Tubes Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let’s have a look at what’s heading our way for the next couple of weeks. It’s gonna be a real mixed bag, so don’t go getting your hopes up too early. The first few days are a write-off with messy onshore winds and lumpy seas, but there’s a light at the end of the tunnel if you’re patient. The standout windows are gonna be the 8th morning and then a real beauty on the 15th afternoon.

The only break on the menu here is Tubes, a reef and point setup that's pretty consistent. It's sheltered from the swell, but it needs that ideal SSW direction to fire. The water temp is sitting at 61°, which is a hefty 5° colder than normal – that’s well off the mark, so dig out the thickest rubber you've got. The water’s gonna feel properly chilly for this time of year.

First things first, don’t even bother paddling out on the 3rd. Thursday morning has some lumpy 8 ft swell but with a cross-shore wind, and the energy is moderate at 2053. Thursday arvo drops off a touch to 5 ft. Friday the 4th is worse again – 12 ft on Friday morning with a fresh cross-shore, and then Friday arvo it’s a complete mess with cross-onshore winds and lumpy conditions. Saturday and Sunday are the same story: onshore junk, with Sunday afternoon seeing a massive 8 ft swell with a very long 18-second period, but it’s all cross-onshore and blown out. The energy is strong on that one at 5026, but it’s not doing you any favours. Monday the 7th morning finally shows some improvement – clean 7 ft swell with a light offshore from the NE and a nice 14-second period, but the conditions are still rated as marginal. That long period groundswell will be hitting Tubes well, but the energy is moderate at 1662. Still, it’s more of a tease than a goer.

Now, here’s the first real window: Tuesday morning the 8th. This is a highlight. The wind goes glassy, dead calm, and the swell is a clean 5 ft from the SSW with a 13-second period. The wave energy is moderate (778), but with that glassy surface, Tubes will be offering up some beautiful, clean lines. It’s a bit small, but for a dawny with no wind, it’s the best you’re going to get in the first week. Crowds are possible here, so get in early.

The 9th has some decent offshore wind in the morning and afternoon, with clean 3 ft to 4 ft swell, but it’s pretty small. The 10th and 11th go downhill again with onshore junk. The 12th is more of the same, and then the 13th and 14th see a big spike in size – 12 ft to 13 ft – but it’s all accompanied by fresh cross-onshore winds. That’s big, messy, and dangerous, definitely for experts only, and honestly, it looks more like a kitesurfing zone than a paddle zone.

The second week’s best is Tuesday afternoon the 15th. This is a proper standout. The swell is a clean 4 ft from the SSE, but the period is a long 15 seconds, and the wind is moderate offshore from the WSW. The energy is moderate (1244), but the conditions are predicted to be very good. That long-period groundswell on a point reef like Tubes with clean offshore wind is gonna be epic. It’s not huge, but it’ll be lined up and perfect.

Wednesday the 16th morning also looks solid – 7 ft from the S with a moderate offshore, giving you good energy (1746) and very good conditions. That’s another strong session. The 18th Friday brings in a big 8 ft to 12 ft swell with clean cross-offshore winds, but it’s getting big for the average punter, and the conditions are noted as excellent for experienced surfers only on the morning. The energy is strong to very strong (2478 to 5770). So, if you’re good, that’s a proper end-of-the-run session.

Overall, don’t waste your time on the first few days. The real pick of the bunch is the 8th morning for clean glassy waves, and then the 15th afternoon for that classic offshore, long-period groundswell. The 16th morning is also a ripper. The longer-range stuff on the 18th is promising but it’s still a bit far out to lock in. Keep an eye on the wind.

Rusty.

Read more