Shipwreck Bay

Best Surf Season (November - April)

Shipwreck Bay may face north, but its most dependable surf windows are shaped by offshore southerly winds rather than the biggest swell. From November to April the percentage of ideal S-SSW-SW wind climbs to 25-34 percent and peaks in February, while the average swell sits at a manageable 5-6ft (1.6-2.0m) with 12-13s periods. The wave-rose data is overwhelmingly SW/WSW dominated, which is not the magical direction for this north-facing spot; it is the occasional N, NNE, NE or NNW pulse, particularly when backed by a strong southerly offshore flow, that turns the bay on. Warm water (17.5-21.3°C) and lower rainfall add to the appeal. In short, this is the season of clean, organized lineups rather than raw size.