Bunker Bay
- Wave, Shortboard
- Best for
- Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Small waves, Medium waves
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Bunker Bay is a north-facing, sandy bay with crystal-clear water and plenty of beach space to set up. It’s commonly associated with higher-energy surf breaks in the bay area, and the overall coastline setup is described as exposed, with rocky outcrops at the eastern and western ends that riders should account for during launches and landings. For wind sports, the most consistently reported wind directions are west through northwest (W, WNW, NW). Kitesurfers especially favor this sector, and reported typical wind speeds for the bay are roughly 15–25 knots with moderate gustiness and moderate reliability. Recommended kite sizes are commonly given in the 8–12 m² range, and the spot is aimed at intermediate riders. For surfing, the bay is described as capable of producing moderate wave power and generally peeling wave shapes, including left-hand wave options. Sources note that conditions can vary with tide (mid tide highlighted as optimal), and that waves can hold up on bigger swell but may become heavy. The main swell working window is reported as about 1.0–2.5 meters from the northwest through west-southwest directions, with ride lengths often described in the ~50–100 meter range. Safety-wise, hazards mentioned for the spot include rocks and sharks, and there’s no dedicated on-water rescue reported. NW-driven fronts can bring rain and squally conditions, while southerly winds are described as offshore for this location—particularly important for kitesurfing, where southerlies are not recommended unless you have boat support. Emergency services are available via 000, and the nearest hospital is in Busselton.
- NW/WNW/NW winds favor kitesurfing
- Crystal-clear water and sandy beach setup
- Surf breaks associated with left-hand wave options
- No lifeguards reported
- Crystal-clear water over sand with small-to-medium wave options.
- Wind-friendly NW/WNW/NW directions for intermediate riders, especially for kitesurfing.
- Multiple water-sport options (kite, windsurf, wingfoil, and surfing) from the same general bay area.
- Offshore southerlies for kiting can make riding unsafe unless you have boat support.
- Rocks at the edges of the bay increase hazards during any wipeouts.
- Crowding can increase during summer holidays and weekends.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- W, WNW, NW
- Offshore directions
- S
- Wind Range
- 15–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Frontal — Reported as frontal-pattern winds in the bay.
- Reliability
- moderate
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — Described as moderate gusts.
- Best Months
- December, January, February
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 8–12 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Small waves, Medium waves
- Beach
- Sand — Sand beach reported.
- Beach Size
- Big
- Waves
- Medium — Providers describe the bay as having small to medium waves.
- Launch
- Medium — Wide sandy beach with plenty of space; self-launch feasibility for kite not explicitly confirmed.
- Launch Difficulty
- Easy — Launching described as easy for the bay area.
Through the year
Can be crowded during summer holidays and on weekends; very quiet during winter weekdays.
June to August
By sport
What to expect for each.
A premier option for NW winds which are relatively rare in the region; offers side-onshore conditions with small to medium waves that are often cleaner than other nearby options.
- Kite Sizes
- 8–12 m²
Suitable for wave riding and freeride during frontal wind conditions; the bay provides more protection than the main surf coast.
- Sail Sizes
- 4.7–5.7 m²
Foil-friendly with enough depth away from shore; launching can be slightly more technical due to swell.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes — Foil-friendly conditions reported.
- Min Depth
- 1.5m
- Wing Sizes
- 4.5–6 m²
Known for high-energy beach and reef setups in the bay (including left-hand reef break sections).
- Wave Direction
- Left
- Optimal Swell
- NW, WSW, W
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid — Reported to work across high, mid, and low tide, with mid tide noted as optimal.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Overall exposure described as exposed for the bay areas, with some shelter from dominant south-westerly winds at the break.
- Wind Effect
- Southerly winds are offshore here; breeze direction strongly affects quality.
- Bigger Swell
- Holds size but can get heavy.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Good wave quality reported.
- Wave Power
- Moderate — Moderate wave power reported.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Peeling described for the main break.
- Peel Speed
- Medium — Described peeling with medium peel speed.
- Ride Length
- Medium — Consistent, with medium ride length described.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–100 m
- Ride Length Details
- Consistent left-hand waves; can produce cleaner/hollow sections when the swell is right.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Bunker Bay in the full forecast view.
Bunker Bay wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 4–17 ktsGusts 29 kts
- Direction
- S190°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 2417 kts
- Windy days
- 5/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.5–2.0 m9s period
- Temperature
- 10–23 °C
Over the next 7 days, Bunker Bay is forecast for daytime winds of 4–17 kts, peaking around 17 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 29 kts. The prevailing direction is S. Waves run 0.5–2.0 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
- rocks
- sharks
- offshore winds during southerlies
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguard presence reported.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — No on-water rescue availability reported for the spot.
- Emergency Info
- Nearest hospital is in Busselton; emergency services can be reached via 000.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Mild localism noted.
Rules of the spot
Follow standard international maritime right-of-way rules and be respectful of surfers at the main break area.
- The spot is best when the wind comes on NW fronts; these can bring rain and squally conditions.
- Southerly winds are offshore here and are not recommended for kiting unless you have boat support.
- Be mindful of rocks at the eastern and western ends of the bay.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Perth
- Nearest Town
- Dunsborough
- Nearest Airport
- Busselton Margaret River Airport (BQB) approx. 35km; Perth Airport (PER) approx. 255km.
- Parking
- Large bitumen car park with direct beach access; can fill up during peak holidays.
- Public Transport
- Limited public transport; a private vehicle is highly recommended for accessing different coastal points.
- Access
- Follow Bunker Bay Road to the end where there is a dedicated public car park and beach access path.
- Cost Level
- Expensive
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Direct — A resort is reported directly behind the beach.
- Food & Drink
- A cafe/restaurant is reported nearby for dining and coffee.
- Equipment Rental:
- Specialized kite and wing gear rentals may be limited and may require prior arrangement.
- Gear Storage
- Generally not available at public beach areas; most visitors store gear at accommodation or in private vehicles.
- Gear Repair
- Surfboard repairs are available via local shapers in nearby areas.
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 Bunker Bay?
The best overall months at Bunker Bay are November, December, January, February, March. The best wind months are December, January, February.
Which wind directions work at Bunker Bay?
Bunker Bay works with W, WNW, NW winds. Offshore directions are S.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Bunker Bay?
Recommended equipment sizes at Bunker Bay: Kitesurfing: 8–12 m² · Windsurfing: 4.7–5.7 m² · Wingfoiling: 4.5–6 m². The typical wind range is 15–25 kts.
What skill level is Bunker Bay suitable for?
Bunker Bay suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Intermediate · Windsurfing: Intermediate · Wingfoiling: Intermediate · Surfing: Intermediate.