Nettley Bay Point
- Freeride, Shortboard
- Best for
- Intermediate
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Nettley Bay Point is an exposed point break on Tasmania’s west coast, known for quite reliable surf with the best swell arriving from the west. March is consistently highlighted as the top month, aligning with cold-water surfing conditions and a more dependable swell-to-surf match. The launch/beach environment is hazardous and changeable: rocks, reefs, and shallow bars are repeatedly cited. Complex bathymetry means conditions can be unforgiving, so local knowledge and careful route choice are emphasized for both surfing and kite/wind progression. For surfing, the spot is exposed (little shelter), and the available notes describe wave quality as good/quite reliable overall, with wind/wave interplay favoring a northeast wind approach. The working swell window is described as roughly 1–2.5 m, and all tides are indicated as usable. Cold-water kit is strongly recommended. Available month data and guidance point to spring wetsuit use with neoprene boots, with winter leaning toward thicker protection. In addition, the spot is remote, with limited/no on-site rescue or lifeguard support—so self-sufficiency and conservative decision-making are essential.
- Quite reliable exposed point-break surf, especially in March
- West-swells are the key swell direction
- Cold-water conditions and rocky hazards demand proper gear and local knowledge
- Quite reliable, consistent surf described for the west-coast point-break setup
- Best conditions noted in March
- Works for intermediate riders across multiple wind/water sports (especially surfing and progression kitesurfing)
- Highly exposed point-break environment
- Rocky/reef hazards and variable shallow bars—local knowledge is important
- Cold-water conditions require proper wetsuit and boot protection
- No dedicated on-site rescue/lifeguard coverage indicated
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- NE
- Wind Range
- 10.4 kts
- Wind Type
- Frontal — Wind is described as frontal in the available enrichment data.
- Best Months
- March
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Swell, Ocean
- Beach
- Sand — Sandy areas with rocks are indicated; hazards include reefs and shallow bars.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Launch
- Medium — Moderate launch difficulty is indicated in enrichment data.
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate — Launch difficulty is listed as moderate.
- Shore Break
- None — Shore break is listed as none.
Through the year
Winter (June–August) brings the most frequent and intense Southern Ocean storms
By sport
What to expect for each.
Suitable for intermediate kiters for flat-water to small-wave progression, but requires careful navigation around rocks, reefs, and shallow bars.
Possible for intermediate wingfoilers in flat-water to small-wave conditions; hazards include rocks, reefs, and shallow bars. Not foil-friendly per enrichment data.
- Foil Friendly
- No — Foil-friendly is explicitly marked as no in the enrichment data.
Exposed point break on Tasmania’s west coast with quite reliable surf; performs best with west swells.
- Optimal Swell
- W
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- All tides — All tides are listed as suitable.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed point break with open Southern Ocean exposure.
- Wind Effect
- Northeast winds are described as cross-onshore-beneficial for the surf.
- Wave Quality
- Described as quite reliable; available data conflicts on whether wave quality is good vs average.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Nettley Bay Point in the full forecast view.
Nettley Bay Point wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 3–16 ktsGusts 30 kts
- Direction
- WSW245°
- Strongest day
- Wed, Oct 2816 kts
- Windy days
- 5/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 1.9–3.6 m11s period
- Temperature
- 9–17 °C
Over the next 7 days, Nettley Bay Point is forecast for daytime winds of 3–16 kts, peaking around 16 kts on Wednesday, October 28 with gusts to 30 kts. The prevailing direction is WSW. Waves run 1.9–3.6 m with a period of about 11s. 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
- Reefs
- Shallow bars
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguards are indicated for this spot.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — No dedicated on-site rescue is indicated for this spot.
- Emergency Info
- Remote area: call 000 for emergency services; nearest major medical facility is the North West Regional Hospital (Burnie), about 140 km away.
Rules of the spot
Requires local knowledge due to complex bathymetry (rocks, reefs, shallow bars).
- Bring local-area awareness for complex bathymetry (rocks, reefs, shallow bars).
- Intermediate kiters/surfers are best suited—be prepared to navigate variable conditions around hazards.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Burnie
- Nearest Town
- Marrawah
- Nearest Airport
- Burnie Airport (BWT) (~125 km) or Devonport (DPO) / Melbourne (MEL) via connecting flights
- Public Transport
- Non-existent/limited
- Access
- Remote access via the Marrawah region; requires local knowledge due to complex bathymetry and hazards.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Limited accommodation and campsites are available in the Marrawah area.
- Equipment Rental:
- Equipment rental is indicated as not available.
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 Nettley Bay Point?
The best overall months at Nettley Bay Point are March.
Which wind directions work at Nettley Bay Point?
Nettley Bay Point works with NE winds.
What skill level is Nettley Bay Point suitable for?
Nettley Bay Point suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Intermediate · Wingfoiling: Intermediate · Surfing: Intermediate.