The Bombie
- Advanced riders
- Best for
- Advanced to Expert
- Skill Level
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
The Bombie is an exposed reef break on the open ocean with a reputation for heavy, high-performance surfing. It’s described as a big-wave spot with very powerful takeoff and hollow sections, but it is not for beginners. Across available references, the wave is treated as reef/ledge-driven and hazardous: sharp rocks, sea urchins, and reports of sharks are included in the hazard lists. Strong currents and rips are also noted, especially during larger swells, which contributes to the serious risk profile and the need for a solid skill level. Wind is described as frontal, with West/North West/South West directions featuring in spot-level patterns. West and North West winds are said to groom the face for cleaner barrel opportunities, while South winds can add chop. Providers also indicate that the spot is sensitive to tide and swell—aim for a rising mid-tide (enough water over the reef) and a solid south swell for the wave to “fire.” Access and facilities are limited relative to more urban breaks: one access method emphasizes reaching the spot via a longer walk from the Gracetown area (or a jet ski), while another describes access via Port Kembla Beach. Public amenities near the beach include basic facilities such as parking, toilets, and showers; however, there’s no reliable rescue specifically tied to the spot.
- Heavy, exposed reef break
- Hollow sections and powerful takeoff
- Rising mid-tide recommended to cover the reef
- Serious hazard environment (rocks, urchins, sharks; strong currents)
- High-performance reef break with very powerful takeoff and hollow sections
- Conditions described as consistent enough to support a big-wave reputation when the swell and tide line up
- Low visibility/crowd levels even on good days
- Extreme conditions for advanced/expert surfers due to heavy reef and exposed open-ocean setting
- Hazards include sharp rocks/urchins and the possibility of sharks
- Currents can be strong, especially on larger swells
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- W, NW, SW
- Wind Range
- 10–20 kts
- Wind Type
- Frontal — Providers differ: one set describes frontal wind type; regional context notes strong southerly frontal changes year-round.
- Reliability
- moderate
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — Moderate gusts reported.
- Best Months
- April, May, June, July, August
- Shadow Zones
- Directly under the northern headland during strong North West winds (spot-level detail).
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Ocean
- Beach
- Sand — Sand composition described.
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Big — Big-wave reef break reputation.
- Launch
- Beach start or rocky entry depending on experience and swell size (spot-level description).
- Launch Difficulty
- Difficult — Difficult launch/entry due to reef and exposed conditions.
Through the year
Rain can occur year-round, with occasional heavy East Coast Low storms in Autumn and Winter.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Exposed heavy reef break with a powerful takeoff and hollow sections. Requires advanced expertise due to shallow reef/rocks and heavy, intimidating conditions.
- Wave Direction
- Right
- Optimal Swell
- S, SSE
- Swell Height
- 1.5–3.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid — Best on a rising mid-tide to ensure enough water over the reef.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed reef break.
- Wind Effect
- West and North West winds groom the face for cleaner barrels; South winds can make it very choppy.
- Bigger Swell
- Can handle significant size but becomes extremely heavy and expert-only with a treacherous paddle out.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Quality described as good; best conditions tied to solid swell and sufficient depth.
- Wave Power
- Very powerful — Providers describe the wave as very powerful/heavy with a high-performance takeoff.
- Wave Shape
- Hollow — Known for hollow sections.
- Peel Speed
- Fast — Fast, intense ride focusing on the power/initial barrel.
- Ride Length
- Short — Typical ride focuses on early barrel/power before tapering off.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–100 m
- Ride Length Details
- Fast, intense ride emphasizing the initial barrel and power section before tapering off into deeper water.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for The Bombie in the full forecast view.
The Bombie wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 3–12 ktsGusts 25 kts
- Direction
- E82°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2512 kts
- Windy days
- 1/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.7–1.9 m8s period
- Temperature
- 12–31 °C
Over the next 7 days, The Bombie is forecast for daytime winds of 3–12 kts, peaking around 12 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 25 kts. The prevailing direction is E. Waves run 0.7–1.9 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
- sharks
- sea urchins
- strong rip currents especially during larger swells
- shallow reef
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Lifeguards/patrol described as seasonal (regional context).
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue described as limited; no spot-level rescue option indicated by one provider.
- Emergency Info
- Nearest major medical facility is Wollongong Hospital.
- Localism / Vibe
- Moderate — Described as moderately local with lineup sensitivity for a heavy-water reef break.
Rules of the spot
Standard surfing etiquette applies; respect the local lineup at this sensitive heavy-water spot.
- Best surfed on a rising mid-tide to ensure enough water over the reef.
- Requires a solid South swell to really fire.
- Park at the top of Gracetown and walk about 2km to the spot (or take a jet ski from Gracetown).
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Wollongong
- Nearest Town
- Gracetown
- Nearest Airport
- Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) at approximately 70km distance.
- Parking
- Park at the top of Gracetown; also described: public parking at the northern Port Kembla beach car parks.
- Public Transport
- Well-served by the South Coast/Illawarra train line from Sydney, with stations at Bulli and Woonona within walking distance of the coast.
- Access
- Park at the top of Gracetown and walk about 2km; alternatively take a jet ski from Gracetown. Another access route described via the northern end of Port Kembla Beach (MM Beach area) with beach or headland track walks.
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Far — Various hotels and holiday rentals in Port Kembla and Wollongong.
- Food & Drink
- Local cafes and shops available in the Port Kembla town centre (short drive away).
- Equipment Rental:
- Surf shops in Wollongong and Shellharbour provide rentals; specialist wind-sport gear primarily found in nearby Sydney or Shellharbour.
- Gear Storage
- Limited public storage; most visitors rely on private vehicle transport or accommodation.
- Gear Repair
- Repair services available at surf shops in nearby Wollongong.
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 The Bombie?
For wind, the best months at The Bombie are April, May, June, July, August.
Which wind directions work at The Bombie?
The Bombie works with W, NW, SW winds.
What skill level is The Bombie suitable for?
The Bombie suits these riding levels: Surfing: Advanced to Expert.