Nembrala Beach surf

Nembrala Beach

Beginner
Reef break · Moderate · Best: June–September · All tides
Working best in Rote now T-Land / Boa Good · 1.1m @ 12s View →
Conditions right now
Good
Wave
1.1m
Swell
0.9m
12s · SW
Period
12s
Wind
17 km/h
E · gust 29
Offshore
Water
28°C
Air
26°C

Surf report

Tide falling · Low 11:00 AM 0.0m
Time Surf Swell Wind Tide
6 AM 1.1 m
0.9m 12s SW
18 km/h off
1.2m
9 AM 1.1 m
0.9m 11s SW
24 km/h off
0.4m
12 PM 1.2 m
0.9m 11s SW
24 km/h cross
0.0m
3 PM 1.2 m
0.9m 11s SW
24 km/h cross
0.6m
6 PM 1.2 m
0.8m 11s SW
23 km/h off
0.9m
Best session today
6 AM–8 AM
Offshore 0.9m swell @ 12s

Next 24 hours

Wave Swell
0.0 0.8 1.5 5 AM8 AM11 AM2 PM5 PM8 PM11 PM2 AM

Wind

Speed Gusts (km/h)
0 25 50 5 AM8 AM11 AM2 PM5 PM8 PM11 PM2 AM

Tide

Low 11:00 AM · 0.0m High 5:00 PM · 0.9m Low 11:00 PM · 0.0m High 6:00 AM · 1.4m
L 11 AM H 5 PM L 11 PM H 6 AM L 1 PM H 7 PM L 1 AM 5 AM11 AM5 PM11 PM5 AM11 AM5 PM11 PM

7-day outlook

Best days
Wed, Jun 10 Best
1.0–1.2m
Thu, Jun 11 Best
1.2–1.7m
Fri, Jun 12 Best
1.5–1.7m
Sat, Jun 13
1.3–1.5m
Sun, Jun 14
1.2–1.3m
Mon, Jun 15
1.1–1.3m
Tue, Jun 16
0.9–1.1m

Hourly detail

Show next 24h
Time Wave Swell Period Wind Tide
5 AM 1.1m 0.9m SW 12s 17 E off 1.3m
6 AM 1.1m 0.9m SW 12s 18 E off 1.2m
7 AM 1.1m 0.9m SW 12s 18 E off 1.0m
8 AM 1.1m 0.9m SW 12s 24 ESE off 0.7m
9 AM 1.1m 0.9m SW 11s 24 ESE off 0.4m
10 AM 1.1m 0.9m SW 11s 24 ESE cross 0.2m
11 AM 1.2m 0.9m SW 11s 24 ESE cross 0.0m
12 PM 1.2m 0.9m SW 11s 24 ESE cross 0.0m
1 PM 1.2m 0.9m SW 11s 24 ESE cross 0.2m
2 PM 1.2m 0.9m SW 11s 25 ESE cross 0.4m
3 PM 1.2m 0.9m SW 11s 24 ESE cross 0.6m
4 PM 1.2m 0.8m SW 12s 24 ESE cross 0.8m
5 PM 1.2m 0.8m SW 12s 23 ESE off 0.9m
6 PM 1.2m 0.8m SW 11s 23 ESE off 0.9m
7 PM 1.2m 0.8m SW 11s 22 ESE off 0.8m
8 PM 1.2m 0.8m SW 11s 23 ESE off 0.6m
9 PM 1.2m 0.8m SW 11s 23 ESE off 0.3m
10 PM 1.2m 0.8m SW 10s 22 ESE off 0.1m
11 PM 1.2m 0.8m SW 11s 22 ESE off 0.0m
12 AM 1.2m 0.8m SW 11s 22 E off 0.0m
1 AM 1.2m 0.9m SW 12s 21 E off 0.2m
2 AM 1.2m 0.9m SW 13s 21 E off 0.5m
3 AM 1.3m 0.9m SW 13s 19 ESE off 0.8m
4 AM 1.3m 0.9m SW 13s 21 E off 1.1m

About Nembrala Beach

Nembrala Beach offers the gentlest introduction to surfing on Rote Island, with softer, slower waves breaking over a more forgiving section of reef closer to shore. Beginners can find their feet here without the intimidation of the heavier breaks just up the coast, though some care around the reef is still advised at lower tides. The stunning backdrop of Nembrala village and the turquoise Savu Sea makes every session feel special. It's an ideal spot to build confidence before venturing out to T-Land.

Local knowledge

Hazards

Even at this mellower section, the reef is live coral and can be sharp — at low tide it gets uncomfortably shallow, so time your sessions around mid-to-high tide to avoid scrapes and cuts. Sea urchins lurk in the reef crevices, so always wear reef booties and never put your hands down on the bottom. A moderate shore-side current can develop on bigger swells pushing through from the Indian Ocean, so keep your bearings relative to the beach and your entry point.

Getting there

Nembrala village is roughly a 45-minute drive on sealed and dirt road from Ba'a, Rote's main town — most surfers stay in one of the warungs or guesthouses right on the beachfront strip, putting you steps from the water. Entry is straightforward off the sandy beach in front of the village; paddle out through the channel on the right side of the break to avoid the worst of the reef on your way out. Exit back through the same channel and watch the timing between sets — don't let a lull lull you into scrambling over dry reef.

Board

A longboard or a chunky mid-length (8'0"–9'6") is the go-to here — the slower, softer walls are made for nose-riding and give beginners the time and platform to build fundamentals. On the rare bigger swell, a versatile funboard or fish will keep things fun without overwhelming a progressing surfer.

Localism

mellow — relaxed vibe.

Where to go now

Nembrala Beach vs. nearby, live
Spot Surf Swell Wind Now
Nembrala Beach Best now
this spot
1.1m
0.9m 12s
17 off
Good
1 km away
1.1m
0.9m 12s
17 off
Good
1 km away
1.1m
0.9m 12s
17 off
Good
1 km away
1.0m
0.8m 12s
17 off
Good

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Nearest spots

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Surf schools & local guides near Nembrala Beach

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Nemberala Beach Surf School

Nemberala Beach Surf School

★ 5.0

Rt. 01/Rw. 01 Desa Sedeoen, Nemberala, Rote Barat, Rote Ndao Regency, East Nusa Tenggara 85982, Indonesia

32 Google reviews

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Surfing in Rote

Full Rote surf guide →

Rote is Indonesia's southernmost inhabited island, a low, dry, sun-bleached slip of land hanging off the bottom of Timor in East Nusa Tenggara. It's about as far from the Bali crowds as you can get and still find world-class surf — which is exactly the point. The scene revolves around the village of Nemberala (Nembrala) on the west coast, where a string of guesthouses, surf camps and warungs line up behind the reef.

✈️Getting there

Reaching Rote is half the adventure. First fly to Kupang (Timor) — El Tari Airport (KOE) — via Bali (Denpasar) or Jakarta, usually with a connection. From Kupang's Bolok harbour you take the fast ferry across to Rote's port at Ba'a, a crossing of roughly 1.5–2 hours; a slower car ferry also runs but takes longer.

🛵Getting around

Once you're in Nemberala, most of the popular waves are close — T-Land, Boa and the beach breaks are within easy reach, and several spots are walkable or a short paddle from the main strip.

🌤️Climate & season

Rote has a pronounced dry, savanna-like climate — drier than Bali and noticeably so. The dry season runs roughly May to October and is the surf season: this is when consistent groundswell arrives and the dependable southeast trade winds groom the west-coast lefts, holding most of the season's offshore conditions.