Slab

right

Level 10/10

Shipstern Bluff

Tasmania, Australia

🦈Sharks😮‍💨Hold-downs🏝️Remote⚠️Shallow🚶Difficult access

Shipstern Bluff is one of the most terrifying waves on the planet—a Tasmanian slab famous for its mutant "steps" that form mid-face as the wave throws over a shallow reef ledge. Located at the end of a remote Tasman Peninsula, Shipstern requires either a 2-hour hike through rugged national park or a long jet-ski ride through great white shark territory. The wave is cold, isolated, unpredictable, and thoroughly hostile to human beings. Yet the barrels are other-worldly. This is big wave surfing at its most raw and unforgiving.

10-Day Forecast

Today

Poor

1.7mE

@10s

13km/h

Wed

Poor

2.1mE

@15s

10km/h

Thu

Poor

3.6mS

@10s

23km/h

Fri

Poor

2.4mSW

@10s

10km/h

Choppy

Sat

Poor

2.2mSW

@10s

28km/h

Sun

Poor

3.7mS

@12s

21km/h

Mon

Poor

2.9mSW

@12s

16km/h

Choppy

Tue

Poor

1.9mSSE

@13s

11km/h

Groomed

Wed

Poor

2.7mSSW

@9s

6km/h

Groomed

Thu

Poor

2.4mSSW

@9s

10km/h

Today

Tue, Jan 20

1.7m @ 10s E

13 km/h NE

Wed

Wed, Jan 21

2.1m @ 15s E

10 km/h S

Thu

Thu, Jan 22

3.6m @ 10s S

23 km/h SSW

Fri

Fri, Jan 23

2.4m @ 10s SW

10 km/h ESE

Choppy

Sat

Sat, Jan 24

2.2m @ 10s SW

28 km/h NNE

Sun

Sun, Jan 25

3.7m @ 12s S

21 km/h SSW

Mon

Mon, Jan 26

2.9m @ 12s SW

16 km/h NE

Choppy

Tue

Tue, Jan 27

1.9m @ 13s SSE

11 km/h NNE

Groomed

Wed

Wed, Jan 28

2.7m @ 9s SSW

6 km/h SSW

Groomed

Thu

Thu, Jan 29

2.4m @ 9s SSW

10 km/h SE

Today's Conditions

Swell

1.7m

E(89°)

Score: 3/25

Period

10s

Medium period swell

Score: 7/25

Wind

13km/h

NE(38°)

Score: 15/25

Weather

19°C

0.0mm53%

Windswell Component

0.3mNE@2s

Secondary Swell

0.4mSW

Forecast Confidence

100%

Sources: open-meteo-marine, open-meteo-weather

Best Session

morning

Strike Score Breakdown

Poor

Swell Direction

0/25

How well swell angle matches the spot

Swell Size

3/25

Wave height in the ideal range

Swell Period

7/25

Each spot has different period requirements. Points and reefs can handle longer periods than beaches.

Wind

15/25

Offshore/glassy conditions

Total Score25/100

Location & Conditions

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Swell

Wind

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Showing forecast for today

Spot Details

Swell Requirements

Optimal direction: SW (225°)
Direction range: 200° - 260°
Size range: 2.5m - 8m
Ideal period: 20s+

Wind Requirements

Optimal direction: N (0°)
Offshore range: 315° - 45°
Best window: morning

Tide Requirements

Optimal tide: all
Optimal range: 0.5m - 2m

Water temp

12°C

Wetsuit

5/4mm + boots

Difficulty

10/10

Crowd level

2/10

Access: 2hr hike through Tasman National Park or 30km jet ski/boat ride.

Getting There

Airport

HBA

Drive time

0 min

Boat required

$300

Best Season

Peak: Jun-Aug

Secondary: Mar, Apr, May, Sep

Winter big wave season. Antarctic storm swells.

Data Quality

verified

Verified by Swellnet/Surf Atlas cross-reference