Ulladulla Bommie - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (April - September)

The Australian winter unleashes its full fury on the Tasman Sea, sending consistent long-period groundswells hammering into Ulladulla's southeast-facing reef. As deep low-pressure systems spin up in the Southern Ocean, they generate powerful S and SSE swells that hit the Bommie with 1.5-2.5m of heavy, lined-up surf. Periods often stretch into the 9-10 second range, providing the punch needed to light up the deep-water takeoff zone. Meanwhile, a persistent high-pressure ridge over the continent feeds cool, offshore NW winds, ensuring glassy conditions for peak performance. This is when the Bommie truly fires – expect pumping, rippable waves and consistent clean lines.

Fair Surf Season (March & October)

The shoulder months offer a mixed bag of potential. March still channels the tail-end of winter's energy, with decent S/SSE swell percentages and a rising chance of offshore NW winds. October marks the transition back to spring, when east-trade swells creep back in, but the Tasman still fires off the occasional south pulse. Wind patterns are less reliable – you'll need to pick your windows carefully. On the right day, you can score solid, fun-sized surf with lighter winds, but consistency takes a hit.

Low Surf Season (November - February)

Summer dominance of NE-E trade winds is the Bommie's kryptonite. These winds are mostly onshore, turning waves into choppy, short-period messes. The swell direction swings to ENE, NE, and E, delivering average heights around 1.7m but with periods barely scraping 8 seconds. While the occasional S swell sneaks through – usually from a Tasman low or tropical interaction – it's often ruined by accompanying SE or S winds. Only around 35% of the time do we see favorable offshore winds from the N-NW quadrant. Small, fun-sized waves are possible on light wind mornings, but this window is typically closed for serious surfing.

August: Late Winter Consistency

August continues the theme of reliable winter surf. Average swell height drops slightly to 1.8m, and period slips to 9.1 seconds, but the quality remains high. Southern quadrant swells (S, SSE, SSW) still account for over 36% of the energy, with S and SSE alone at 30.2%. These swells tend to be slightly shorter in period than July, but still punchy and rideable. Offshore wind conditions are near their peak – ideal winds 52% of the time, again dominated by NW and NNW flow. The slight reduction in average period compared to July means that the Bommie might not be as heavy, but it remains very surfable. Expect clean, fun-sized to solid swells in the 1-2m range, with occasional larger pulses. August is a great month for consistent, high-quality waves without the extreme intensity of July.