Witches Rock - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (May - October)

The heart of the swell window swings open from May through October as the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) pulses northward, firing up the South Pacific. This is when Witches Rock sees its most consistent and quality swell, with long-period groundswells from the SSW and SW dominating the lineup. The trade winds slacken, and the percentage of offshore wind (N, NNE, NE, ENE) hovers above 50%, often reaching over 60% in June, July, and August. Average wave heights sit in the fun 1-1.5m range, but pulses can push into pumping 1.5-2.5m territory, especially during strong cold fronts pushing out of the Southern Hemisphere. The combination of powerful, long-period swell (10-14s+) and clean glassy mornings makes for classic Witches Rock conditions.

Fair Surf Season (March - April & November)

Shoulder months like March, April, and November offer a mixed bag. Swell direction becomes more variable — you get a blend of ENE trade swell and increasing SSW/SW energy, but the wind consistency drops to around 35-58% ideal. March can deliver some cracking long-period pulses (11s average) as the first Southern Hemisphere swells arrive, but the NE trades often blow stronger, creating bumpy conditions. April sees a jump in ideal wind to 50%, and the SSW swell becomes more prominent, though wave heights average a bit smaller (1.2m). November is a transition month as the trades strengthen again — the swell shifts back to more ENE and NE, but you can still score clean sessions when the offshore winds align with the last of the SW pulses.

Low Surf Season (December - February)

Winter in the Northern Hemisphere brings a reversal in the pattern. The dominant swell shifts to ENE and NE — directions that are completely shadowed by the headland. Witches Rock sees mostly small, windswell-like waves from these quadrants, with average heights around 1.3-1.4m but short periods (8-9s). The wind is offshore a disappointing 23-34% of the time, as the strong NE trade winds (often 20-30+ kph) blow straight onshore. When a stray SW pulse sneaks in from a distant Southern Ocean storm, it can produce a few fun waves, but those are rare. Most days are small, choppy, and blown out — best left for beginners or a rest day.

September: Last Gasp of the South

September maintains strong Southern Hemisphere influence. The average period is 12.9 seconds, and the dominant swell direction is SW (42.3%) and SSW (33.2%) — still ideal. Average wave height dips a bit to 1.2m, but the quality remains high. Wind is ideal 56% of the time — slightly less than mid-summer as the trades begin to strengthen again, but still very favorable. The ITCZ starts its southward migration, occasionally pulling in more moisture and afternoon thunderstorms, but mornings are often glassy and offshore. You can still score pumping waves, especially early in the month. As September progresses, the frequency of SW pulses decreases, but the waves are still very much worth chasing.