Peak Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let's have a look at the 16-day window. We’re starting off with a bit of a slow grind, but the end of this week and into next week has some real potential. The standout session is Sunday the 23rd of August, with the run-up to it on Saturday looking like a story of power but messy conditions. There’s a solid run of cleaner swell from the 23rd through the 25th, before it gets patchy again. The water’s sitting at 56°, which is about average for this time of year, so no drama with a chilly surprise.

First decent call is Peak Rock on Saturday, the 22nd of August. The swell is building fast – 7 ft from the SW in the morning and jumping to 12 ft by the afternoon. That’s a heavy increase, and with 19 mph cross-shore wind, it’s going to be a lumpy, mean looking ocean. The combined energy is ramping up from 3328 to 4274, so there’s plenty of grunt, but the wind is ruining the shape. Too big for beginners anyway, but for the experienced crew, it’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle session.

Now, Sunday the 23rd is the real gem. That morning it’s 7 ft SW groundswell with a 15-second period, and the wind is NNW offshore at 9 mph. That’s gentle offshore and clean. Combined energy is 2369, so there’s moderate power with good shape. The afternoon glass off is even better – dropping to 6 ft with 3 mph glassy conditions. This is a reef break that handles a long-period SW swell well, and it’s going to offer some excellent, clean waves for experienced surfers. This is the pick of the forecast.

Monday the 24th keeps that momentum going, but with a bit less power. 5 ft SW groundswell in the morning with a fresh 19 mph offshore from the NNW, giving clean walls. By the afternoon it’s 5 ft and the offshore drops to 9 mph, still very surfable. Crowds are possible here at times, so get in early.

Tuesday the 25th is another classic call. It starts a bit messy with a SE cross-on breeze, but the afternoon is magic. Full glass, 6 ft SW swell at 13 seconds. Excellent conditions for experienced surfers, and the combined energy sits at 1579 – decent push for a clean wave. This is a solid backup to Sunday.

From Wednesday the 26th through to Thursday the 27th, it really drops off. Swell shrinks to 4 ft and the wind turns onshore or cross-onshore, choppy and poor. Not worth paddling out.

Friday the 28th sees a new pulse of very long-period SW groundswell – 7 ft in the morning with a 17-second period. The wind is cross-off from the NNE at 12 mph, so it stays clean. Combined energy is 2611. That’s a heap of energy, but with that kind of period on a reef, it should set up nicely. The afternoon gets even cleaner with a 9 mph offshore from the NNW and a 7 ft swell. This is a standout for the second week – promising, but a bit further out.

Saturday the 29th is still okay but fading. 5 ft SW in the morning with a cross-off breeze, then it gets light and cross-on in the afternoon. Worth a look if the Friday window doesn’t pan out.

From the 30th of August to the 31st, it’s back to onshore junk and small swell. Then into September, there’s another pulse of 7 ft SW groundswell on the 1st of September, but the wind is light and cross, so it’s marginal. The 2nd of September cleans up nicely with offshore winds and 5-5 ft swell – good surf for the experienced crew.

The 3rd of September has 4 ft SW swell but 25 mph offshore winds. That’s clean, but so windy you’ll struggle to paddle into anything. The 4th and 5th of September show a drop in period to 8 seconds and strong winds, making it poor to marginal at best.

Bottom line: Sunday the 23rd of August is the absolute stand-out. If you can’t make that, then Friday the 28th of August and Tuesday the 25th are your next best bets. The rest of the window has holes, but when it’s on, it’s on.

Rusty.

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