Wategos surf report
North-facing bay with soft waves on small swells. A good place to learn.
New region (beta): these break settings are still being checked by locals. Spot something off? Tell us.
Tomorrow at Wategos (Sun, 4 Oct) · best 5am–7am
Okay.
Choppy onshore wind, chest-high waves. Rated for a beginner.
- Northerly wind at 8 kn. That's onshore here, so it'll be choppy and messy.
- Waves around chest high (0.7m faces), a good size for a beginner.
- Easterly swell at 7 seconds, an angle this spot likes.
- Low tide and dropping at 5am, but this spot prefers mid tide.
Forecast checked Sat, 3 Oct, 9:11 pm Gold Coast time.
When is Wategos good?
- Best wind
- South-south-westerly (offshore) or none
- Best swell
- East-north-east to south-south-east
- Best tide
- Mid tide
- Suits
- Learner+
Who it suits depends on the size: learners up to about 1m, beginners up to about 1.3m, intermediates up to about 1.8m. Bigger than 1.8m it is for advanced surfers. Long-period groundswell hits harder, so it counts as bigger.
It is much smaller than the exposed beaches and needs a decent swell to get going. A south-south-westerly wind blows offshore here, so mornings before the sea breeze are usually cleanest. Get Frothin’ checks the wind, swell, tide and the live wave buoys every hour and tells you, in plain English, whether it's worth paddling out at Wategos for your level.
Watch out
Rocks at the eastern end and crowds in summer.
Frequently asked
What are the best conditions for surfing Wategos?
Wategos is best with a south-south-westerly (offshore) wind or no wind, a east-north-east to south-south-east swell and mid tide. It is much smaller than the exposed beaches and needs a decent swell to get going.
What wind is offshore at Wategos?
A south-south-westerly wind (SSW) blows straight offshore at Wategos, holding the waves up and keeping them clean. Light winds are good too. Onshore winds make it choppy.
Is Wategos good for beginners?
Yes. Wategos is one of the better Byron & Ballina spots for learners on small days. Check today's call: on bigger days it gets busier and stronger.
What should I watch out for at Wategos?
Rocks at the eastern end and crowds in summer.
Nearby breaks
- The Pass 0.9 km
- Clarkes Beach 1.6 km
- Tallow Beach 3.3 km