Tallows - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (May - August)

As the Southern Hemisphere winter takes hold, the Tasman Sea becomes a cauldron of powerful mid-latitude storms. The Roaring Forties shift north, driving consistent long-period swell from the E through SSE quadrant directly into Tallows' east-southeast facing beach. Average wave periods climb to 9.5-9.6s, with a solid 1.5-1.7m of average height. More importantly, the frequency of offshore winds from the W, WNW, and NW peaks between 22% and 26%, creating the cleanest, most groomed conditions of the year. This is the window for the best quality surf.

Fair Surf Season (April & September)

The transition months of April and September offer a mixed bag. April retains a healthy average swell of 1.7m with a 9.2s period, but the percentage of ideal offshore wind drops to 17%. September sees a similar pattern with 1.5m at 8.8s and 19% ideal wind. Swell directions become more variable, and while you can score excellent waves when a strong cut-off low aligns with a westerly wind, the consistency and quality are less reliable than the peak winter months.

Low Surf Season (October - March)

From spring through summer and into early autumn, Tallows struggles. The prevailing wind regime shifts to a dominant onshore flow from the E, ESE, and SE, with the percentage of ideal offshore wind plummeting to between 10% and 15%. Average swell periods drop to the 8.2-8.9s range, producing weaker, more wind-affected waves. While the occasional pulse of long-period energy from a distant tropical cyclone can produce a brief window of clean, rideable surf, the default pattern is small, choppy, and generally poor quality. This is the time to chase other coasts or wait for a synoptic miracle.

December: Summer Slog

December rounds out the year with typical summer conditions. Average swell is 1.5m at 8.3s. The swell is dominated by E (17.5%), ESE (17.2%), SE (15.6%), and SSE (12.8%), but also sees a big jump in NE (11.6%) and ENE (14.3%) swell from tropical activity. These swells are often wind-driven and lack power. Ideal offshore wind registers only 12%, with the same N (18.2%) and NNE (13.8%) wind patterns that plague October and November. The onshore E through SSE winds also remain common. The result is a month of mostly poor to fair surf, with an occasional clean window when a southerly change brings a brief pulse of offshore W wind. Save the trip for the winter months.