Back Bommie
- Shortboard, Advanced riders
- Best for
- Intermediate to Expert
- Skill Level
- Ocean, Swell
- Spot Type
- Quiet
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Back Bommie is an exposed reef break in the Port Macquarie / Cape Hawke coastal area that can produce reasonably consistent surf, with the working setup most often tied to a strong southeast swell. Wind is typically best when it blows from the northwest, which acts as offshore for the reef and helps groom the face. July is highlighted as the best month, and winter is described as the best season for surfing here. Conditions can become serious: the break is a big-wave reef/bommie with heavy wave energy, deep-water takeoffs, and a deep submerged reef over a rocky bottom. On larger swells, the break may only start working properly once size is sufficient, and strong currents and heavy hold-downs are reported. Access and safety planning are central. Launch is remote and often involves boats or very difficult paddling routes, and rescue/lifeguards are not described as available at the break. If you go, treat this as an expert-level reef session with careful risk management and reef etiquette.
- Exposed reef break with reasonably consistent surf
- Best month: July; best season: winter
- Southeast swell + northwest offshore wind setup
- Big-wave potential with hollow, fast sections when size arrives
- Exposed reef break with reasonably consistent surf
- Best conditions align with southeast swell and northwest offshore wind
- Winter (especially July) is the most reliable time for surfing
- Expert-only big-wave reef conditions with deep-water takeoffs
- Rocks, submerged reef, and strong currents increase risk
- Rarely suited to general surfing public due to intensity and access difficulty
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- NW, W
- Offshore directions
- NW
- Wind Type
- Frontal — Gemini lists frontal; Surf-forecast baseline highlights best wind from northwest.
- Reliability
- Moderate
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — Gemini: moderate-gusts.
- Best Months
- July
- Shadow Zones
- The headland of Cape Hawke can provide shelter from some directions.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Ocean, Swell
- Beach
- Rocks — Gemini: rocks.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Huge — Gemini: huge wave size.
- Launch
- Big — Usually involves a boat or a very difficult paddle from nearby headlands/rocks (Gemini).
- Launch Difficulty
- Expert only — Gemini: expert-only launch difficulty.
Through the year
Rarely crowded; more visited by big-wave surfers during peak swells (Gemini).
East Coast Lows in autumn/winter bring the largest swells (Gemini).
By sport
What to expect for each.
Exposed reef (bommie) with reasonably consistent surf, turning into a heavy big-wave reef break when swell is large. Deep-water takeoffs over a submerged reef with rocks and strong hold-down potential.
- Optimal Swell
- SE, SSE, S, E, SW
- Swell Height
- 2–5 m
- Optimal Tide
- All tides — Surf-forecast baseline: all-tides. Gemini notes mid tide for the best window.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed coral reef break; headland shelter from some directions is possible per wind shadow notes.
- Wind Effect
- Offshore winds from the northwest groom the face for big wave surfing; generally best when wind is northwest offshore for the local reef break.
- Bigger Swell
- Only starts to break properly when the swell is large; handles significant size (Gemini).
- Wave Quality
- Good — Gemini: wave quality good.
- Wave Power
- Very powerful — Gemini: very-powerful.
- Wave Shape
- Hollow — Gemini: hollow.
- Peel Speed
- Fast — Gemini: fast peel speed.
- Ride Length
- Medium — Gemini: ride length medium.
- Ride Length Details
- Short, intense takeoff into a power section (Gemini).
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Back Bommie in the full forecast view.
Back Bommie wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 3–13 ktsGusts 25 kts
- Direction
- ENE78°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 2413 kts
- Windy days
- 2/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 1.0–1.9 m8s period
- Temperature
- 15–27 °C
Over the next 7 days, Back Bommie is forecast for daytime winds of 3–13 kts, peaking around 13 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 25 kts. The prevailing direction is ENE. Waves run 1.0–1.9 m with a period of about 8s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Rocks
- Submerged reef
- Strong currents
- Heavy hold-downs
- Deep water
- Sharks
- Heavy wave energy
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguard presence documented for the spot itself.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Group context: limited rescue availability in the region; spot-level notes indicate no rescue at the break itself.
- Emergency Info
- Nearest hospital is in Forster-Tuncurry. In an emergency, dial 000.
- Localism / Vibe
- Moderate — Perplexity suggests mild localism; Gemini indicates moderate localism. Treat access as respectful and cautious.
Rules of the spot
No specific rules documented; assume standard ocean safety and reef etiquette.
- Expert-only access/conditions for this big-wave reef break.
- Usually accessed by boat or jet ski for safety and tow-in during massive swells.
- Often surfed in conjunction with neighboring spots like Janies Corner.
- Access involves remote launches from Cape Hawke or via boat; plan for self-reliance.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Port Macquarie
- Nearest Town
- Forster
- Nearest Airport
- Newcastle Airport (NTL) is approximately 50 kilometers away.
- Parking
- Parking available at the Cape Hawke lookout or Booti Booti National Park trailheads (Gemini).
- Public Transport
- Public transport is limited; best accessed by private vehicle via the Pacific Highway and Tea Gardens Road.
- Access
- Remote access via Cape Hawke or by boat from Forster harbour; Perplexity notes paddle out from nearby beaches in the Port Macquarie area.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Forster-Tuncurry offers camping, hotels, and holiday rentals (Gemini).
- Food & Drink
- None at the spot; full services available in Forster (Gemini).
- Equipment Rental:
- Surf shops in Forster provide equipment, though big-wave gear is limited (Gemini).
- Gear Repair
- Local surf shops in Forster (Gemini).
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Back Bommie?
The best overall months at Back Bommie are June, July, August. The best wind months are July.
Which wind directions work at Back Bommie?
Back Bommie works with NW, W winds. Offshore directions are NW.
What skill level is Back Bommie suitable for?
Back Bommie suits these riding levels: Surfing: Intermediate to Expert.