National Park Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for National Park.

It’s a bit of a slow start, but the waiting game pays off. We’ve got a solid run coming through the middle of the week and into the weekend, with some real power building. The water temp is sitting at 70° right now, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

We kick off on Tuesday morning, September 8th. It’s small, with a 2ft swell from the ENE, but the wind is light offshore from the SE, keeping things clean. The wave energy is weak (72), so you’re not getting much push, but it’s a start. The afternoon picks up a bit of wind, still offshore, but the swell drops to 2ft. Not much to write home about.

Then Wednesday, September 9th, things wake up. The morning brings a nice jump to 5ft from the SSE, with a gentle offshore SSE breeze. The swell period is 8 seconds, so it's a short-period wind swell, but the energy is moderate (365) and the conditions are clean. That’s a solid session for the intermediate surfer. The afternoon sees the swell drop back and the wind goes cross-offshore, so it’s still ridable but nothing special.

Now, Thursday, September 10th, is where it gets interesting. The morning has a solid 8ft swell from the SSE, but the wind is a fresh 35 km/h offshore. That’s a lot of wind. The wave energy is strong (708). It’s going to be big and powerful, but that wind is going to make it a battle. The afternoon is the real standout for the whole forecast. The swell bumps up to 10ft from the SE, with a fresh offshore wind. The energy is very strong (1149). This is big, powerful surf. It’s going to be a heavy, hollow wave, but honestly, that’s too big for this break. If you’re an expert, you’ll be looking at it, but for most, it’s going to be a real challenge. The wind is offshore, so the faces will be clean, but the size is the issue.

Friday, September 11th, the swell is still pumping at 8ft in the morning from the SE, with a moderate offshore wind. The energy is strong (804). This is another big day, but it’s more manageable than Thursday. The morning is the pick here, as the afternoon gets a bit messy with rain showers and a stronger wind.

Saturday, September 12th, the swell eases to 7ft from the ESE, with a moderate offshore wind. The energy is moderate (408). It’s a solid, fun day for intermediate surfers. The afternoon is still good, with 6ft from the ESE.

After that, the surf fades. Sunday, September 13th, through to the end of the forecast, we see a steady drop in size and quality. The swell hangs around 3ft to 5ft, and while the wind is still mostly offshore, the wave energy drops to the low 100s and below. The last week is a long stretch of small, weak surf. There’s a gap from around September 18th right through to the 23rd with nothing really worth paddling out for.

The best bet is the morning of Friday, September 11th. You’ve got a strong 8ft swell from the SE, moderate offshore wind, and strong energy. It’s big, but it’s clean. Just be aware, the swell is from the SE, which isn’t the optimum direction for National Park. It’s a bit of an inside swell, but the offshore wind will make it work. The real standout, if you’re an expert, is the afternoon of Thursday, September 10th, but that’s a serious, heavy day.

Rusty out.

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