Peak Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here with a look at what’s shaping up for Peak Rock over the next couple of weeks. We’ve got a solid run of surf coming through, starting with a proper groundswell that’ll get the blood pumping. Let’s break it down.

Things kick off on Thursday, 13 August with a chunky 10 ft SW groundswell, period a very long 16 seconds. That’s a lot of energy – combined swell energy is a hefty 5036 (strong). Morning’s a bit onshore with a 16 mph cross-off breeze, making it a bit lumpy, but the afternoon cleans right up with a light 6 mph cross-off. The break is a reef setup, best on a SSW swell direction, and this SW swell is in the ballpark. It’s a standout session for experienced surfers, with clean faces, but that size – over 8 ft – means it’s experts-only. Water temps are about average for this time of year, nothing unusual going on. Crowds are sometimes an issue here, so you might have a few others in the water.

Friday, 14 August keeps the 10 ft SW swell, but the morning cross-off wind picks up to 12 mph, still clean but the energy drops a notch (3920 – still moderate). By the afternoon, the wind swings SW at 12 mph and goes cross-shore, putting a cross-chop on the surface. Not the best.

Saturday morning, 15 August, sees the swell ease to 8 ft, still a long 15-second period from the SW, but an ESE cross-on breeze at 6 mph introduces small ripples. The afternoon gets ugly with a 12 mph onshore wind, so no good.

Sunday and Monday, 16–17 August, the swell backs off further to 5–6 ft. The period stays long, but winds are mostly cross or cross-on, keeping conditions marginal. The combined energy drops into the 1000–1500 range (moderate). Not worth rushing for.

Tuesday, 18 August, is a bit of a turnaround. Morning brings a 4 ft SW swell with a 14-second period, and a light 9 mph NNE cross-off breeze keeps it clean. The combined energy is 1086 (moderate), and the forecast says “very good surf conditions.” A smaller, cleaner window for intermediate surfers.

Wednesday, 19 August, the swell plummets to 3 ft. Morning has a 16 mph cross-off, but it’s just too small. Afternoon sees a 2 ft SW groundswell with a moderate 12 mph offshore – clean but “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions” sums it up.

From Thursday, 20 August through Monday, 25 August, we’re in a mixed bag. Swell hovers between 4 ft and 6 ft, with a few stronger pulses on the 22nd (6–6 ft, 13–14 second period). But winds are mostly fresh to strong breezes (19–28 mph) from the north and west, creating messy or overpowering conditions. The 23rd has a strong offshore at 28 mph, hard to paddle into, and the 25th sees a 12 ft WSW swell with strong cross-shore winds – that’s a kite-surfing setup if anything.

Tuesday, 25 August afternoon stays messy, with 10 ft SW swell and strong cross-shore wind, again only for the kite crew.

Wednesday, 26 August, the swell drops to 7–8 ft, but cross-onshore winds continue, making it lumpy and poor.

Now, here’s the real standout again: Thursday, 27 August. Morning brings a 6 ft SW groundswell, period a very long 17 seconds, under glassy conditions with 3 mph SE winds. Combined swell energy is 2320 (moderate), and the call is “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” That glassy surface with such a long period groundswell will wrap into this reef beautifully – clean, powerful lines. Experts only due to the size and period.

Friday, 28 August morning, another glassy session with a 5 ft SW swell (15-second period), combined energy 1185 (moderate), and a “very good surf conditions” forecast. Clean, smaller, and more accessible for intermediate surfers.

So, the two absolute standouts are Thursday afternoon, 13 August (10 ft SW, 16 seconds, clean cross-off, experts) and Thursday morning, 27 August (6 ft SW, 17 seconds, glassy, experts). For the less experienced, target the morning of Tuesday, 18 August (4 ft, clean cross-off) or the morning of Friday, 28 August (5 ft, glassy). There’s a gap of poor conditions from late August 14 through August 17, and another rough patch from August 22–26, but the good windows are worth waiting for. Stay on it.

Rusty.

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