Hideaway Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s break this down in feet and Fahrenheit.

The next week and a half or so is dominated by a big, solid run of swell, but you’ve got to be smart about when you paddle out. Hideaway is the only spot on the radar, and it’s not for everyone. It’s a reef break that rarely breaks, so these conditions are something special, but it’s advanced only. The water temperature is sitting at about 78°, which is average for this time of year.

We kick off Wednesday afternoon, 8th July, with 10 ft of SSW groundswell and a 17-second period. That’s a lot of energy – we’re talking 5007 on the combined energy scale. It’s big, powerful, and very long period. That combo is going to make it a heavy, bowling wave at Hideaway, but the onshore SW wind at 9 mph is going to mess with the surface. It’s a marginal call at best.

Thursday the 9th still has that same 10 ft of SSW swell, early morning with a cross-on wind. The wave energy is still massive. The wind picks up in the afternoon, dropping the score. Not the best time to go.

Friday the 10th, we see the swell easing to about 8 ft in the morning, and a bit smaller in the afternoon, with the period dropping to 12 seconds. Still a lot of power, but that persistent cross-on wind keeps things average.

Now, listen. Saturday morning, 11th July – that’s the standout. It’s not huge at about 8 ft, but it’s still solid, and the wind is glassy. Glassy! That is a major positive. The swell direction is SSW, and the period is a long 15 seconds. This is the best chance to see Hideaway (reef) absolutely clean and barreling. Combined energy is 3137 – serious power. This is for experienced surfers only.

Saturday afternoon, the wind swings cross-on again and chops it up. Sunday morning the 12th still has a clean 6 ft SSW swell with a nice light cross-off breeze, so that’s a solid second window.

Sunday afternoon fades with more wind, and then from Monday the 13th through to Wednesday the 15th, the swell drops steadily. Monday morning has a clean 3 ft wave, but the period is very long at 18 seconds. That means long lulls and clean, peelable lines, but by the afternoon it’s getting messy.

From Tuesday afternoon the 14th, the swell really drops out. We’re looking at small, weak waves and moderate to fresh cross-shore winds through to Wednesday. Thursday the 16th has a brief spike of about 5 ft from the ESE but with a shocking 7-second period – that’s weak, short-period windswell, not worth getting wet for.

Friday the 17th sees a return of SSW groundswell, about 5 ft with a 17-second period and clean cross-off winds in the morning. That’s promising, but the energy is much lower than the first weekend.

Then we roll into Saturday the 18th. The swell is only about 4 ft, but pay attention to the afternoon: glassy conditions, dead calm wind, and a 16-second period. That’s going to be clean, fun little lines. It’s not a standout for size, but for a glassy afternoon surf, it’s lovely. Sunday the 19th carries that theme with light offshore and glassy winds again on small, 3 ft swell.

Monday the 20th morning looks clean again, about 4 ft with a slight offshore breeze. After that, the pattern gets a bit mixed with some storms and onshore tendencies. The last real highlight is Wednesday morning, 22nd July, with glassy conditions and a consistent 4 ft SW swell.

Overall, the best surf of the whole run is without doubt Saturday morning, 11th July. It’s big, clean, and powerful. Get it while you can. Sunday 12th morning is the runner-up. After that, keep an eye on the 18th and 19th for small, glassy sessions.

Signing off, Rusty.

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