Rest Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, and I’ve had a good look at what’s on the cards for Rest Bay. I’ve got to be straight with you – this is a tough stretch. The forecast doesn’t have any true standouts, but there are a couple of windows that might just be worth a paddle if you’re desperate.

The overall pattern is pretty flat and uninspiring for the next couple of weeks. Most days are delivering tiny, weak swell with poor conditions. The water temp is sitting at a very unusual 68°, which is *much warmer* than normal for this time of year – that’s a real anomaly, over five degrees above the long-term average, so you can leave the thick winter wetsuit at home.

For the first week, it’s a write-off. From Monday the 10th right through to Monday the 17th of August, every session is a struggle. Swell stays below 3ft and most of the time the wind is onshore, cross-onshore, or just messy. The combined wave energy is weak, barely hitting triple digits (212 is the highest on Thursday afternoon). It’s just not doing anything. For beginners, this is fine – the swell never gets over 5ft – but the quality is so poor it’s frustrating. By Wednesday the 12th, we get a little whisper of a groundswell with a 10-second period, but it’s still only 2ft and cross-shore wind chops it up.

Now, the first bit of hope comes on Tuesday the 18th of August. Tuesday afternoon sees a slight bump – 3ft of swell from the W, with a short period of 6 seconds, so it’s weak and won’t have much push. The wind goes cross-off from the ESE at 9 mph, keeping it clean. This is listed as surfable, but very ordinary. The combined energy is 73, which is still weak. For a spot like Rest Bay – a beach and point setup that’s fairly exposed to the SW – you’re going to need that swell to wrap in right, but the direction is wrong for its optimum SW swell direction. This is the "best" of a bad bunch, but don’t expect much.

Wednesday the 19th morning is similar with 2ft and clean offshore wind from the East, but it’s still very small. After that, it drops back into nothingness until Tuesday the 25th of August, when we see 2ft from the WSW again, but it’s onshore wind and messy.

Honestly, if you’re kitesurfing, the combination of weak swell and decent cross-shore winds on some days might look interesting, but for paddle surfing, Rest Bay is in a drought. There are no high-quality options here. If you’re a beginner, the consistent lack of size will keep you safe, but you’ll be fighting onshore chop most days.

Keep an eye on the Tuesday the 18th afternoon session – that’s your *only* real shot, and it’s a long shot.

Rusty.

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