Caloundra • Surf Spot Statistics

Best Surf Season (June - September)

The gradual northward migration of the subtropical ridge through the austral autumn sets the stage for Caloundra's best run of surf. By June, cold fronts pushing across the Tasman Sea and high pressure systems anchored over the Australian continent begin to funnel west-to-northwest winds through the region, creating offshore conditions for this southeast-facing beach. The Coral Sea trade-wind machine is still churning out a consistent E-ESE swell in the 3-5ft (0.9-1.5m) range with average periods around 8s, so you get a workable, punchy wave rather than a soft summer lump. The clean-window percentage climbs from 25% in June to a year-high of 30% in August, making July and August particularly reliable months for groomed, rippable banks.

Fair Surf Season (May and October)

May is the last month of the cold-season transition that still carries the longest-period swell of the year, with 8.5s averages and 21% offshore wind frequency. October flips the script: the spring sun is strengthening, but NW-NNW winds remain frequent enough to keep 23% of the time clean. However, the swell becomes shorter-period and more northerly-inflected, so the surf is usually smaller, fatter and less powerful than mid-winter.

Low Surf Season (November - April)

From late spring through mid-autumn, the South Pacific trade winds and the summer monsoon trough dominate. With the beach facing southeast, the prevailing E-SE winds blow directly onshore, and the ideal offshore wind frequency drops to just 13-20%. Tropical cyclones in the Coral Sea can occasionally send in bigger E-NE swell, but they are just as likely to bring squally, onshore chaos. Even though average swell heights actually run a touch higher between January and April, around 4-5ft (1.2-1.5m), the quality suffers because the wind is so often from the wrong direction. Plan for dawn sessions and look for W/NW wind changes to make the most of this period.