Rainbow Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here.

Well, mate, I’ve got to be straight with you – the outlook for Rainbow Bay over the next 16 days is a tough one. We’re looking at a long, dry spell with very little to get excited about. The first solid recommendation doesn’t pop up until the morning of Friday the 11th of September, so that’s a real gap of almost a week and a half of flat, messy, or just plain poor conditions. Until then, it’s a whole lot of nothing.

The water temp is sitting at 69°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year – nothing unusual there.

Alright, let’s run through the few moments that might be worth a paddle.

Friday 11th September – Morning (Rainbow Bay, point)
This is the first real glimmer of hope. We’ve got a clean, moderate offshore wind from the SSE blowing at 16 mph, which is a major positive. The swell is a small 3 ft, but it’s coming from the SSE with a very long period of 17 seconds – that’s proper groundswell. The combined wave energy is a solid 726 (moderate to strong). Now, those long-period swells can be a bit tricky at a beach break, but Rainbow Bay is a point, so it should groom up nicely. The wave comment says “marginal surf forecast,” but given the offshore wind and the quality of the swell, this is your best bet. It’s a beginner-friendly spot, but with the clean conditions, it’ll be fun for all levels. Keep in mind crowds are often here.

Saturday 12th September – Morning (Rainbow Bay)
The morning sees a similar setup: SSE swell at 4 ft with a period of 10 seconds, clean with cross-offshore winds from the SE at 9 mph. The combined energy is 404 (moderate). The wave comment is “marginal surf forecast,” but it’s still surfable. The afternoon is a bit smaller at 4 ft and the comment is “surfable waves but very ordinary.” It’s okay, but nothing special.

Sunday 13th September – Morning (Rainbow Bay)
This is the last mentionable window. The swell drops to 3 ft from the SSE, period 10 seconds, with a light SE breeze at 6 mph creating clean conditions. The combined energy is 227 (moderate). The comment is “surfable waves but very ordinary.” It’s a small, clean morning that might be worth a look if you’re desperate for a session.

Honestly, the standout by a long shot is the Friday 11th morning. The combination of a long-period groundswell, offshore wind, and the point break setup should produce some clean, lined-up waves. It’s the only time in the whole forecast that feels like it has real potential. After that, things drop off again into poor conditions.

So, to sum it up: a lot of waiting, then one decent morning to aim for. Keep an eye on the forecasts, but don’t hold your breath.

Rusty.

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