Bay (Bunbury Coast)
- Wave, Bodyboard
- Best for
- Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Ocean
- Spot Type
- Busy
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Bay (Bunbury Coast) is a well-established ocean beach-break zone for surfing, offering workable, regularly shaped waves when a southwest swell lines up. The primary surf is beach-break surfing with peeling sections, and riders can get both left and right waves depending on the way sandbanks form. Wind conditions are strongly influenced by the region’s summer afternoon sea-breeze pattern. The sea breeze typically develops in the late morning/early afternoon (around 12:00 PM–1:00 PM) and strengthens through the afternoon until sunset, with stronger summer reliability for wind sports. For surfing specifically, early mornings are generally best because offshore conditions tend to be cleaner before the sea breeze arrives. On the safety side, the beach can feature strong rip currents, particularly near reef outcrops and the surf club area, alongside shore-break impacts. Submerged rock/reef patches toward the southern end can also affect the launch and lineup. Shark presence has been noted as a hazard, so extra caution is warranted in the water. Facilities and logistics are straightforward: there are showers, toilets, and changing rooms, plus large paved parking areas along the beachfront, especially near the surf club. Seasonal lifeguard coverage is available, rescue is described as limited, and designated swimming flags must be respected—especially when surfers are active close to swimmers’ zones.
- Peeling beach-break surf with both directions available depending on sandbanks.
- Summer afternoon sea breeze provides strong wind-sport potential.
- Seasonal lifeguard coverage; limited rescue capability—treat rips and shore break seriously.
- Reliable southwest swell options for consistent beach-break surf.
- Wide sandy launch area with multiple access/entry points and generally good local amenities.
- Generally high water quality (clarity can vary after heavy rain near the estuary mouth).
- Sensitive to rip currents and a heavy shore break when swell/wind combine.
- Very large swells can become messy and close out.
- Afternoon sea breeze can reduce clean/offshore conditions compared with early mornings.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- E, SE, NE
- Offshore directions
- E, SE, NE
- Wind Range
- 15–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Sea breeze — Strong summer afternoon sea-breeze pattern from the south-southwest; kicks in around 1:00 PM and typically runs until sunset.
- Reliability
- High in summer for wind sports; for surfing, offshore mornings are better before the sea breeze arrives.
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — More variable/gusty conditions can occur when winter frontal systems pass.
- Best Months
- December, January, February, March
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Ocean
- Beach
- Sand — Sand beach.
- Beach Size
- Big
- Waves
- Medium — Surf and swell can range from smaller/moderate conditions to heavier surf with larger swell.
- Chop Level
- Heavy chop — South/southwest winds can create heavy chop; very large swell can get messy/close out.
- Launch
- Big — Wide sandy beach with ample space for equipment setup; multiple entry points.
Through the year
Highest during summer school holidays (December–January) and weekends.
Winter (June to August) brings frequent storms and heavy rain, with higher storminess and gusts.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Used by local kiters in cross-shore sea breezes; the beach break can offer fun ramps for freestyle and wave riding.
- Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Suitable for wave sailing in cross-shore conditions; best for riders comfortable with beach breaks and ocean swells.
- Sail Sizes
- 4.7–5.7 m²
Possible in open-water areas, but the shore break can make launching a foil difficult; most foilers prefer more sheltered waters nearby.
- Foil Friendly
- Limited — Foil-friendly conditions are limited at the immediate launch due to shore break/chop.
- Min Depth
- 1.5 meters
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
Primary surfing beach for Bunbury with multiple beach breaks that work consistently on southwest swells.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- SW
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- All tides
- Shelter
- Exposed — Open-coast exposure makes conditions sensitive to swell size and wind.
- Wind Effect
- East to southeast winds generally provide cleaner/offshore conditions; south/southwest winds can create heavy chop.
- Bigger Swell
- Can become messy and close out on very large swells over about 3 meters.
- Wave Quality
- Average — Surf quality is workable/consistent, but not always clean; summer can trend flatter at times.
- Wave Power
- Moderate — Typically moderate; can feel heavier when winds/chop combine with larger swell.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Peeling waves with both left and right options depending on conditions/sandbanks.
- Peel Speed
- Medium — Standard beach-break peeling sections; speed can vary with sandbanks.
- Ride Length
- Medium — Ride lengths vary with sandbank formation.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–150 m
- Ride Length Details
- Standard beach-break rides that vary with sandbank formation.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Bay (Bunbury Coast) in the full forecast view.
Bay (Bunbury Coast) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 4–14 ktsGusts 25 kts
- Direction
- SSW203°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 2414 kts
- Windy days
- 2/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.3–1.5 m9s period
- Temperature
- 8–23 °C
Over the next 7 days, Bay (Bunbury Coast) is forecast for daytime winds of 4–14 kts, peaking around 14 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 25 kts. The prevailing direction is SSW. Waves run 0.3–1.5 m with a period of about 9s. 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
- strong rip currents (especially near reef outcrops and the surf club area)
- shore break
- submerged rocks/submerged reef patches
- shark presence
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Seasonal lifeguards (surf life saving club coverage at major beaches).
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue services provided by the Bunbury Surf Life Saving Club at major beaches; supplemented by Volunteer Marine Rescue WA.
- Emergency Info
- Bunbury Regional Hospital is approximately 10 minutes away by car. Emergency number: 000.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — A local scene exists around the surf club and wind sports; typical respectful local behavior is expected.
Rules of the spot
Standard surfing etiquette applies. Respect swimmers’ zones near the surf club.
- No motorized watercraft near the swimming areas.
- Designated swimming flags must be respected.
- Check sandbanks near the surf club for the most consistent shape.
- Early mornings offer best offshore conditions before the sea breeze arrives.
- Respect designated swimming flags near the surf club area.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Bunbury
- Nearest Town
- Bunbury
- Nearest Airport
- Busselton Margaret River Airport (BQB) ~50km away; Perth Airport (PER) ~175km north
- Parking
- Large paved parking lots are available along the beachfront, especially near the surf club.
- Public Transport
- Accessible via Australind train service and Transwa bus services from Perth, with local bus routes serving coastal suburbs
- Access
- Extremely easy access via Ocean Drive, with multiple entry points to the sand.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Various hotels and apartments are located within walking distance along Ocean Drive.
- Food & Drink
- Cafes and restaurants are located directly across from the beach and at the surf club.
- Equipment Rental:
- Available through the local surf school and surf shops in the city center.
- Gear Storage
- No public gear storage available.
- Gear Repair
- Surfboard repair services are available at local shops in Bunbury city.
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 Bay (Bunbury Coast)?
The best overall months at Bay (Bunbury Coast) are October, November, December, January, February, March, April. The best wind months are December, January, February, March.
Which wind directions work at Bay (Bunbury Coast)?
Bay (Bunbury Coast) works with E, SE, NE winds. Offshore directions are E, SE, NE.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Bay (Bunbury Coast)?
Recommended equipment sizes at Bay (Bunbury Coast): Kitesurfing: 9–12 m² · Windsurfing: 4.7–5.7 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 15–25 kts.
What skill level is Bay (Bunbury Coast) suitable for?
Bay (Bunbury Coast) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Intermediate · Windsurfing: Advanced · Wingfoiling: Advanced · Surfing: Intermediate.