Surf cam at a glance
- Live cam: provided by Swellnet, mounted on the Scarborough beachfront and looking at the break near the surf club tower.
- Best conditions: light easterly (offshore) winds, usually early morning, with a south-west to west swell.
- Watch for: the afternoon south-westerly sea breeze in summer, which makes the surf choppy.
- Also check: Bureau of Meteorology coastal forecasts and wave buoys before heading out.
Watch the Scarborough surf cam
The Scarborough surf cam is operated by Swellnet and mounted on the Scarborough beachfront. It looks at one of the beach's favourite peaks, in front of the Scarboro Surf Life Saving Club lifeguard tower. Open the Swellnet Scarborough surf cam for the live stream, surf report and forecast. The cam is also handy for swimmers, kitesurfers and anglers checking conditions.
How to read the surf cam
- Wind: look at the water surface. Glassy or groomed lines mean light or offshore (easterly) winds — the best conditions. Whitecaps and chop mean onshore wind.
- Swell size: compare waves to surfers in the water; at Scarborough, waves are commonly 0.5–1.5 m.
- Consistency: watch for a few minutes to see how often sets arrive.
- Crowds: busy line-ups are common on weekend mornings.
When is Scarborough best?
Early mornings before the sea breeze, especially in autumn and winter when groundswells are more frequent. In summer the "Fremantle Doctor" usually blows in around midday. See our Scarborough surf guide and surfing at Scarborough for more.
Other conditions resources
- Bureau of Meteorology coastal waters forecasts and warnings for Perth.
- Department of Transport wave buoys off Rottnest and Cottesloe.
- Surf Life Saving beach safety information.
Surf links
Last updated 2 November 2026 · Scarboro.info, an independent guide to Scarborough Beach, Perth.