Telescopes - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (May - September)

The dry season at Telescopes delivers the most consistent surf conditions year after year. As the Australian winter intensifies, a persistent high-pressure system over the Great Australian Bight pumps long-period southern hemi groundswell into the Indian Ocean. Combined with the steady southeast trade winds that blow offshore at this WNW-facing reef, these months offer the highest probability of clean, rippable waves. Average wave heights climb to a solid 1.2-1.4 m with periods often exceeding 14 s, meaning powerful, lined-up sets. The 'green room' is definitely possible when the swell bumps up to 1.5-2 m. Wind consistency is excellent – ideal wind percentages hover between 50-60%, primarily from SE and ESE, grooming the surface to perfection. This is prime time for logging sessions and high-performance surfing alike.

Fair Surf Season (April & October)

April and October serve as transition months between the wet and dry monsoons. The trades begin to weaken and become more variable, and the swell energy from the Southern Ocean is still present but a notch down in period and size. In April, ideal wind runs about 35% of the time – enough to score good sessions if you pick your days. October sees a return of the trades after the monsoon trough shifts, but the swell direction starts to trend more southerly, which can lead to wrap-around conditions. These months require a bit more patience and attention to the forecast, but solid surf can be found, especially when a late-season cyclone or a lingering swell train aligns with clean wind windows.

Low Surf Season (November - March)

The winter monsoon (November through March) is the most challenging period for surfing at Telescopes. The north-west monsoon flow brings a dominance of onshore winds from the NW, W, and WNW quadrants – exactly the directions that ruin wave quality at this spot. While the average swell height sits around 1.0 m and the period is still decent (12-13 s), the swell comes almost exclusively from the SSW to SW (over 90% of the time). Unfortunately, these southerly swell directions do not wrap optimally into the WNW-facing reef, often resulting in weak, sectiony waves or closeouts. On top of that, ideal offshore wind percentages drop to a dismal 22-32%, and the frequent onshore winds create choppy, bumpy surfaces. The rare good day occurs when a high-pressure cell pushes from the south, clearing skies and turning winds easterly. But these windows are fleeting and often accompanied by smaller swell. For the dedicated surfer, it is a waiting game – but the potential for a quality set wave exists when the stars align.

January: Monsoon Mayhem

January is deep in the heart of the north-west monsoon. The average swell height hovers at 1.0 m with a period of 12.5 s – rideable but nothing to write home about. The swell direction is overwhelmingly from the SSW (56%) and SW (27.7%), which are far from ideal for the WNW-facing line-up. Only a meager 7.3% of the swell comes from the optimal W-WNW-NW window, meaning most days you are dealing with wrapped-around, less powerful waves. The wind situation is even more critical. Dominant winds blow from the NW (19%), WNW (15.7%), and NNW (12.9%) – all onshore and destructive. Ideal wind (E to SE) accounts for just 23% of the time, and most of that is light. The result is messy, choppy conditions with few clean windows. A temporary ridge of high pressure pushing down from the Asian continent can flip winds easterly for a day or two, but it is a rare gem in a sea of onshore slop.