Merimbula Bar - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (May - August)

Winter along the NSW South Coast fires up the Merimbula Bar consistently. As the Pacific storm track intensifies, powerful S and SSW groundswells push into the bay with average periods climbing into the 9s range. The Tasman Sea low-pressure systems align perfectly with the coastline, and the offshore wind windows from the NW and NNW become frequent and reliable – up to 44% of the time in July. This is when the bar truly comes alive: clean, hollow peaks breaking over the sandbanks, with wave heights often in the 1.5–2.5 m ‘pumping’ range. If you time it with a solid 10-second-plus long-period pulse, you’ll find some of the most rippable waves of the year.

Fair Surf Season (April & September)

These shoulder months offer a blend of building or fading winter energy. April sees the tail end of autumn with increasing S/SSW swell and a 36% chance of offshore winds – a good transition window with average periods around 9.1 s. September holds onto winter’s momentum: 33% ideal wind and a mix of S/SSW and ENE/NE swells. Conditions can be inconsistent but deliver excellent sessions when a strong low passes through. Expect punchy, rideable waves in the 1–1.5 m ‘fun’ range, with occasional pumping sets as the season shifts.

Low Surf Season (October - March)

Spring and summer bring a frustrating combination for Merimbula Bar. The dominant wind regime shifts to NE and NNE onshore breezes that rip the surface apart, and the ideal offshore window from the NW/NNW drops below 30% (as low as 22% in January). Swell directions become dominated by the east quadrant (NE, ENE, E) – which are shadowed or wrap weakly around the headlands, rarely producing the clean, lined-up waves the bar is known for. Wave periods drop to 8 s or less, making for chop and weak, short-period lines. While there can be the occasional fun groveler on a tiny SSE groundswell, the overall quality is poor. Most of the swell is small to medium (0.5–1.5 m) and often wind-affected. For consistent, high-quality surf, focus on the winter months.

August: Late Winter Gold

August continues the winter bounty with slightly diminished but still excellent conditions. Average swell height is 1.6 m, period 8.8 s – a small drop in period but still solid. Swell directions remain favorable: SSW (12.9%), S (11.9%), SSE (11.0%), and SE (8.4%) total 44.2%. The east quadrant is more prominent than in July (NE 9.3%, ENE 7.1%) but still secondary. Wind ideal percentage is still high at 42%, with a continued westerly dominance (SW 14.4%, WSW 12.8%, W 7.9%). The offshore NNW and NW winds are slightly reduced from July but still frequent enough. This is late winter, so you get the same powerful groundswells as earlier months, but the days are starting to get shorter. Wave heights still regularly hit the 1.5–2.5 m range, especially from SSW and S swells. The occasional spring storm can bring larger swell with periods exceeding 10 s, delivering heavy, wave heights and epic, pumping conditions. August offers the last reliable month of consistently good surf before the wind shifts back to summer patterns.