Cactus
Pull to refresh
Hourly Forecast
Timezone: Australia/Adelaide
⏱️s.
⚡️kJ
🔮
🌒
Join Surfnerd+ to check
weekend forecasts
Wednesday 3
Thursday 4
Friday 5
Saturday 6
Sunday 7
Monday 1
to unlock wave energy
Tap any forecast cell to see the forecast arrows update on the map.
Surfnerd Logo
Join Surfnerd for free to check this forecast
Join Surfnerd to check forecasts, set your homespot, save and create spots and log your surf sessions.
Sign up with Google

Cactus surf guide

Cactus is a surf spot located right out front of the main car park. It's known to be the least intimidating wave in the area, making it a good choice for beginners looking to get comfortable on the board. The spot has some decent vibes, but don't expect the locals to stick around unless the conditions are really good.

The waves at Cactus mainly break to the left, with a nice barrelling section that can give a fun ride. It's best during low to mid tides, and is most reliable when the swell is coming from the southwest, though it can handle swells from the south and west as well. The spot works well with swells in the range of 3ft (about 0.9 meters) and can serve up longer rides compared to other reefs. However, keep in mind that the wave can close out at around 10ft (about 3 meters), so that can limit your options on bigger days. Winds coming from the northeast are ideal for this spot, giving you cleaner waves to ride.

For those just starting out or looking for a mellow session, Cactus is a solid choice. It's a good place to practice and get in some fun waves without the pressure of the more challenging spots nearby. Just remember, it might not be as exciting on average days, so check the conditions before heading out.

Surf reports and surf forecasts nearby Cactus

Spits
South Australia, Australia
Reef break
Wed 30
Thu 31
Fri 1
Sat 2
Sun 3
Mon 4
Tue 5
Wed 6
Thu 7
Fri 8
Sat 9
Sun 10
Salmon Hole
South Australia, Australia
Point break
Wed 30
Thu 31
Fri 1
Sat 2
Sun 3
Mon 4
Tue 5
Wed 6
Thu 7
Fri 8
Sat 9
Sun 10
Caves
South Australia, Australia
Reef break
Wed 30
Thu 31
Fri 1
Sat 2
Sun 3
Mon 4
Tue 5
Wed 6
Thu 7
Fri 8
Sat 9
Sun 10
Castles (Cactus)
South Australia, Australia
Reef break
Wed 30
Thu 31
Fri 1
Sat 2
Sun 3
Mon 4
Tue 5
Wed 6
Thu 7
Fri 8
Sat 9
Sun 10
Cactus
South Australia, Australia
Reef break
Wed 30
Thu 31
Fri 1
Sat 2
Sun 3
Mon 4
Tue 5
Wed 6
Thu 7
Fri 8
Sat 9
Sun 10
Crushers
South Australia, Australia
Reef break
Wed 30
Thu 31
Fri 1
Sat 2
Sun 3
Mon 4
Tue 5
Wed 6
Thu 7
Fri 8
Sat 9
Sun 10
Supertubes (Cactus)
South Australia, Australia
Reef break
Wed 30
Thu 31
Fri 1
Sat 2
Sun 3
Mon 4
Tue 5
Wed 6
Thu 7
Fri 8
Sat 9
Sun 10
Cunns
South Australia, Australia
Reef break
Wed 30
Thu 31
Fri 1
Sat 2
Sun 3
Mon 4
Tue 5
Wed 6
Thu 7
Fri 8
Sat 9
Sun 10
Witzig's
South Australia, Australia
Reef break
Wed 30
Thu 31
Fri 1
Sat 2
Sun 3
Mon 4
Tue 5
Wed 6
Thu 7
Fri 8
Sat 9
Sun 10
Backdoor (Cactus)
South Australia, Australia
Reef break
Wed 30
Thu 31
Fri 1
Sat 2
Sun 3
Mon 4
Tue 5
Wed 6
Thu 7
Fri 8
Sat 9
Sun 10
Login to do spot actions

Readme

Welcome! If you’re new to surf forecasting, check out this quick guide.

Forecast Cheat Sheet

Short on time? Focus on wave energy. It’s the best single metric to gauge how big and powerful the waves will be.

Click any table cell to jump to that forecast hour. The map will update with forecast arrows, so you can see if wind and swell direction are lining up.

Use the table sidebar to switch units for height and speed.

Log your surf sessions to compare forecasts with real sessions and sharpen future predictions.

On the map, click a metric label to bring that arrow to the front — handy when arrows overlap.

Models and Updates

Surfnerd blends multiple global and local wind and swell models using advanced interpolation and spatial techniques to create an "ensemble" forecast. Forecasts are refreshed hourly.

Surf Predictions

Our AI-driven algorithm scores surf quality, shown by green, orange, and gray dots. Each forecast hour is rated for wind, swell, and tide quality, then combined into an overall score. Here’s the scale:

Perfect
Good
Average
Bad or No Data

Session logs also feed the algorithm — the more you log, the smarter your forecasts get.

With Surfnerd, no more "you should have been here yesterday"

Surfnerd Logo
Join Surfnerd+ and get:
  • Weekend
    + weekday forecasts
    (vs weekdays only)
  • 12-day
    forecast range
    (vs 5-day)
  • 1-hour
    forecast steps
    (vs 3-hour)
  • Wave energy
    metric
    (power rating)
  • Secondary & tertiary
    swells
    (complete picture)
"Great Forecasts. Nothing more, nothing less."
Wind certainty

Wind certainty tells you how much the weather models agree on the forecast.

  • High certainty: Models agree closely; forecast is reliable.
  • Medium certainty: Some disagreement; conditions may shift slightly.
  • Low certainty: Models diverge; treat forecast with caution.

We calculate this by comparing wind speed, gust and direction from multiple models (like GFS, ECMWF, Arome, and Harmonie) and seeing how closely they match. They are weighted, meaning that some models count more than others, depending on how good they are for a certain spot.