Mala wharf Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on offer for the next couple of weeks.

Overall, it’s a run of small, clean, manageable waves. There’s nothing big or powerful in the mix, but if you’re after a longboard or a fun little twin-fin, the conditions are surprisingly good for that. The key here is the wind: it’s almost always offshore or light, which means the surface will be glassy or lightly textured. The real standout is the consistency of the clean conditions, not the size of the swell.

We start off on Tuesday, 21 July at Mala wharf (reef). The swell is tiny at 2ft from the south, with a period of 14 seconds. That’s a long-period groundswell, which gives the waves some shape and energy despite the size. The combined energy is moderate at 140. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the ENE at 6 mph, keeping things clean. The water temperature is 80°F, which is about 1°F warmer than usual for this time of year, so nothing unusual there. Tuesday afternoon holds the same small swell, but the wind turns more offshore from the NE, so it’ll be even cleaner.

Wednesday the 22nd sees the swell shift to the southwest, still tiny at 1ft, but the period jumps to 24 seconds in the morning. That’s a very long-period groundswell. It’s proper energy for the size, with combined energy at 165. The wind is gentle offshore from the ENE. This is the best on offer for the first week. The waves will be lined up and clean, but with that long period, expect long lulls between sets. It’s a point-break vibe on a reef, so those long-period swells will wrap in nicely. Wednesday afternoon is similar, with a moderate offshore breeze.

The rest of the week through to Monday the 28th is a repeat of this theme: small swell (1ft to 2ft), mostly from the SSW or SW, with periods between 15 and 18 seconds. The wind stays offshore or cross-offshore, and the combined energy stays moderate, ranging from 87 to 229. There are a couple of afternoons where the wind picks up to 12 mph, but it’s still offshore, so it’s fine. Saturday the 25th afternoon has the highest combined energy at 229, with a 2ft SSW swell and 18-second period. That’s a solid little pulse for the size.

From Tuesday the 28th through to early August, the swell drops back a bit more, with combined energy dipping into the double digits (64 to 139). The wind stays light and offshore, so the conditions remain clean, but the waves are tiny. By the time we get to the 31st of July, there’s a little spike in combined energy to 236 on the Friday afternoon, with a 2ft west swell and 13-second period. That’s a decent little bump for the end of the month.

The real standout here is the constant offshore wind. From Tuesday the 21st right through to the 5th of August, there’s almost no onshore wind. The waves are small, but the surface will be butter-smooth for most of the period. The best bet is Wednesday the 22nd morning, with that 24-second period and clean offshore wind. It’s not a day for big barrels, but for a glidey, drawn-out wave, that’s the pick.

If you’re a beginner, the swell never gets above 2ft, so it’s entirely safe. For experts, it’s a bit of a cruiser session. The lack of size means you’ll be working for your turns, but the quality of the wave shape from that long-period groundswell is worth the paddle.

Crowds at Mala wharf are possible – it’s a spot that can get busy when it’s clean, and with the consistent offshore winds, expect some company. The break is consistent, so you’ll get waves, but you might have to share.

So, in short: small, clean, and long-period. Not a week for throwing spray, but a beautiful week for trimming and getting your flow back.

Rusty.

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