The Machine
AdvancedSurf report
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 1.5 m | 1.4m 11s SSW | 4 km/h cross | 0.5m |
| 9 AM | 1.4 m | 1.3m 11s SSW | 7 km/h cross | 0.6m |
| 12 PM | 1.4 m | 1.3m 11s SSW | 9 km/h cross | 0.7m |
| 3 PM | 1.3 m | 1.3m 11s SSW | 11 km/h cross | 0.6m |
| 6 PM | 1.3 m | 1.3m 11s SSW | 7 km/h cross | 0.4m |
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 1.5 m | 1.5m 12s SSW | 7 km/h cross | 0.6m |
| 9 AM | 1.6 m | 1.6m 13s SSW | 7 km/h cross | 0.4m |
| 12 PM | 1.7 m | 1.7m 13s SSW | 8 km/h on | 0.6m |
| 3 PM | 1.8 m | 1.8m 13s SSW | 9 km/h on | 0.7m |
| 6 PM | 1.9 m | 1.9m 13s SSW | 5 km/h on | 0.4m |
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 2.0 m | 2.0m 12s SSW | 6 km/h off | 0.7m |
| 9 AM | 2.0 m | 2.0m 12s SSW | 6 km/h cross | 0.4m |
| 12 PM | 2.0 m | 2.0m 12s SSW | 12 km/h cross | 0.5m |
| 3 PM | 2.0 m | 1.9m 12s SSW | 9 km/h cross | 0.7m |
| 6 PM | 2.0 m | 1.9m 12s SSW | 6 km/h on | 0.5m |
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 1.8 m | 1.8m 11s SSW | 10 km/h off | 0.8m |
| 9 AM | 1.7 m | 1.7m 11s SSW | 4 km/h off | 0.4m |
| 12 PM | 1.7 m | 1.6m 11s SSW | 9 km/h cross | 0.4m |
| 3 PM | 1.6 m | 1.6m 11s SSW | 8 km/h on | 0.7m |
| 6 PM | 1.6 m | 1.6m 11s SSW | 5 km/h cross | 0.6m |
Next 24 hours
Wind
Tide
7-day outlook
Best days Hourly detail
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| Time | Wave | Swell | Period | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 AM | 1.4m | 1.3m SSW | 11s | 5 SE cross | 0.5m |
| 8 AM | 1.4m | 1.3m SSW | 11s | 6 SE on | 0.5m |
| 9 AM | 1.4m | 1.3m SSW | 11s | 7 ESE cross | 0.6m |
| 10 AM | 1.4m | 1.3m SSW | 11s | 6 ESE cross | 0.6m |
| 11 AM | 1.4m | 1.3m SSW | 11s | 8 E cross | 0.7m |
| 12 PM | 1.4m | 1.3m SSW | 11s | 9 E cross | 0.7m |
| 1 PM | 1.3m | 1.3m SSW | 11s | 9 ENE cross | 0.7m |
| 2 PM | 1.3m | 1.3m SSW | 11s | 11 ENE off | 0.7m |
| 3 PM | 1.3m | 1.3m SSW | 11s | 11 ENE cross | 0.6m |
| 4 PM | 1.3m | 1.3m SSW | 11s | 8 ENE cross | 0.5m |
| 5 PM | 1.3m | 1.3m SSW | 11s | 7 ENE off | 0.4m |
| 6 PM | 1.3m | 1.3m SSW | 11s | 7 E cross | 0.4m |
| 7 PM | 1.3m | 1.3m SSW | 12s | 8 ENE off | 0.3m |
| 8 PM | 1.3m | 1.3m SSW | 12s | 7 ENE off | 0.3m |
| 9 PM | 1.3m | 1.3m SSW | 12s | 8 ENE off | 0.4m |
| 10 PM | 1.4m | 1.3m SSW | 12s | 7 ENE off | 0.5m |
| 11 PM | 1.4m | 1.3m SSW | 12s | 7 ENE off | 0.6m |
| 12 AM | 1.4m | 1.4m SSW | 12s | 9 ENE off | 0.7m |
| 1 AM | 1.4m | 1.4m SSW | 12s | 8 ENE off | 0.8m |
| 2 AM | 1.4m | 1.4m SSW | 12s | 6 ENE off | 0.8m |
| 3 AM | 1.4m | 1.4m SSW | 12s | 5 ENE off | 0.8m |
| 4 AM | 1.5m | 1.4m SSW | 12s | 6 ENE off | 0.7m |
| 5 AM | 1.5m | 1.5m SSW | 12s | 6 E off | 0.7m |
| 6 AM | 1.5m | 1.5m SSW | 12s | 7 E cross | 0.6m |
About The Machine
The Machine lives up to its name — a relentless, perfectly repeating right-hander that grinds over a sharp Nias reef with mechanical precision. Thick, powerful lips throw out heavy barrels that demand late, committed take-offs from advanced surfers who know how to hold their line in a tube. It handles bigger swells well, and on those days the barrels can be world-class. Not a wave for the faint-hearted; wipe out here and the reef will remind you quickly.
Local knowledge
The reef is shallow, extremely sharp and largely live coral — a wipeout at any stage of the ride can mean serious lacerations or a direct reef slam, particularly on the suck-out section near the end of the barrel. A strong rip runs along the reef edge and can sweep you into the impact zone or onto exposed coral during sets; know your exit before you paddle out. Sea urchins colonise the shallower inside sections, so reef booties are strongly recommended even for experienced surfers.
The Machine is located on the west coast of Nias, accessible from Sorake Beach — the main surf hub — either by a short paddle from the beach in front of the local warungs or by hiring a boat for a quicker, safer paddle-out, which is the preferred option on bigger swells. Entry is best timed between sets; exit via the channel to the north of the break, avoiding the inside reef shelf. Stock up on supplies at the Sorake warungs before heading out, and arrange a boat spotter or water safety if surfing on larger days.
A high-performance shortboard in the 6'2"–6'6" range with a rounded pin or thumb tail works best for the powerful, hollow barrels; step up to a 6'8"–7'0" semi-gun when the swell pushes overhead and beyond. Leave the fish or fun shapes at the resort — this wave punishes anything with too much volume in the wrong place.
moderate — be polite, wait your turn.
Where to go now
The Machine vs. nearby, live| Spot | Surf | Swell | Wind | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Machine Best now this spot | 1.4m | 1.3m 11s | 5 cross | Epic |
| 0 km away | 1.4m | 1.3m 11s | 5 cross | Epic |
| 1 km away | 1.4m | 1.3m 11s | 5 cross | Epic |
| 1 km away | 1.4m | 1.3m 11s | 5 cross | Epic |
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Surfing in Nias
Full Nias surf guide →Off the west coast of North Sumatra, Nias is one of Indonesia's true surf landmarks — home to Lagundri Bay, the right-hand point at the island's southern tip that put the country on the world surf map back in the 1970s. It's a place of pilgrimage, where a single peeling wall over coral has drawn travelling surfers for decades.
✈️Getting there
Most surfers fly into Binaka Airport (GNS) at Gunungsitoli in the north of Nias, usually via Medan (Kualanamu, KNO) on a short domestic hop with Wings Air or similar. From Bali or Jakarta you'll connect through Medan.
🛵Getting around
At Lagundri Bay everything is walkable — the losmen sit right along the point, and you can paddle out from the steps. Many guests don't need transport at all once settled.
🌤️Climate & season
Nias has a tropical equatorial climate — warm and humid year-round, with water temperatures sitting around 27–29°C, so boardshorts and a rash guard are plenty (boots for the reef, not warmth).