Tweede Steen
- Freeride, Shortboard
- Best for
- Intermediate
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Tweede Steen is a fairly exposed beach break on Cape Town’s West Coast that offers both left and right-hand waves, but with typically inconsistent surf. Best surf conditions are reported when a southwest swell combines with offshore-leaning east-northeast winds, and sessions are often best around low to mid tide. While wave quality can vary, the break remains a go-to option for riders who are comfortable managing changing conditions. The location’s hazards are a key part of planning: rocks and rocky sections of shoreline are reported, and rip currents are described as common—especially near rocky outcrops. Water is cold year-round due to the Atlantic/Benguela influence, so a properly rated wetsuit is essential for any session, even in summer. Winter and spring are also noted as strong times of year for surf swell availability. Wind at Tweede Steen is thermally driven by the Cape Doctor pattern, with strong summer reinforcement. During the summer months, wind reliability is described as very high and gusts are moderate. The reported thermal pattern builds into the afternoon (roughly 12:00 to 19:00) and offshore-favorable winds for clean surf are often from the east-northeast. For wind sports, summer conditions can turn the spot into a high-energy playground—supporting kitesurfing styles such as wave riding, freeride, foil, and downwinders, as well as windsurfing freeride and wave sailing. Wingfoiling is also possible when swell is small, but cold water and shore break mean it suits riders who already have experience managing these factors.
- Fairly exposed, left-and-right beach break
- Southwest swell + east-northeast offshore-favorable wind setup
- Cold, clean water with cold-water gear essential
- Thermally reinforced summer wind for multiple wind sports
- Works for both left and right-hand surfing with a southwest swell favored for best conditions.
- Strong seasonal wind activity supports kitesurfing, downwinders, and wave riding in summer.
- Open coastline with minimal wind shadowing.
- A wide sandy beach and easy launch access for preparing gear.
- Inconsistent surf despite being a fairly exposed beach break.
- Rocks and scattered rocky outcrops at certain sections can create hazards.
- Cold water year-round; hypothermia risk without adequate thermal protection.
- Rip currents are reported to be common near rocky outcrops.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- SE, SSE, S, NW
- Offshore directions
- ENE, E, NE, NNE
- Wind Range
- 15–30 kts
- Wind Type
- Thermal — Sea-breeze/thermally reinforced coastal wind pattern (Cape Doctor) with strong South-Easterly flow in summer.
- Reliability
- Very high during the summer season
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — Moderate gusting reported.
- 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
- Big
- Waves
- Small — Some reports describe small surf; other reports describe medium waves—overall conditions are inconsistent.
- Launch
- Big — Wide sandy beach with ample space for preparing gear.
- Launch Difficulty
- Easy — Wide sandy launch area and generally easy access.
Through the year
Can be busy on weekends and public holidays during summer; relatively quiet during the week
June to August is the winter rainy season
By sport
What to expect for each.
Described as a popular spot for wave riding and downwinders with manageable swell.
- Kite Sizes
- 7–10 m²
Good for wave sailing and freeriding; often less crowded than nearby larger venues.
- Sail Sizes
- 4.2–5.3 m²
Suitable when swell is small; cold water and shore break require experience.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes
- Min Depth
- 1.5 meters
- Wing Sizes
- 3–5 m²
Fairly exposed, inconsistent beach break with both left and right-hand waves; best with a southwest swell and offshore/cleaner wind setups.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- SW, W
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Low, Mid — Reported best conditions occur at low to mid tide.
- Shelter
- Exposed
- Wind Effect
- East or Northeast winds groom the waves; strong Southeast winds make it very choppy. Conditions are sensitive to wind.
- Bigger Swell
- Can close out when the swell exceeds 3 meters.
- Wave Quality
- Average — Wave quality can be inconsistent.
- Wave Power
- Moderate
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Reported as peeling.
- Peel Speed
- Medium
- Ride Length
- Medium — Reported 50 to 100 meters on a good day.
- Typical Ride Length
- 75 m
- Ride Length Details
- Rides are typically 50 to 100 meters on a good day; one report lists typical rides around 75 meters.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Tweede Steen in the full forecast view.
Tweede Steen wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–17 ktsGusts 30 kts
- Direction
- S184°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2517 kts
- Windy days
- 2/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.8–2.7 m9s period
- Temperature
- 13–31 °C
Over the next 7 days, Tweede Steen is forecast for daytime winds of 2–17 kts, peaking around 17 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 30 kts. The prevailing direction is S. Waves run 0.8–2.7 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
- Rip currents
- Cold water (risk of hypothermia)
- Great White Sharks (rare but present in the region)
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Yes — NSRI rescue coverage in the wider coastline area (including Melkbosstrand Station 18).
- Emergency Info
- National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Station 18 (Melkbosstrand) is the nearest rescue contact. In South Africa, 112 is the national emergency number from mobiles.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild
Rules of the spot
Respect local surfers and follow standard right-of-way rules; kitesurfers should give way to swimmers and traditional surfers.
- Access to the beach is via a controlled recreation area which may have operating hours.
- Always check the tide as low tide can produce heavy close-outs.
- Park in designated areas (controlled access/parking guidance) to avoid security risks.
- Cold-water sessions make a proper wetsuit essential.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Cape Town
- Nearest Town
- Bloubergstrand
- Parking
- Open car park near the beach (first one after passing Big Bay) / dedicated parking lot within the picnic and recreation area.
- Access
- Accessible via the R27 coastal road; entry is through the Blaauwberg Nature Reserve / Eerste Steen Resort gates. Follow signs to Blouberg beach, go past Big Bay to the first open car park near the beach.
- Local Language
- English, Afrikaans, Xhosa
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Near — Numerous guest houses and hotels in Bloubergstrand and Melkbosstrand.
- Food & Drink
- Braai/barbecue facilities on-site; restaurants and cafes are a short drive away in Blouberg.
- Equipment Rental:
- Rental shops are available in nearby Bloubergstrand and Table View.
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 Tweede Steen?
The best overall months at Tweede Steen are November, December, January, February, March. The best wind months are October, November, December, January, February, March.
Which wind directions work at Tweede Steen?
Tweede Steen works with SE, SSE, S, NW winds. Offshore directions are ENE, E, NE, NNE.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Tweede Steen?
Recommended equipment sizes at Tweede Steen: Kitesurfing: 7–10 m² · Windsurfing: 4.2–5.3 m² · Wingfoiling: 3–5 m². The typical wind range is 15–30 kts.
What skill level is Tweede Steen suitable for?
Tweede Steen suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Intermediate · Windsurfing: Intermediate · Wingfoiling: Intermediate · Surfing: Intermediate.