South Wall Ballina - surf spot statistics

South Wall in Ballina, Australia, offers a mix of ground and wind swells throughout the year, with no completely flat periods. The best months for surfing are typically between May and August, when ground swells dominate (52-61% of the time) and wind conditions improve, particularly in June, July, and August when good winds occur 48-53% of the time. These months also provide consistent swell sizes averaging 1.2-1.5m, making them the most reliable for quality surf. Outside this window, conditions are less favorable, with higher percentages of wind swells (up to 73% in November) and stronger onshore winds, particularly from January to April and September to December. The worst wind conditions occur in February (78% bad winds) and December (71% bad winds), while swell quality is weaker in late spring and early summer. For surfers seeking cleaner, more powerful waves, the winter months (June-August) are ideal, offering a balance of favorable swell direction and lighter winds compared to the rest of the year.

November at South Wall, Ballina typically offers decent surfing conditions with an average swell height of 1.2m and a solid 9.2s period, indicating mostly clean, organized waves. The dominant swell directions are from the southeast to east-southeast, with the best waves arriving in the 1-1.5m range (37% occurrence) and occasionally bigger sets up to 2.5m from the SSE (2%). The shorter-period swells from the ENE to E tend to be smaller but still surfable, while direct southerly swells are rare and often messy. Wind conditions are favorable 37% of the time, with light to moderate offshore breezes (NW to W) being ideal, though northeasterly and southerly winds can create bumpy or onshore chop. November’s wind distribution shows a mix of lighter winds (0-20kph) from the north and northeast (15% combined), but stronger onshore SE-SSE winds occasionally disrupt conditions. Overall, the spot works best on mid-period SSE-ESE swells with offshore NW winds, offering peaky walls and occasional hollow sections—best suited for intermediate to advanced surfers when the wind cooperates. Keep an eye on the wind forecast, as marginal days can still deliver fun surf if timed right.