Cloudy Bay
Cloudy Bay is Bruny Island's premier surf break—a long, powerful beach exposed to the full force of the Southern Ocean. Located on the south coast of South Bruny, the beach catches S-SW groundswells that generate punchy peaks along the 4km stretch of sand. The bay hosts the annual Bruny Island Classic competition, drawing Tasmania's best surfers. Getting here requires a ferry crossing from Kettering followed by a drive through pristine Tasmanian bush. The reward is raw, uncrowded waves in one of Australia's most beautiful coastal settings.
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Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- SSW (200°)
- Direction range
- 165° - 215°
- Size range
- 0.5m - 3m
- Ideal size
- 1.6m - 2.4m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 14s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- NNW (340°)
- Offshore range
- 300° - 20°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- mid
- Optimal range
- 0.4m - 1.5m
Water temp
13°C
Wetsuit
4/3mm fullsuit
Difficulty
6/10
Crowd level
1/10
Access: Ferry from Kettering (30min south of Hobart), then drive to south Bruny. ~2hr total from Hobart.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is Cloudy Bay?
Cloudy Bay is a beach break in Bruny Island, Australia, with peaks that run both left and right.
What swell works best at Cloudy Bay?
Cloudy Bay picks up swell from the SSE round to the SW, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the SSW. It starts working at around 0.5m and handles up to about 3m, with the sweet spot around 1.6 to 2.4m. Period matters too: aim for 14s or longer, as anything under 10s tends to be weak. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
What wind is offshore at Cloudy Bay?
A NNW wind is dead offshore at Cloudy Bay, and anything from the WNW round to the NNE keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 6am to 10am. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
What tide is best at Cloudy Bay?
Cloudy Bay is at its best around mid tide, roughly 0.4m to 1.5m on the local chart.
When is the best time of year to surf Cloudy Bay?
The most reliable run of swell at Cloudy Bay comes Apr to Aug. There's a second window in Mar and Sep to Oct too. Autumn-winter for biggest swells. Can fire year-round.
How cold is the water at Cloudy Bay?
The water at Cloudy Bay averages around 13°C, so you'll want a 4/3mm fullsuit. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
Is Cloudy Bay good for beginners?
It's more of an intermediate wave, rated 6/10 for difficulty, so newer surfers are best off sticking to the smaller days. The lineup is usually quiet (crowd 1/10). Remote island. Cold water. Strong rips. Ferry access only.
How do I get to Cloudy Bay?
The nearest airport on our list is HBA, then it's roughly a 2-hour drive. Ferry from Kettering (30min south of Hobart), then drive to south Bruny. ~2hr total from Hobart.
What other surf spots are near Cloudy Bay?
The closest breaks we track are Pedra Branca (51 km), Clifton Beach (57 km) and Shipstern Bluff (59 km), handy when Cloudy Bay isn't working. Fun fact: it's the second most southerly break we track in Australia.
Best Season
Peak: Apr-Aug
Secondary: Mar, Sep, Oct
Autumn-winter for biggest swells. Can fire year-round.
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Pedra Branca
🇦🇶 Facing Antarctica • Great white territory • Final frontier
Clifton Beach
🥶 Hobart's home break • Cold water culture • Southern Ocean accessible
Shipstern Bluff
👹 The infamous steps • Tasmania's cold-water demon • Big wave surfing's final frontier
Eaglehawk Neck
🏔️ Tasman Peninsula power • Near Shipstern • Dramatic cliffs