Tuncurry-North Wall Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve gotta be straight with you—this 16-day window for Tuncurry-North Wall is a tough one. There’s no real run of good surf to speak of; the whole period is a struggle. We’ve got a long, dry gap from the start until Tuesday afternoon, the 8th of September, where the only bit of energy pops up, and even then it’s marginal. After that, it’s back to waiting, with a few faint pulses in the second week that are more about hope than quality. If you’re desperate for a paddle, you’ll be scratching for anything rideable.

Let’s start with the first real chance. On Tuesday afternoon, the 8th of September, we see a little pulse of swell hit—about 5ft from the SE with a period of 9 seconds and a combined energy of 423 (moderate energy). The wind is a clean cross-off from the south at 12 mph, so it’ll be tidy, but the waves are still described as marginal. The water temp is about 66°F, which is pretty normal for this time of year—nothing unusual there. It’s a beach/breakwater setup, so don’t expect perfection, but it’s the closest we get to a wave in the first week. The swell direction is SE, not quite matching the optimum NE, but it’s something. Crowds are possible here, so keep that in mind if you head out.

After that, we drop into a real lull. From Wednesday the 9th through to Monday the 14th, it’s tiny—0.7ft to 1ft—with barely any energy. The winds are mostly clean or offshore at times, but there’s just no swell to work with. Saturday morning the 12th shows a brief 1ft from the ENE with a 14-second period (long period groundswell), giving 77 units of energy, but it’s still described as “surfable but very ordinary.” That long period might make it a bit better shaped for a point or reef, but here it’s a beach/breakwater, so it’ll probably break a bit straight. Not a standout.

The second week doesn’t get much better. Tuesday morning the 15th has a 4ft NE swell with a short 7-second period and 100 units of energy, but the wind is onshore from the NNE at 6 mph. It’s messy and weak. Then, on Sunday morning the 20th of September, there’s a late pulse—3ft from the SE with an 11-second period and 134 units of energy. The wind is offshore from the WSW at 9 mph, so it’s clean, but the size is small. It’s another “surfable but very ordinary” call. That’s as good as it gets in the second week, and it’s still nothing to write home about.

Honestly, the only thing that even comes close to a highlight is that Tuesday afternoon the 8th of September, with the 5ft SE swell and clean wind. It’s not great, but it’s the best on offer. The rest of the window is a flat spell. If you’re a beginner, that 5ft is fine, but it’s not a wave you’ll remember. The long gaps with no recommendations are normal for this area—it’s a quiet stretch. If you’re a kitesurfer, the setup might be more interesting than for paddling, given the wind patterns.

Stay patient, and check back in a few days. Forecasts can change. Rusty.

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