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.

January: Peak Summer Slump

January is the height of the Australian summer, and Ulladulla Bommie feels the heat in more ways than one. The average swell height sits at a modest 1.7m, but the dominant NE and ENE swells (totaling over 31%) are far from ideal for this southeast-facing reef. These shorter-period waves (average 8.1s) break with a choppy, weak character, especially under the prevalent onshore NE and SSE winds. South and SSE swells do make up a combined 23.6% of the spectrum, but they often arrive with S or SE winds, which are onshore here. Only 35% of the time do we see clean offshore flow from the N-NW quadrants, and even then, the swell period rarely exceeds 8-9 seconds. Watch for early-morning windows after a cold front clears – you might snag a few fun-sized waves, but expect groveling conditions more often than not.