Tallows • Surf Spot Statistics

Best Surf Season (May - August)

Tallows' most reliable and cleanest window develops as autumn flips into winter. By May the Southern Ocean storm track expands northward and the Tasman Sea comes alive, sending long-period S/SSE and SE swell straight into this east-southeast-facing beach. The same pressure distribution that generates those swells also funnels westerly to northwesterly winds across the coast, giving Tallows its crucial offshore component. Ideal wind frequency jumps to 22-26% and wave periods peak at 9.5-9.6s, producing some of the most lined-up, hollow beachbreak days of the year.

Fair Surf Season (March - April & September - October)

March and April ease out of the tropical summer pattern, with strong ESE/SE swells and the first meaningful SSE pulses from mid-latitude lows, while the wind field still holds too much onshore energy. September and October mirror that transition in reverse: periods drop to 8.5-8.8s, NNW offshores become prominent, but NE trade windswell starts to mix in and the summer seabreeze keeps quality inconsistent. Expect plenty of rideable days, with standout sessions coming when a sharp low slides up the coast.

Low Surf Season (November - February)

Summer is Tallows' most challenging stretch. High pressure sits over the Tasman, trade winds blow from the E/NE, and the average period sinks to 8.2-8.8s. The E/ESE/SE/SSE windswell that dominates the season arrives with onshore winds a large proportion of the time; ideal W/NW offshore days plummet to just 10-12%. Small 2-4ft (0.5-1.5m) grovelers are common, and only a tropical cyclone, easterly dip or rare Tasman low can generate serious size. Still, the occasional summer swell can be excellent if you time the windows.