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Create Profile →Current conditions refresh every 3 hours when the cron runs. Hourly data updates every 30 minutes. The 7-day forecast, luck factor, and packing notes are all pre-computed at the same time.
We compare the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Phillip Island. The delta tells you whether conditions are shaping up better, worse, or about the same as a typical early July.
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
Honestly, no. Every break has tide windows, swell directions and reef contours that a global model cannot see. Treat the score as a starting point, then check a local cam.
The best week for surf at Phillip Island is the week of 2 November (score 3/5) with low crowds.
Small waves but still worth a paddle for keen surfers. Heavy offshore making for difficult paddle-outs but textbook faces. Conditions improving through the afternoon.
Heads up: cold-shock risk.
Indicators derived from forecast data, not official warnings. Always check local lifeguard or official advice.
The air here is 84% cleaner than the average comparison city right now.
Significantly cleaner air than a typical city. Ideal for outdoor exercise with minimal respiratory strain.
Not a pollutant. Ozone is naturally higher at altitude and near the coast, and lower in cities where traffic exhaust breaks it down. High readings here typically indicate clean air. Can cause short-term airway irritation during intense exercise but is not linked to the long-term health risks of particulate pollution.
Additive health score: each pollutant contributes points relative to its WHO 2021 guideline and long-term health impact (PM2.5 9, NO₂ 5, O₃ 3, PM10 2, SO₂ 1 at WHO limits). Data via Open-Meteo. City markers show live readings. Red line marks the WHO guideline. Updated 03:00
Moderate water clarity: ~5m visibility
This guide was generated from conditions data. Know this spot? Submit your own tips below.
Phillip Island is a surf-focused island south of Melbourne, Victoria. The south-facing beaches (Woolamai, Smiths Beach) receive powerful Southern Ocean groundswell. The island offers variety from mellow beach breaks to heavy reef breaks. Cold water but consistent swell. The penguin parade and motorsport circuit bring non-surf visitors but the south coast is wild and wave-rich.
Needs south-westerly groundswell from the Southern Ocean. A northerly wind is offshore. Works on all tides depending on the spot. Consistent year-round but biggest in winter (May-September). The 3-8ft range covers the various breaks. Summer produces smaller but fun waves.
Cape Woolamai: powerful exposed beach break. Smiths Beach: more sheltered, consistent. Each has multiple peaks. Choose based on swell size and your comfort level.
Cold water (wetsuits essential year-round). Powerful waves at Woolamai on bigger days. Rip currents across the exposed south coast. Rocks at some breaks. The exposed position means weather changes rapidly.
Car parks at the main beaches. Short walks to the sand. The island is connected to the mainland by bridge (no ferry needed). Basic to moderate facilities.
Moderate. Melbourne surfers make the trip (90 minutes) on good swells. Woolamai on a solid day might see 15-25 people. Smiths Beach is slightly less crowded. Weekdays are quieter. A friendly lineup.
Phillip Island is Victoria's most accessible surf trip from Melbourne. Cape Woolamai is heavy and exposed; Smiths Beach is the mellower option. The island has good cafes and accommodation. Combine surf with the penguin parade (genuinely charming). The reef breaks around the island's coast reward exploration for experienced surfers.
Surf at Phillip Island
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Daily scores over the last 12 months at Phillip Island
Based on historical weekly averages
Conditions at Phillip Island tend to be best between 08:00 to 11:00 in July.
Average score during this window: 46/100
See timing scores, school holiday busyness, and lift pass pricing to find the best time to book.
View Best Time to Go →Combining historical conditions with school holiday crowd pressure to find the sweet spot.
The timing score combines two signals: historical conditions quality (how good the skiing or surfing typically is in a given week, based on 5 years of weather data) and crowd pressure (how many of this destination's feeder markets have school holidays that week).
Crowd pressure is weighted by each feeder country's share of visitors. If 40% of a resort's visitors come from France and France is on holiday, that contributes 0.40 to the crowd pressure score. Crowds can reduce the timing score by up to 35%, ensuring conditions still matter most.
Scores: 5 = great conditions with low crowds (the sweet spot). 4 = great conditions with moderate crowds, or good conditions with low crowds. 3 = average. 2 = below average conditions or very crowded. 1 = poor conditions or peak holiday chaos.
Last 31 days of logged conditions.
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