Farmer Burgers
- Advanced riders
- Best for
- Expert
- Skill Level
- Swell, Ocean
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Farmer Burgers is an exposed reef surfing spot on the West Coast with waves that can become very hollow and heavy, making it suitable only for advanced, expert surfers. Rock hazards are a major theme across sources, alongside reports of urchins and rip/undertow conditions, so lineup awareness is critical. Wind and surface conditions strongly affect ride quality. Glassy setups and conditions with offshore grooming (notably described for southeasterly patterns) are highlighted as producing clean faces and intense hollow sections. The spot’s best month is described as July, with monthly clean/blown probabilities given (July: 64% blown, 36% clean). The break is described as reef-on-reef with shallow exposure over a jagged reef shelf; timing with higher tide is repeatedly recommended to avoid the shallowest parts. On bigger swell, the wave is described as holding size while getting increasingly heavy and dangerous. Logistically, it’s a remote, low-infrastructure location: gear rental, storage, and repair are not available at the spot. Lifeguards are not present, and rescue is described as limited/covered regionally; nearest medical facilities are in Elands Bay or Lambert’s Bay, while major hospitals are hours away. Cold water guidance is emphasized, with preparation for very warm insulation and the likelihood of strong hold-downs.
- Exposed reef break with hollow, fast sections (conditions dependent).
- Best month described: July; spring and summer also referenced as strong periods.
- Expert-only due to shallow reef, rocks, and current hazards.
- Exposed reef break with consistent surf described for the spot.
- Offshore/onshore patterns described as producing glassy, clean, hollow waves.
- Often quiet with few surfers at weekends (low-profile local spot).
- Expert-only, due to very hollow/heavy reef waves and strong hazards (rocks, urchins, rips/undertow).
- Cold water year-round and shallow/jagged reef exposure, especially at lower tides.
- No lifeguards and remote access; emergency care may be several hours away.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- E, SE
- Offshore directions
- ESE, SE
- No-go directions
- N, NNE, NE, ENE, S, SSW, SW, WSW, W, WNW, NW, NNW
- Wind Range
- 15–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Trade — Cape Doctor south-easterly influence in summer; offshore/seasonal patterns vary with conditions.
- Reliability
- 64% blown, 36% clean (month given: July).
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts — Gusts described as light.
- Best Months
- July
- Thermal Window
- Other · Afternoon · Months: Jun, Jul, Aug · Dir: ESE, SE · Afternoon sea breezes are common in summer; summer trade winds can be strongly enhanced.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Swell, Ocean
- Beach
- Rocks — Rocky/reef environment with exposed and submerged hazards.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Small — One dataset notes small waves; another notes working swell windows that can produce much larger reef waves depending on season.
- Launch
- Small — Launch from rocks or a nearby small sandy patch; careful timing between sets.
- Launch Difficulty
- Expert only — Launch difficulty described as difficult; requires precise timing and preparation.
Through the year
Week: empty; Weekend: few surfers (low-profile). Sometimes crowded according to one guide.
Winter months (June to August) see the most rainfall and cold fronts.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Exposed right-hand/left-hand reef options are described across sources, but the wave is emphasized as very hollow and heavy, best for expert surfers with strong awareness of rocks, shallow reef, and currents.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- W, WSW, SW
- Swell Height
- 1.5–4 m
- Optimal Tide
- High — Higher tide recommended to reduce shallowest-reef exposure.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed coastal position with no meaningful shelter from weather/swell.
- Wind Effect
- Southeast winds are described as offshore and capable of grooming wave faces; glassy conditions are also preferred.
- Bigger Swell
- Holds significant size and becomes increasingly heavy and dangerous as swell grows.
- Wave Quality
- Excellent — Glassy/offshore conditions emphasized as producing clean, hollow waves.
- Wave Power
- Very powerful — Very powerful, heavy reef surf; can become increasingly dangerous on bigger swells.
- Wave Shape
- Barreling — Often described as hollow/barreling.
- Peel Speed
- Fast — Fast take-offs and rapid pitching/section speed.
- Ride Length
- Short — Short (<50m) reported in one dataset; other reports describe longer reef barreling rides—expect variability by tide and swell.
- Typical Ride Length
- 100–200 m
- Ride Length Details
- Reports vary: one notes short rides (<50m); another describes fast, vertical take-offs leading into longer hollow barrel sections (often much longer).
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Farmer Burgers in the full forecast view.
Farmer Burgers wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–17 ktsGusts 26 kts
- Direction
- SW222°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2517 kts
- Windy days
- 5/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.7–2.1 m8s period
- Temperature
- 14–29 °C
Over the next 7 days, Farmer Burgers is forecast for daytime winds of 2–17 kts, peaking around 17 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 26 kts. The prevailing direction is SW. Waves run 0.7–2.1 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
- Urchins
- Rips_or_undertow
- Sharks
- Localism
- Cold water
- Shallow reef
- Heavy hold-downs
- Remote location
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguards present.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Formal rescue coverage by NSRI Station 24 in Lamberts Bay (regional coverage).
- Emergency Info
- Nearest medical facilities are in Elands Bay or Lambert's Bay; major hospitals are several hours away in Cape Town. National emergency number is 112 (from a mobile phone).
- Localism / Vibe
- Moderate — Moderate localism noted; respect local surfers.
Rules of the spot
Standard surfing etiquette applies; respect local surfers who frequent the break.
- Not for beginners (hazardous reef and intense, hollow waves).
- Take care of rocks in the lineup.
- Wait for higher tide to avoid the shallowest parts of the reef.
- Conditions are best when glassy or with a NE berg wind.
- Ensure you’re prepared for cold water and powerful hold-downs.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Lambert's Bay, Western Cape
- Nearest Town
- Lambert's Bay
- Parking
- Unmarked parking on sand/dirt tracks near the coast (where applicable).
- Access
- South of Lambert's Bay; requires a short walk (5-15 minutes). Some access described as via gravel roads and sandy tracks north of Elands Bay—high-clearance vehicle recommended.
- Local Language
- English, Afrikaans
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Camping and self-catering cottages are available in Elands Bay. One accommodation is also described near Lambert’s Bay.
- Food & Drink
- Basic supplies and a few restaurants are located in Elands Bay (nearby).
- Equipment Rental:
- No rentals available at the spot; bring everything you need.
- Gear Storage
- None available at the coastal launch.
- Gear Repair
- No specialized gear repair available at the spot.
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 Farmer Burgers?
The best overall months at Farmer Burgers are January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December. The best wind months are July.
Which wind directions work at Farmer Burgers?
Farmer Burgers works with E, SE winds. Offshore directions are ESE, SE. No-go directions are N, NNE, NE, ENE, S, SSW, SW, WSW, W, WNW, NW, NNW.
What skill level is Farmer Burgers suitable for?
Farmer Burgers suits these riding levels: Surfing: Expert.