Sidies (Bunbury Coast)
- Freeride, Shortboard
- Best for
- Intermediate to Advanced
- Skill Level
- Swell, Small 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Sidies (Bunbury Coast) is a fairly exposed beach-break area on the Bunbury South Coast, known for dependable surf outside the summer slump. Sources describe it as often flat in summer, but with improved reliability around March, with sandbanks that shift frequently and can change the way the waves break. The break is associated with sandy bottom conditions but with rocks near the shoreline/submerged areas, making on-water caution important. Surf is described as right-breaking in at least one source, while another describes both lefts and rights depending on the sandbanks. On bigger swells, the waves may close out, particularly when sandbanks aren’t holding their shape. Wind can be a big factor for wave quality. Offshore easterly winds can groom the waves, while westerly/south-westerly winds are described as making things choppy. One key practical pattern is to target the morning before the sea breeze strengthens, and to re-check sandbanks after winter storm activity. For safety, the most consistently reported hazards are rocks, plus risk of heavy shore break and rip currents near sandbars/rocky outcrops. There can also be sharks reported among the hazard set, and the spot is noted to get quite busy when conditions are good. Rescue availability is described as limited, with lifeguards seasonal at the wider area.
- Reliable surf especially around March
- Exposed beach break with sandbanks that shift frequently
- Rocks and rip currents are key hazards
- Generally reliable surf for a Perth South beach break, especially around March.
- Accessible public beach entries and nearby parking along Ocean Drive.
- Clean water is commonly reported, with good wave grooming when winds cooperate.
- Rocks near the shoreline and hazards require care.
- Sea breeze and winter systems can make conditions more demanding; summer can be flat.
- Can get busy when conditions are good.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- E, ESE, NE
- Wind Range
- 10–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Sea breeze — Sea-breeze pattern is common, with winds that can be strong in summer; winter is driven more by frontal systems.
- Reliability
- Summer is often blown out by strong sea breezes; winter brings more frontal wind influence.
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts
- Best Months
- March, April, May, June, July, August, September
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Swell, Small waves
- Beach
- Sand — Sandy bottom with rocks/rocky features near shore.
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Medium — Wave size described as medium; optimal swell window cited as 0.5 to 2.5 meters for surfing.
- Chop Level
- Light chop — Can become choppy with certain wind directions (West/South-West).
- Launch
- Medium — Beach access along Ocean Drive with multiple entry points.
Through the year
Can get busy on weekends and during summer holidays; quieter on weekdays.
Winter (June to August) brings the most rain and large stormy swells.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Mainly a surfing spot, but the broader beach area can be used for kitesurfing in sideshore or cross-onshore winds.
- Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
A fairly exposed beach break with reliable surf, though summer can be mostly flat. Works best around March and is impacted by sandbank changes and rocky hazards.
- Optimal Swell
- W, SW
- Swell Height
- 0.5–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid
- Shelter
- Exposed — No major shelter noted; described as fairly exposed.
- Wind Effect
- Offshore winds from the East groom the waves; West/South-West winds make it choppy.
- Bigger Swell
- Can close out on very large swells; sandbanks shift frequently.
- Wave Quality
- Good
- Wave Power
- Moderate
- Wave Shape
- Peeling
- Peel Speed
- Medium
- Ride Length
- Medium — Rides can range from 50 to 100 meters on good sandbanks.
- Typical Ride Length
- 75 m
- Ride Length Details
- Rides can range from 50 to 100 meters on good sandbanks.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Sidies (Bunbury Coast) in the full forecast view.
Sidies (Bunbury Coast) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 3–14 ktsGusts 25 kts
- Direction
- SSW193°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 2414 kts
- Windy days
- 2/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.3–1.5 m8s period
- Temperature
- 7–23 °C
Over the next 7 days, Sidies (Bunbury Coast) is forecast for daytime winds of 3–14 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 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
- Rip currents
- Heavy shore break
- Sharks
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue services provided at major beaches by the Bunbury Surf Life Saving Club, with additional support via Volunteer Marine Rescue WA.
- Emergency Info
- Bunbury Hospital is approximately 10 minutes away. Emergency number: 000.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild
Rules of the spot
Check conditions around the sandbanks and rocky areas; surf early before the sea breeze strengthens. Expect busy water when conditions are good.
- Best surfed in the morning before the sea breeze kicks in.
- Check the sandbanks as they change after winter storms.
- Be alert for rip currents near sandbars and rocky outcrops.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Bunbury
- Nearest Town
- Bunbury
- Nearest Airport
- Busselton Margaret River Airport (BQB) ~50km away; Perth Airport (PER) ~175km north
- Parking
- Available in designated bays along Ocean Drive
- Public Transport
- Accessible via the Australind train service and Transwa bus services from Perth, with local bus routes serving coastal suburbs
- Access
- Public access via Ocean Drive with multiple beach entry points
- Cost Level
- Budget
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Various hotels and caravan parks in Bunbury town center.
- Food & Drink
- Cafes and restaurants available along the foreshore.
- Equipment Rental:
- Local surf shops in Bunbury town center.
- Gear Storage
- Limited specialized gear storage; most riders use private vehicles or coordinate with local schools.
- Gear Repair
- Surfboard repairs available at local shops.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
Bunbury is a vibrant coastal city serving as a gateway to the South West, with a strong outdoor community and marine-life focused attractions.
Interpretive centre offering interaction with wild bottlenose dolphins in Koombana Bay.
South West’s premier public art gallery, housed in a historic convent.
360-degree views of the city, harbor, and coastline.
Main hub for dining and nightlife in Bunbury with a variety of cafes and bars.
A park where visitors can interact with native Australian animals.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Sidies (Bunbury Coast)?
The best overall months at Sidies (Bunbury Coast) are March, April, May, June, July, August, September.
Which wind directions work at Sidies (Bunbury Coast)?
Sidies (Bunbury Coast) works with E, ESE, NE winds.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Sidies (Bunbury Coast)?
Recommended equipment sizes at Sidies (Bunbury Coast): Kitesurfing: 9–12 m². The typical wind range is 10–25 kts.
What skill level is Sidies (Bunbury Coast) suitable for?
Sidies (Bunbury Coast) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Advanced · Surfing: Intermediate to Advanced.