Surfing Short Point: The Complete Guide

Short Point is a point break located in Merimbula, Australia, offering a right-hander along Australia's coastline. Short Point is a quality right-hand point break at the southern end of Merimbula on the NSW Far South Coast. Rated as intermediate difficulty with lightly crowded conditions, this point break is a worthy destination for surfers looking beyond the usual suspects.

Best Conditions

Swell Direction: The ideal swell direction is SSE (150°), with workable conditions from ESE to S (120°–190°). Swells outside this window will either miss the break or produce disorganized waves.

Swell Size: Short Point needs a minimum of 1m / 3ft to start working and handles swells up to 2.5m / 8ft before conditions deteriorate.

Swell Period: Look for a swell period of at least 8 seconds, with 12 seconds being the sweet spot. Longer periods deliver more organized, powerful waves with better shape.

Wind: True offshore here blows from the WNW (290°). The full offshore range spans WSW to NNW (250°–330°). Glassy conditions under 4km/h from any direction also produce excellent surf. Plan for early morning dawn patrol sessions.

Tide: This spot works best at mid tide. Optimal tide range is 0.4m–1.4m.

When to Go

Primary Season: The prime window at Short Point runs March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October (Mar–Oct). This is when swell consistency and direction align most reliably with the break.

Secondary Season: A secondary window opens November, December, January, February (Nov–Feb). While not as consistent, patient surfers can still score quality sessions during this period.

Season Notes: Year-round surfing. SE swells most consistent.

Water Temperature: Expect water temperatures around 18°C / 64°F. Bring a 3/2mm wetsuit — 4/3mm in winter months.

Getting There

The nearest airport is MIM, just a quick 10-minute drive from the break.

Access: Walk from Merimbula town. Local airport nearby.

Hazards & Tips

Known Hazards:

🪨 Rocks — Rocky entry/exit or in lineup
🌀 Strong rips — Dangerous currents

Rocky entry. Watch for rips on bigger days.

Safety Tips:

Study the currents before paddling out. Know your exit strategy

Skill Level: This spot is rated intermediate (5/10). Crowd Level: Typically lightly crowded (3/10).

Check the Live Forecast

Planning a session at Short Point? Check the live forecast on Strike Mission to see today's conditions and the 10-day outlook. Our Strike Score algorithm rates this spot from 0 to 100 every day, factoring in swell direction, size, period, wind, and tide — so you know exactly when to paddle out.

Don't leave your next surf trip to chance. Let the data tell you when Short Point is firing.

*Conditions data sourced from Strike Mission's verified spot database.*