Windang Island - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (May - September)

Austral autumn and winter deliver the most consistent and high-quality surf to Windang Island. As the South Pacific storm track intensifies, long-period groundswells from the SE to SSE quadrant become dominant, often generated by powerful mid-latitude lows south of Australia. The average wave period climbs to 9.5-9.7 seconds, providing punchy, rippable waves in the 1-2.5m range. Crucially, the percentage of ideal offshore winds (from the W to NW) peaks at 35-38%, ensuring clean, groomed faces. This is the window for the island's best waves: powerful, lined-up sets with minimal onshore contamination.

Fair Surf Season (March - April & October)

The transition months offer a mixed bag but can produce phenomenal sessions when conditions align. March and April see a lingering summer swell mix with early winter groundswells, while October bridges the gap back towards summer. The average swell height remains solid at 1.6-1.7m, but the period drops slightly to 8.7-9.4 seconds, meaning more chop and less power. Ideal wind frequencies range from 25-33%, so you'll need to pick your windows. When a westerly change coincides with a solid SSE swell, the result can be glassy, hollow waves peeling off the island.

Low Surf Season (November - February)

Summer brings a significant downturn in surf quality at Windang Island. The dominant swell shifts east and northeast, with shorter periods (8.3-8.8s) and a higher proportion of windswell. The average height stays around 1.5-1.6m, but the consistency of clean, offshore conditions plummets to just 19-23% of the time. Onshore seabreezes from the E to SE are the norm, creating bumpy, blown-out surf. While occasional groundswell pulses from a distant cyclone or Tasman low can light up the island, these events are rare. Expect small, grovelly conditions most days, best reserved for beginners or the easily amused.

November: Pre-Summer Slog – Small and Windy

November is a challenging month at Windang Island. The average swell height remains at 1.6m, but the period drops to 8.3 seconds – the lowest since January. Swell direction shifts further to the east, with ENE (15.3%), E (12.4%), and NE (10.9%) leading the charge. These swells are predominantly windswell, often accompanied by the strengthening onshore seabreeze. Ideal wind frequency is only 23%, with the wind rose showing a dominance of NNE (11.5%), NE (11.0%), and N (11.3%) winds – all onshore or cross-onshore. The combination of short-period swell and onshore flow leads to choppy, subpar conditions most days. The occasional southerly change can clean things up, but these are short-lived. November is best for small-wave practice or a dawn patrol before the seabreeze kicks in. The good news: swell from the SE and SSE still appears (14.1% and 17.6% respectively), so when a groundswell from the south coincides with a light westerly, you can still score decent waves.