Nembrala Beach
BeginnerSurf report
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 1.3 m | 1.2m 9s SW | 10 km/h cross | 1.1m |
| 9 AM | 1.3 m | 1.3m 9s SW | 14 km/h cross | 1.0m |
| 12 PM | 1.4 m | 1.3m 9s SW | 16 km/h cross | 0.0m |
| 3 PM | 1.4 m | 1.3m 9s SW | 16 km/h cross | -0.6m |
| 6 PM | 1.4 m | 1.3m 9s SW | 12 km/h cross | 0.3m |
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 1.5 m | 1.2m 9s SW | 12 km/h cross | 0.8m |
| 9 AM | 1.5 m | 1.3m 10s SW | 14 km/h cross | 1.4m |
| 12 PM | 1.4 m | 1.4m 11s SW | 18 km/h cross | 0.4m |
| 3 PM | 1.4 m | 1.4m 10s SW | 16 km/h cross | -0.8m |
| 6 PM | 1.4 m | 1.4m 10s SW | 13 km/h cross | 0.0m |
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 1.3 m | 1.3m 11s SW | 6 km/h off | 0.3m |
| 9 AM | 1.3 m | 1.2m 11s SW | 13 km/h cross | 1.6m |
| 12 PM | 1.3 m | 1.2m 10s SW | 22 km/h cross | 0.9m |
| 3 PM | 1.3 m | 1.1m 10s SW | 21 km/h cross | -0.8m |
| 6 PM | 1.3 m | 1.2m 11s SW | 21 km/h cross | -0.3m |
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 1.3 m | 1.1m 12s SW | 15 km/h off | -0.2m |
| 9 AM | 1.3 m | 1.1m 12s SW | 25 km/h off | 1.6m |
| 12 PM | 1.3 m | 1.1m 12s SW | 27 km/h off | 1.3m |
| 3 PM | 1.3 m | 1.1m 12s SW | 27 km/h off | -0.7m |
| 6 PM | 1.4 m | 1.0m 12s SW | 27 km/h off | -0.6m |
Next 24 hours
Wind
Tide
7-day outlook
Best days Hourly detail
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| Time | Wave | Swell | Period | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 AM | 1.2m | 1.1m SW | 10s | 12 SE cross | 0.4m |
| 1 AM | 1.2m | 1.2m SW | 10s | 12 SE cross | 0.3m |
| 2 AM | 1.2m | 1.2m SW | 10s | 12 SE cross | 0.3m |
| 3 AM | 1.2m | 1.2m SW | 10s | 11 SE cross | 0.5m |
| 4 AM | 1.2m | 1.2m SW | 10s | 10 SE cross | 0.6m |
| 5 AM | 1.2m | 1.2m SW | 10s | 10 SE cross | 0.8m |
| 6 AM | 1.3m | 1.2m SW | 9s | 10 SE cross | 1.1m |
| 7 AM | 1.3m | 1.2m SW | 9s | 12 SE cross | 1.2m |
| 8 AM | 1.3m | 1.2m SW | 9s | 13 SE cross | 1.2m |
| 9 AM | 1.3m | 1.3m SW | 9s | 14 SE cross | 1.0m |
| 10 AM | 1.3m | 1.3m SW | 9s | 15 SE cross | 0.8m |
| 11 AM | 1.3m | 1.3m SW | 9s | 17 SSE cross | 0.4m |
| 12 PM | 1.4m | 1.3m SW | 9s | 16 SSE cross | 0.0m |
| 1 PM | 1.4m | 1.3m SW | 9s | 15 SSE cross | -0.3m |
| 2 PM | 1.4m | 1.3m SW | 9s | 16 SSE cross | -0.5m |
| 3 PM | 1.4m | 1.3m SW | 9s | 16 SSE cross | -0.6m |
| 4 PM | 1.4m | 1.3m SW | 9s | 16 SSE cross | -0.4m |
| 5 PM | 1.4m | 1.3m SW | 9s | 15 SSE cross | -0.1m |
| 6 PM | 1.4m | 1.3m SW | 9s | 12 SSE cross | 0.3m |
| 7 PM | 1.4m | 1.3m SW | 9s | 12 SSE cross | 0.6m |
| 8 PM | 1.4m | 1.3m SW | 9s | 13 SE cross | 0.9m |
| 9 PM | 1.4m | 1.3m SW | 9s | 13 SE cross | 1.0m |
| 10 PM | 1.5m | 1.3m SW | 9s | 13 SE cross | 0.9m |
| 11 PM | 1.5m | 1.3m SW | 9s | 12 SE cross | 0.8m |
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
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.
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.
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.
mellow — relaxed vibe.
Where to go now
Nembrala Beach vs. nearby, live| Spot | Surf | Swell | Wind | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nembrala Beach Best now this spot | 1.2m | 1.1m 10s | 12 cross | Fair |
| 1 km away | 1.2m | 1.1m 10s | 12 cross | Fair |
| 1 km away | 1.2m | 1.1m 10s | 12 cross | Fair |
| 1 km away | 1.0m | 1.0m 10s | 12 cross | Fair |
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Learn or level up with established local instructors.
Nemberala Beach Surf School
★ 5.0Rt. 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.