Turns Out the End of the World Has the Best Waves
Forget the Gold Coast—Australia’s coldest corner is suddenly its most photogenic. Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Luke Johnston just dropped a science-backed love letter to Tasmania, and every surfer-photographer combo should be booking flights yesterday. The state’s weather data shows a perfect trifecta: relentless Southern Ocean swells, reliable offshore katabatic winds pouring down those Tassie valleys, and the East Australian Current sneaking in just enough warmth that your 3 mm doesn’t feel like a straightjacket.
The Lineup Breakdown
• Shipstern Bluff – still the mutant step-child of big-wave spots. Ryan Hipwood’s 5 m+ sessions will give your camera a workout and your quads a restraining order.
• Clifton Beach – mellow peelers framed by kunanyi / Mt Wellington. Great for golden-hour longboard shots when the swell drops.
• Marrawah, King Island, Bruny Island – pick your postcard. Each has its own micro-climate, so you’re almost guaranteed somewhere is offshore on any given day.
The jewel in the crown? A BOM buoy once clocked a 20-metre wave south of the island. If that doesn’t make you zoom in on NZ flight prices, nothing will. Get the full meteorologist’s breakdown right here.
WSL Ditching Cloudbreak? Meet the Secret “Restaurants” Left
The Fiji finals window is open, but the rumour mill is louder than a chainsaw barreling at Cloudbreak. World No.1 Molly Picklum and the rest of the top five might actually crown their champ at Restaurants, a fickle left that hasn’t been on Tour since 2014.
“Spanner in the works” is Molly’s polite way of saying I’ve never surfed it. Cue frantic Slack threads with every Aussie who’s ever scored a Tavarua boat trip. Kelly Slater—human GPS and part-time librarian of surf intel—is already on the ground, answering SOS texts from contenders. Restaurants is a wedging left, fast enough to hide behind your fisheye and perfect enough to decide a world title in one heat.
If the forecast swings, it’s game-on for what could be the most cinematic finals day in years. Catch Molly’s full scouting report over at AAP News.