Millers • Surf Spot Statistics

Best Surf Season (December - March)

Millers is a study in north-east-facing exposure on a coast where the N/NNE/NE/NNW swell window stays empty all year. The long-term wave rose shows zero energy from those directions - the waves that actually arrive are generated by Southern Ocean lows and push in from the S/SSW/SW quadrant. They have to wrap and refract around local headlands to reach the NNE-facing beach, which makes wind direction the real deciding factor. The best season runs from December through March, when the offshore S/SSW/SW wind frequency peaks at 29 per cent, the average swell is a manageable 6.2-6.6ft (1.9-2.0m), and periods of 10.7-11.4s keep the lines powerful but not chaotic. Water temps of 19.7-20.4°C and a strong sea breeze cycle make for consistently clean, shoulder-to-head-high surf.

Fair Surf Season (April - May, September - November)

The shoulder months are a trade-off. April and May deliver a step up in size and period - 7.2ft (2.2m) at 12.2s by May - but offshore wind becomes less frequent, falling to 22-25 per cent. September through November ease back down in size while offshore wind slowly returns to 21-26 per cent. These months produce plenty of powerful Southern Ocean groundswell, but you have to pick the windows between cold fronts when the S/SSW/SW wind lines up. Expect bigger, more demanding waves than summer but fewer glassy sessions.

Low Surf Season (June - August)

The hardest stretch is mid-winter, June through August. These months actually produce the largest average swells of the year - 7.5-7.9ft (2.3-2.4m) with 12.2-12.5s periods, including days over 8ft (2.5m). The problem is the wind: offshore frequency drops to 16-20 per cent, the westerly and north-westerly flow strengthens, and the onshore NNW/N/NE quadrant becomes far more common. The result is often a blown-out or wind-affected mess. But the rare day when a cold front passes and the wind whips around to the south can offer world-class, heavy, long-period waves. For most, it is a time for patience and a sharp eye on the forecasts.