Black Rock - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (November - March)

During the Southern Hemisphere summer, Black Rock benefits from a higher frequency of offshore winds from the NNE to E quadrants, with the wind being ideal for surfing around 30-34% of the time. The trade wind regime sets up a consistent ridge of high pressure over the Tasman Sea, funneling clean easterly breezes across the point. While the swell direction remains far from optimal—dominated by E to SSE windswell—the combination of clean offshore winds and rideable 1-1.5m waves at 8-9s periods provides the most reliable surf. Don't expect perfect barrels; think fun, rippable, albeit sectiony waves.

Fair Surf Season (April - May and September - October)

The shoulder months see a transition in wind patterns. The offshore wind frequency dips to 23-29% as the subtropical ridge weakens and more frontal systems brush the region. Swell heights hold steady around 1.6-1.7m, with periods gradually increasing to 9-9.5s in autumn (April-May) as more S/SSE groundswells from Southern Ocean storms make their presence felt. However, these south swells arrive at a poor angle for Black Rock's SW-facing beach, often wrapping in with reduced energy. Wind conditions become more variable, with an increase in W to S winds that put the spot onshore. It's a gamble—catch a clean north-easterly morning and you can score some fun waves, but conditions deteriorate quickly.

Low Surf Season (June - August)

Winter is the low point. The frequency of ideal wind drops to just 16-22%. The dominant wind flow swings to the west and northwest as a series of strong cold fronts march across the Great Australian Bight. These west winds are onshore at Black Rock, creating messy, choppy conditions. While swell heights remain around 1.6-1.8m, the wave period is still 9-9.4s, but the swell direction focuses around S to SSE, which is not well aligned. The combination of onshore wind and poor swell angle results in mostly poor quality waves. If you're desperate, a rare high-pressure ridge can deliver a light NNE breeze and some S swell wrap, but it's the exception not the rule.

January: Peak Summer Consistency

The heart of summer delivers a 30% chance of offshore wind, predominantly from the NNE (19%) and NE (15%) quadrants—these are the ideal offshore directions for Black Rock. The dominant swell direction is from ENE (16.9%) and NE (15.5%), but unfortunately these are far from optimal for the SW-facing beach. The majority of waves arrive in the 1-1.5m and 1.5-2m range (fun to pumping), with an average period of 8.3s (average/punchy). The south-southeast swell contributes 14.6% but again is not well aligned. The result: plenty of rideable, groveling waves on the many offshore days, but don't expect the swell to light up the point. S winds (13.7%) and SSW winds (6.8%) can occasionally spoil the party, bringing onshore chop.