Duranbah - surf spot statistics

Duranbah in Australia is a surf spot with consistently rideable conditions year-round, but the best months for quality waves and favorable winds fall between May and August. During this period, the percentage of ground swell increases significantly, peaking at 30% in July, while wind swells decrease, providing cleaner and more powerful waves. The average swell size remains steady around 1.5m to 1.7m, offering solid but manageable waves for experienced surfers. Wind conditions also improve in these months, with the highest likelihood of good winds in June and July (36% favorable). Outside this window, from September to April, the spot becomes more wind-affected with a higher proportion of wind swells (up to 88% in November) and less ideal wind conditions (over 80% bad winds in summer months). Swell size slightly drops from September onward, averaging 1.4m, making the waves less consistent and powerful. If you’re looking for the best balance of swell quality and wind, late autumn to mid-winter (May to July) is the prime time, while summer months (December to February) offer smaller, more chopped-up conditions with frequent onshore winds.

July at Duranbah offers decent surfing conditions with an average swell height of 1.5m and a solid period of 9.4s, providing well-formed, rideable waves. The swell direction is predominantly from the SSE, SE, and ESE, with the highest frequency of waves (over 1m) coming from these directions. The most consistent waves fall in the 1-1.5m range, but there are plenty of days with larger sets, particularly in the 1.5-2.5m range, especially from southerly directions. Wind conditions are somewhat variable—only 36% of the time is it ideal for surfing, typically when winds are light or offshore. The dominant winds come from the S to SW, often blowing at 10-30kph, which can create choppy conditions. However, when winds shift to the N or NW, they tend to be lighter and cleaner, offering better surf opportunities. Expect a mix of conditions: some days will be clean with good form, while others may be wind-affected, especially with stronger southerlies. Overall, July delivers a fair amount of surfable days, with the best sessions likely when winds cooperate and southerly swells provide consistent energy.