Rimmers Road Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for Rimmers Road over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a slow start. Wednesday the 16th and Thursday the 17th are pretty marginal. You’ve got some waist-high plus swell from the SW on Wednesday morning, around 5ft, and the wind is light offshore from the west, so the morning could be worth a paddle if you’re desperate, but the energy is weak (807) and the forecast doesn't get too excited. Thursday morning sees a little more size, 5ft from the WSW, with a cross-offshore NNE breeze that should keep things reasonably clean, but again, nothing to write home about. The water temp is sitting at 59°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting and a bit hairy. From Friday the 18th right through to Monday the 21st, a big pulse of SW groundswell rolls in. We’re talking 13ft to 18ft surf. That’s serious juice. The combined wave energy during this period is massive, hitting values like 7430 and even 12600 later on. But here’s the thing – Rimmers Road is a beginner-friendly, very consistent spot that is exposed to the swell, and when it gets this big, it’s not just too big for learners; it’s too big for most paddlers. The wind is howling out of the SSW and WSW at 19-22 mph, creating lumpy, cross-onshore conditions. Friday morning might have the swell direction and size, but with the wind on it, it’s a mess. Looks more like a kiteboarding show than a surf session, to be honest. I wouldn’t bother paddling out during that stretch unless you’ve got a death wish and a big gun. The sets will be long-period (11-17 seconds), which means lots of energy but long lulls between bombs, and at a beach break, that long period can make things close out and break too straight.

We get a little reprieve Tuesday the 22nd morning, with the swell dropping to 8ft from the WSW. Still, wind is onshore and the conditions are only marginal. Not worth rushing for.

Now, keep your eye on Thursday the 24th through to Sunday the 27th. This is the standout window. The swell size is still solid – 12ft to 13ft on the 24th – but the wind finally plays ball. On Thursday morning, we get a light cross-offshore breeze from the SE, and the afternoon stays clean with an ESE breeze. The water will be clean, and the energy (6473-7292) is strong. This is still big, expert-level stuff, but it’s clean and powerful. If you’re a charger, that Thursday is the best on offer for the first week.

Then we roll into the second week. Friday the 25th morning is a real highlight: 8ft SW swell at a very long 16-second period, with a light cross-offshore SSE breeze. The water will be glassy clean. This is excellent for experienced surfers. It’s still a fair size, so not for the groms, but the quality is there. The crowd factor at Rimmers is listed as "sometimes" busy, so on a Friday with clean conditions, you might have to share.

Saturday the 26th morning is another beauty – 6ft from the SW, completely glassy, no wind at all. That’s a dream call. The period is 14 seconds, so nice and juicy, and the energy is moderate (1138). Perfect for a longer board or a step-up. Sunday the 27th morning keeps the glassy theme going, with 4ft SW swell. Clean, small, fun.

After that, from Monday the 28th, the swell drops right off to under 3ft, and the wind gets messy and onshore again. The rest of the run into October is pretty poor, with moderate to fresh cross-onshore wind and choppy, lumpy conditions. Not worth chasing.

Bottom line: The first week is a write-off for anyone but the lunatics during the big pulse. The real standouts are Thursday the 24th and Friday the 25th for the clean, powerful SW groundswell. Saturday the 26th morning is your best bet for a more manageable, glassy session if you don’t want the massive size. After that, it fades out.

Stay salty,
Rusty.

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