Drummonds
- Freeride, Shortboard
- Best for
- Advanced
- Skill Level
- Swell
- Spot Type
- Moderate
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Drummonds (Drummond Cove) is an exposed reef break just north of Geraldton that’s described as working only once in a while. When it does fire, it can deliver long, high-performance right-hand reef waves with peeling, fast-faced sections. The reef setup also means the spot can be very shallow on the inside, and safety hazards are emphasized: rocks, sea urchins, and sharks are reported for the area. The beach/launch is unpatrolled, and spot-level rescue availability and lifeguards are reported as not present—so conditions and tides should be checked before entry. For wind, the seasonality matters: best months reported span October through March, with a steady, sea-breeze-driven pattern and typical winds around 15–25 knots. East winds are noted as the best wind direction, which also ties to wave grooming (offshore for east winds). In summer, southerly conditions are also described as relevant for the local wave-sailing setups in the cove context. Kitesurfing and windsurfing are described as possible, but with an emphasis on performance and difficulty—generally aimed at advanced riders. Wingfoiling is flagged as potentially hazardous due to the shallow reef and wave power, and is only indicated for expert-level attempts during smaller swell and higher tides.
- Long, high-performance right-hand reef walls
- Works infrequently but can handle significant swell
- East winds reported as the best wind direction
- Long, high-performance right-hand reef break on suitable swell and wind alignment
- Can handle significant swell when conditions line up
- Wind sports possible seasonally in the cove context
- Reef hazards including shallow inside areas, rocks, sea urchins, and sharks
- Spot works infrequently
- No lifeguards / unpatrolled beach
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- E, ESE, SE
- Offshore directions
- E, ENE, ESE
- Wind Range
- 15–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Sea breeze — Strong, reliable afternoon sea-breeze pattern common in the season; local sources also note east winds as the best wind direction for the spot.
- Reliability
- high
- Gust Factor
- Steady — Steady conditions reported for the wind pattern.
- Best Months
- October, November, December, January, February, March
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 7–10 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Swell
- Beach
- Sand — Sand beach.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Medium — Medium surf generally, with the reef able to handle larger swell when conditions align.
- Launch
- Medium — Beach access leads to a reef launch for surfers.
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate — Moderate launch difficulty reported.
Through the year
Can be crowded with locals on weekends or during prime swells.
Winter months receive the most rainfall.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Possible within the cove/reef context; also described as a high-performance wave sailing area for experienced riders, with a right-hand reef break on cross-shore southerly winds.
- Kite Sizes
- 7–10 m²
Possible within the cove/reef context; described as a challenging wave sailing location with long, peeling right-handers when swell and wind align.
Only suitable for expert foilers during smaller swells and higher tides; shallow reef and strong waves noted as hazards.
- Foil Friendly
- Limited — Limited foil-friendly conditions reported.
- Min Depth
- 1.5m
- Wing Sizes
- 4–5 m²
Exposed reef break that works infrequently. When conditions align it can produce long, high-performance right-hand reef walls; often very shallow on the inside.
- Wave Direction
- Right
- Optimal Swell
- SW, WSW
- Swell Height
- 1.5–3 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid — Mid tide noted as optimal.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed reef setup.
- Wind Effect
- East winds are offshore and groom the wave; South winds are cross-shore.
- Bigger Swell
- Holds size well but becomes very heavy and expert-only.
- Wave Quality
- Excellent — Excellent wave quality reported for the right conditions.
- Wave Power
- Powerful — Premier right-hand reef break that produces powerful sections.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Long peeling walls reported.
- Peel Speed
- Fast — Reported as fast peeling right-handers.
- Ride Length
- Long — Can offer rides up to 150 meters on the right days; longer, high-performance right-hand rides.
- Typical Ride Length
- 100 m
- Ride Length Details
- Can offer rides up to 150 meters on the right days; typical rides reported as long.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Drummonds in the full forecast view.
Drummonds wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 6–20 ktsGusts 33 kts
- Direction
- S174°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 2420 kts
- Windy days
- 6/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.9–2.5 m9s period
- Temperature
- 10–27 °C
Over the next 7 days, Drummonds is forecast for daytime winds of 6–20 kts, peaking around 20 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 33 kts. The prevailing direction is S. Waves run 0.9–2.5 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
- Rocks
- Sharks
- Sea urchins
- Strong currents
- Shallow reef
- Shallow reef ledges and submerged rocks
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguards reported.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — No spot-level rescue availability reported for the beach/launch area.
- Emergency Info
- Nearest hospital is in Geraldton city center.
- Localism / Vibe
- Moderate — Moderate localism reported.
Rules of the spot
Standard surfing etiquette applies; respect the local lineup. Beach is unpatrolled.
- Do not rely on lifeguards; the area is unpatrolled.
- Swim between red and yellow flags if available; the beach is unpatrolled with no Surf Life Saving services.
- Check the tide before heading out as the reef can become dangerously shallow at low tide.
- Booties are recommended for the reef walk.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Geraldton
- Nearest Town
- Drummond Cove
- Nearest Airport
- Geraldton Airport (GET), approximately 10-15 km inland from the coast
- Parking
- Parking available; limited parking near residential access points.
- Public Transport
- TransWA coaches connect the region to Perth; local bus services operate within Geraldton but a car is highly recommended for coastal access
- Access
- Drive via Drummond Cove Road, approximately 10km north of Geraldton. Accessible via Drummond Cove roads with parking areas overlooking the break.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Far — Holiday rentals and caravan parks in the Geraldton and Drummond Cove area.
- Food & Drink
- Local shops and cafes are a short drive away in the main part of Geraldton.
- Equipment Rental:
- Equipment rentals reported via surf shops in Geraldton (surfing/windsurfing/kitesurfing gear).
- Gear Repair
- Surf and windsurf repair shops are available in Geraldton.
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 Drummonds?
The best overall months at Drummonds are May, June, July, August, October, November, December, January, February, March. The best wind months are October, November, December, January, February, March.
Which wind directions work at Drummonds?
Drummonds works with E, ESE, SE winds. Offshore directions are E, ENE, ESE.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Drummonds?
Recommended equipment sizes at Drummonds: Kitesurfing: 7–10 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–5 m². The typical wind range is 15–25 kts.
What skill level is Drummonds suitable for?
Drummonds suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Advanced · Windsurfing: Advanced · Wingfoiling: Expert · Surfing: Advanced.