Iluka-North Wall Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Iluka-North Wall.

Alright, we’ve got a bit of a mixed bag over the next couple of weeks. The water temperature is sitting at 68°F, which is pretty normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first decent opportunity is actually this Friday morning, the 14th of August. We’ve got a solid 6ft swell pushing in from the south with a 9-second period. The combined energy is a meaty 1000 (moderate-to-strong), and it’s got a cross-off wind from the SSW at 9 mph. That’s going to clean things up nicely. It’s not a huge wave, but it’s good for a beginner-friendly spot like this, and the cleanliness will make it a pleasant paddle. Conditions hold up pretty well for the morning, but by afternoon the wind swings and turns it messy for the rest of the weekend. The swell drops a touch and gets chopped out by crosswinds and rain showers.

After that, we go into a bit of a quiet, poor-quality stretch. From Saturday the 15th through the middle of the following week, the wind is onshore or cross-shore and the swell is small and weak, often under 5ft with short periods and low energy (in the 200-500 range). Not worth the rubber. There’s a brief glimmer on the morning of Thursday the 20th – a clean 4ft south swell with light cross-off winds – but it’s only a 2 out of 10 sort of morning, so don’t get too excited.

The standout, if you want to pencil it in, is Friday the 21st of August in the morning. We’ve got only 4ft of swell, but the wind is glassy – a dead calm NW breeze at 3 mph. That’s a big deal for this exposed break. The wave won’t have much punch, but it’ll be clean and lined up, proper small-wave fun on the longboard. After that, the wind swings and ruins the afternoon.

Then we’ve got a real gap. From the 22nd through the 25th, it’s either tiny or onshore. Saturday the 22nd is clean but tiny – 3ft and 2ft – not enough to get stoked about. Things pick up in size but not in quality. Sunday the 23rd jumps up to a chunky 8ft to 10ft S swell by afternoon with strong crosswinds at 16-19 mph. That’s big, messy, and only for the experienced – and even then, the chop will be nasty. The energy is massive (982-2108), but it’s a wind-blown mess.

Monday the 24th is a chance for the more committed – 6ft S swell with light cross-on wind, but it’s marginal at best. That’s a solid wave height but the wind is just enough to put a ripple on it.

After that, the last week of August and into the first days of September turns into a real battle with the wind. The swell is often small or very large, but the wind is relentless – mostly strong southerlies at 16-19 mph, making for lumpy, choppy conditions. Wednesday the 26th and Thursday the 27th are basically write-offs. Friday the 28th of August shows a massive 8ft to 12ft S swell with a long 11-second period, but the wind is 19 mph from the south, so it’ll be a wild, unruly paddle out, and the waves will close out fast. That’s expert territory, and even then, it’s not going to be pretty. Saturday the 29th of August morning might be the pick of that big-swell window – a cross-off breeze at 16 mph with 8ft S swell and decent energy (1435). If you’re experienced and willing to battle the crowds (it can get busy), that could be a session, but it’s not for the faint-hearted.

So, to sum it up: the best surf is this Friday morning, the 14th of August, with clean, 6ft waves on the south swell. And if you’re after something glassy and mellow, the morning of Friday the 21st of August with 4ft and dead calm wind is a quiet treasure. Everything else is either too small, too windy, or too big and messy for the average punter.

Stay safe, and don’t be afraid to leave the board on the roof if it looks ugly.

Rusty.

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