Rest Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s have it straight from the water.

First up, I’m not gonna sugarcoat it: the next two weeks look pretty grim for Rest Bay. We’re talking a long, dry spell with barely a ripple worth paddling for. The whole 16-day window starts with a big fat zero – no surf to speak of for the first week or so. From the 28th of July right through to the 5th of August, the swell is tiny, wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, and the wave energy is weak as dishwater. The combined energy figures are all in the low double digits or single digits, like 24, 16, 11 – that’s not even enough to get a longboard sliding. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual.

The first real lift in energy comes around the 10th of August, Monday morning, when we see a little bump to 1ft from the WSW, period around 10 seconds, and combined energy hitting 38. That’s still small, but at least the wind is lighter – a gentle cross-onshore, not too messy. The 11th of August, Tuesday morning, looks a bit better: 2ft from the WSW, period 9 seconds, combined energy 65, and a light cross-shore breeze from the south. That’s probably the pick of the whole lot – small, clean-ish, and surfable for a longboard or a funboard. The 12th of August, Wednesday morning, holds similar size at 2ft from the SW, period 9 seconds, energy 82, with only a light cross-onshore breeze.

But let’s be honest – none of these are standouts. The swell is barely waist-high, the period is short to moderate, and the direction is all WSW to SW, which is okay for Rest Bay but not firing. The best on offer is the 11th August morning, with that light cross-shore wind and a bit of energy, but it’s still small. If you’re a beginner, this is about your speed – nothing over 5ft at any point, so it’s safe. For the experienced crew, it’s a bit of a tease.

Crowds at Rest Bay can be an issue when it’s even half decent, so expect a few heads out even for these tiny waves. The consistency is fairly consistent, but that doesn’t mean much when the swell is this weak. This is a classic summer lull for the area – not unusual, but frustrating.

If you’re into kitesurfing, the stronger onshore winds on the 30th and 31st of July might give you something to play with, but for paddle surfing, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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