WorldAustralia › South Australia › Gates

Gates 81.1

#1768 of 5753 surf spots in the world · 🇦🇺 Australia · South Australia · near Mount Gambier

Works almost every day, no off season, real size comes through.

Works all yearBig waveRemoteAdvanced
Surf score81.1 /100
Surfable days92% of the year
Clean days30% groundswell + friendly wind
Groundswell79% period 11 s+
Typical size2.4 m 8.0 ft median
Water16°C a 4/3 with boots

Best time to surf Gates

The best time to surf Gates is May, June, October. The season runs Jun to Jun. In June the water sits around 16°C, so pack a 3/2 wetsuit, and the typical wave is 2.6 m. The nearest airport is MEL (374 km) and the nearest town is Mount Gambier (26 km).

MonthSurfableCleanSizeWaterSuit
Jan99%22%2.2 m16°C3/2
Feb96%19%2.1 m16°C4/3
Mar94%27%2.2 m16°C3/2
Apr89%31%2.5 m16°C3/2
May86%37%2.7 m17°C3/2
Jun94%47%2.6 m16°C3/2
Jul79%27%2.8 m15°C4/3
Aug87%29%2.9 m15°C4/3
Sep92%29%2.8 m14°C4/3
Oct95%36%2.4 m15°C4/3
Nov95%28%2.4 m15°C4/3
Dec94%27%2.1 m16°C3/2

Why 81.1

Seven parts, each normalised 0 to 1 and weighted; the sum is scaled so the best spot in the world is 100.

Consistency 26%
26.0
Clean days 24%
17.7
Groundswell 12%
12.0
Season spread 10%
10.0
Wave size 8%
8.0
Water comfort 10%
1.9
Access 10%
3.4

The detail

Faces 205° with 50% open water around it. Friendly morning wind 38% of days. Mean peak period 12.8 s. Days over 3 m: 26%. Mellow days (0.4 to 1.2 m): 1%. Months that work: 12 of 12. Coordinates -38.040, 140.620 (OpenStreetMap).

Spots nearby

Mokes🇦🇺 Australia · score 81.1Posties🇦🇺 Australia · score 83.0Cape Northumberland🇦🇺 Australia · score 83.7Browns Beach🇦🇺 Australia · score 83.8
Compare Gates with 5,700 other spots
Filters by month, level and water, map, side by side comparison and a trip planner.
Open the interactive profileMore spots good in June