Salmon Holes, Australia
Also within 20 km of Marion Bay
- Willyama Bay Surf spot · 1.4 km from Marion Bay
- Pondie Surf spot · 9.1 km from Marion Bay
- Cape Spencer Surf spot · 11.4 km from Marion Bay
- G Bowls Surf spot · 11.6 km from Marion Bay
- Richard's Reef Surf spot · 12.3 km from Marion Bay
- Chinamans Surf spot · 12.7 km from Marion Bay
- Ethels wreck Surf spot · 12.9 km from Marion Bay
- West Cape Surf spot · 13.5 km from Marion Bay
Watch this spot We email you when Salmon Holes is worth the trip.
About Salmon Holes
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces W (251°), so it takes swell from the W. The wind blows offshore from the E (71°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 2–10 ft of swell. The sea floor shelves steeply: 10 m deep about 150 m out (1 in 16). On a typical 5 ft, 11 s swell the waves here would break hollow. The sea is about 14°C in August, its coldest month (4/3 wetsuit and boots), and 21°C in February, its warmest (2 mm shorty). For intermediate surfers the best months are usually March, April, May and June, with about 2 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Marion Bay. Within 5 km we also list 1 surf spot.
Water about 15°C: 4/3 wetsuit and boots. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
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Book the trip
From Chicago: about 31 h 10 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to Adelaide International Airport (ADL), changing at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
See flights MDW → ADL · Skyscanner from about £875 returnAdGetting there. 2 h 50 from the airport to Salmon Holes.
Accommodation.
Nearest beds: Marion Bay, 23 km (about 40 min by car)Ad
No town with beds to book is nearer Salmon Holes: plan on the drive each day you surf.
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Marion Bay, 23 km away (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Marion Bay 40 min by car · rooms from £90 a night · 14 places to stay · where Salmon Holes stays
Places to stay in Marion Bay · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Marion Bay · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Marion Bay · GetYourGuideAd
Where it is
Salmon Holes on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
The score for experts, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for experts | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 19, too small | 3 ft11 shollow | 133kJ | offshorewind from the north-north-east, 9 knots, offshore | 23°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 33, too small | 4 ft11 shollow | 438kJ | offshorewind from the north-east, 10 knots, offshore | 21°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 18, too small | 4 ft10 shollow | 392kJ | wind from the south-south-west, 6 knots | 18°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 39, fair | 5 ft10 shollow | 439kJ | wind from the south-south-east, 2 knots | 18°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 72, good | 7 ft13 shollow | 1,565kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 3 knots | 20°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 64, good | 7 ft12 shollow | 1,381kJ | wind from the north, 6 knots | 21°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 20, poor | 7 ft12 smushy | 1,198kJ | wind from the south-west, 13 knots | 17°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 22, poor | 7 ft10 smushy | 941kJ | wind from the south-west, 14 knots | 14°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 52, good | 6 ft10 shollow | 798kJ | wind from the west-north-west, 4 knots | 14°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 11, poor | 6 ft9 smushy | 593kJ | wind from the west, 21 knots | 17°C |
| Wed 28Oct | 0, poor | – | – | – | – |
Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Energy is the swell's power in kJ per metre of wave, from its height and interval: it grows with the square of each, so a long-period swell hits far harder than a short one the same size. The word under the swell is the wave's shape, our estimate from the sea floor. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to; offshore wind, blowing from the land out to sea, is green and says so.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for expert surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Fly MDW to ADL, changing at SFO, then 2h 50 by road. About 31h 10 door to door
- Tue 20 OctRest day
Too small: 4 ft at best.
- Wed 21 OctSurf Salmon Holes
Best 11:00 to 14:00 local time: 5 ft at 10 s, wind 2 kn (4 km/h).
- Thu 22 OctSurf Salmon Holes
Best 11:00 to 14:00 local time: 7 ft at 13 s, wind 3 kn (5 km/h).
- Fri 23 OctSurf Salmon Holes
Best 11:00 to 14:00 local time: 7 ft at 12 s, wind 6 kn (11 km/h).
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 27 of 80.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Fly MDW to ADL, changing at SFO, then 2h 50 by road. About 31h 10 door to door
Rough cost
About £1,610–£3,090 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return MDW to ADL, estimated from distance and season, changing at SFO, full-service airlines, with a hold bag | £875–£1,820 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Hire car | 6 days, shared | £110–£180 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | £240–£395 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £245–£455 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £105–£175 |
| Total | £1,610–£3,090 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Marion Bay
- Marion Bay Tavern & MotelAustralian · in the centre
Within 2 km of the town centre, listed by how complete the listing is (website, opening hours, cuisine) and whether two sources name it. Not a judgement of the food: we have no reviews. Listings © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps Foundation. Credits
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