National Park Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, gather ‘round, crew. Rusty here, and I’ve been staring at the charts for this stretch of coast. Let’s be real—this isn’t going to be a week of epic tales. The swell is small, the wind is often messy, and it’s going to be a grind. There’s a sniff of something better in the second week, but we’ve got to earn it.

First up, the overall picture: We’re looking at a long, flat start. The first few days offer nothing worth paddling out for. The water is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, sitting at 68°, about 2° off the average. It’s noticeable, but not a shock to the system. The real story is the lack of decent swell and the persistent onshore or cross-shore wind that’s going to chop up whatever tiny bumps we get.

The dry spell: From Monday, the 31st of August, right through to the end of the week, it’s a write-off. We’re looking at tiny 1ft to 2ft slop with periods under 8 seconds, and the wind is mostly from the wrong direction. The combined energy is weak, often in the 30s (38) and low 100s (112). It’s just not worth the effort.

Then a bit of a tease: On Friday the 4th of September, there’s a moment. Early morning, the wind goes glassy at National Park (point break). The swell is still tiny, 1ft from the East, but it’s clean. The energy is very weak (50), but if you’re desperate for a splash and a longboard, it’s the only window. That’s the best on offer for the first week.

The second week – a glimmer of hope: The following week, things start to look a little more interesting. The morning of Thursday the 10th of September, we get glassy conditions again with a 3ft swell from the East. The energy is still moderate (93), but it’s clean. That’s the standout for the whole period. It’s not firing, but it’s the best we’ll see.

The late call: By Tuesday the 15th of September, we get a bit of a jump. The swell picks up to 5ft from the NE, with a short period of 5 seconds. The energy is moderate (144) and the wind is light cross-off, so it’ll be clean. This is the biggest swell of the entire run, but it’s still not a classic. It’s a good option for a mid-length on a clean day, but don’t expect barrels.

Verdict: The best bet is the Thursday morning, the 10th of September, for the glassy conditions with a 3ft swell. The Tuesday the 15th of September has the most size, at 5ft, but it’s short period. The whole run is a test of patience. A lot of these days, the wind is coming from the wrong side, and the swell is too small. If you’re a kiter, the Wednesday the 9th of September with 6ft and a strong cross-shore might be more your speed than a paddle surfer’s.

Keep your eyes on the horizon. The swell is small, but the forecasts can change. It’s not always this poor.

Rusty.

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