The Surf Window

Salmon Holes Esperance

Western Australia, Australia

Reef breakAdvanced

Near Esperance on WA's wild south coast, Salmon Holes is a powerful surf spot where the Great Australian Bight delivers massive Southern Ocean swells to a cliff-backed beach in one of the most remote and strikingly beautiful coastlines in the world.

Typical Conditions

The Surf Window

Swell Window

N
OptimalW (270°)
WindowSSW–NNW (210°–330°)
Size–SW 2–4m at 14–20s

Wind

N

Light to NE under 15 knots

Tide

Mid tide

LowMidHigh

Season

Apr–Sep

JFMAMJJASOND

The Wave

Type

Beach break

Bottom

Sand

Shape

Powerful peaks on the exposed beach

Length

60–150m

Skill Level

  • •Who it's for: Advanced to expert surfers
  • •Why: Powerful, exposed Southern Ocean beach break with very remote setting

Hazards

  • •Very powerful swells, sneaker waves have killed people at the cliffs
  • •Very remote, Esperance is 700km from Perth
  • •Shark risk in remote WA waters

Local Tips

  • •Never stand at the clifftop edge, the waves regularly surge far up the rocks
  • •Esperance's beaches (Lucky Bay, Le Grand) are among Australia's most beautiful, white sand with blue water
  • •Cape Le Grand National Park surrounds the area, extraordinary kangaroos on the beach

Location

Map showing the location of Salmon Holes Esperance in Western Australia, Australia

-33.9667, 122.1833