Winki Pop Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s see what we’ve got for Winki Pop over the next couple of weeks.

Right now, it’s a slow start. The first proper surf worth paddling out for hits on Wednesday the 8th of July. The water here is sitting at about 57.9°, pretty normal for this time of year. Wednesday morning brings in a clean 3.9ft swell out of the southwest with a very long 18-second period, pumping 1240 units of combined energy—that’s strong, deep ocean energy. Winds are light and cross from the northeast, so it’s a bit wind-affected, not perfect but not terrible. Later Wednesday arvo the swell pushes up to 4.9ft, still southwest and still that juicy 18-second period, bumping the energy to 1447, but the wind swings cross-onshore from the east-southeast, so it gets a little lumpy.

Thursday the 9th, early morning is a bit of a tease: glassy conditions with a northwest breeze, but the swell drops to 3.3ft, period 16 seconds, and energy down to 471. It’ll be clean but small. The afternoon gets messy with cross-shore wind.

Friday the 10th is more promising. Both sessions are clean with light cross-offshore breezes from the north, swell around 2.6ft to 3.3ft, 15-second period, and energy ranging from 313 to 421. It’s not big, but the conditions are sweet and tidy.

Saturday the 11th is a write-off—strong 30-35 km/h winds, tiny 2.0ft swell, and poor conditions.

Then we get a proper run. Sunday the 12th sees fresh offshore winds from the west-northwest and a jump to 4.9ft swell, 14-second period, and energy surging to 1124. It’s a bit raw with those 35 km/h gusts, but the waves will have some grunt. Monday the 13th builds further: 6.2ft in the morning, 16 seconds, energy 1738, with fresh offshore winds. That’s the standout window—strong, long-period groundswell and clean conditions. Tuesday the 14th hits the peak with 7.9ft swell from the south-southwest, 16-second period, and a massive 2828 energy reading, again with offshore winds. That’s expert territory, powerful and heavy, especially at a reef-and-point setup like Winki Pop. These days are the ones to circle—big, clean, and relentless.

However, by Wednesday the 15th the wind shifts to a strong cross-onshore from the south-southwest, making the 6.6ft swell lumpy and poor. Thursday the 16th gets worse with onshore winds, dropping to 3.3ft.

Now, here’s the real gem: Friday the 17th of July. Morning brings dead calm, glassy conditions, a 5.2ft southwest swell with a very long 17-second period, and energy at 1526. That’s the best on offer—clean, powerful, and lined up. Crowds at Winki Pop are often there, so expect company, but with quality like that, you won’t mind.

From Saturday the 18th through to Monday the 20th, it drops back to small 2.0ft to 3.6ft swell, though winds remain offshore or clean, so you can still find a sneaky fun wave if you’re keen.

By Tuesday the 21st, it gets messy again with strong cross-shore winds and a 7.5ft swell from the southwest, period dropping to 11 seconds—lumpy and poor. Wednesday the 22nd sees a 11.5ft swell from the south with only 10-second period and cross-onshore wind. That’s big and ugly, only for the brave, and honestly looks more like a kiter’s day than a paddler’s. Thursday the 23rd is similar but dropping to 7.2ft from the south, short 8-second period—choppy and average.

So to sum it up: the real standouts are Monday the 13th, Tuesday the 14th, and Friday the 17th. That Friday is the pick—glassy, long-period groundswell, and clean. Get in the water, mate.

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