from the SSW, with a 14-second period. The wind is almost nothing – a glassy 3 mph from the WNW. That’s about as clean as it gets. The energy is still moderate at 840, but for a rare reef like this, that glassy morning is a gift. The 21 July is the best early option, but Wednesday morning is the real gem.

From Thursday, 23 July, through to the end of the month, the swell drops off and the wind turns more cross-shore. The swell jumps back up on Monday, 27 July, with 6 ft from the SSW, but it’s a bit messy with cross-shore winds. The real standout in the second week is Tuesday, 28 July. That morning, we’ve got a solid 8 ft from the SSW, with a 15-second period and 2330 (strong energy). The wind is light and cross-off from the E at 6 mph, making it clean. This is big for the reef – over 8 ft would be experts only, but 8 ft is still a serious paddle for the advanced crew. Expect excellent conditions for experienced surfers.

Wednesday, 29 July, keeps the 6 ft going with a 13-second period, and the morning is clean with light cross-off winds. The energy is still strong at 1642. The first weekend of August (1-2 August) sees a big pulse of 8 ft to 8 ft from the SSW, with 18-second periods, but the wind is cross-shore at 12-16 mph, so it’s a bit of a battle. The energy is huge (3480-4230), but it’s not clean enough for a true standout. The real last call is Monday, 3 August, with 7 ft and a 15-second period, light cross-off wind, and clean conditions. That’s a solid, powerful session for the experts.

Overall, this is a spot that rarely breaks, so the fact that we’ve got a few solid windows – especially Wednesday 22 July morning, Tuesday 28 July morning, and Monday 3 August morning – is a treat. The reef will be working, but it’s not for the faint-hearted. If you’re a beginner, this is way too big and shallow. The long period groundswell (over 15 seconds) means it’ll be a bit straight at the beach, but on a reef like Hideaway, it’ll throw some nice barrels. Crowds are possible – it’s a “sometimes” spot, so you might have a few others in the know.

Rusty out.

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