Surf spot

Wai-ao

Forecast conditions and map view for Wai-ao in Taiwan. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: Taiwan
Coordinates: 24.7169, 121.8439

Metric
Metric	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00
Wave height (m)	1.4	1.4	1.3	1.3	1.2	1.1	1	1	0.9	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.9	0.9	0.8	0.9	1.1	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.1	1.1	1	1	1	1	0.9	0.8	0.8	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.4	0.5	0.5
Wave direction	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	ENE	ENE	ENE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NNE	NNE	NNE	NNE	NNE	NNE	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	ENE	ENE
Wave period (s)	5.8	6	6	6	5.9	5.8	5.7	5.6	5.5	5.1	5.3	5.2	5.2	4.8	4.8	4.5	4.5	4.6	4.7	4.8	5.2	5	4.5	5	5.3	5.4	5.3	5.5	5.2	5.3	5.3	5.2	5.3	5.3	5.4	5.4	5.2	5	5.1	5	5	4.9	5	4.9	4.9	5.8	5.9	6	6.7	6.6	6.3	6.2	7	7.5	6.3	6.2
Wave energy (kJ)	142	139	129	112	100	86	69	60	50	35	37	32	27	20	23	24	27	30	33	40	37	36	46	70	81	84	82	86	79	76	96	95	100	91	66	66	57	53	52	45	41	34	28	24	18	25	23	21	24	24	25	26	23	22	18	17
Wind speed (km/h)	2.3	2.2	3.8	9.1	11.2	7.6	3.3	4.2	3.3	3.1	4.6	10.7	11.3	7.6	2.4	2.8	3.1	4.3	2.8	12.2	15.5	9.3	1.5	3.3	4.5	5	6	11.9	13.7	9.8	3.3	0.5	2.1	1.8	6.3	11.4	12.3	7.6	1.5	1.9	3	2.1	4.4	10.5	11	8.6	3.1	2.9	1.3	2.8	3.6	10.3	10.3	9.2	1.5	2.9
Wind direction	SEGlassy	EGlassy	ESEGlassy	EOnshore	EOnshore	EOnshore	SEGlassy	SSEGlassy	SSEGlassy	SWGlassy	SEGlassy	ESEOnshore	EOnshore	EOnshore	ESEGlassy	SWGlassy	WNWGlassy	WNWGlassy	NEGlassy	ENEOnshore	ENEOnshore	NEOnshore	NWGlassy	WNWGlassy	WNWGlassy	WNWCross-off	NNECross-on	ENEOnshore	ENEOnshore	NEOnshore	NEGlassy	NWGlassy	WNWGlassy	NWGlassy	ENEOnshore	ENEOnshore	EOnshore	EOnshore	ESEGlassy	WSWGlassy	WNWGlassy	WNWGlassy	EGlassy	EOnshore	EOnshore	EOnshore	ESEGlassy	SGlassy	SWGlassy	SWGlassy	SEGlassy	ESEOnshore	ESEOnshore	EOnshore	NNEGlassy	WGlassy

Wai-ao (外澳) is one of Taiwan’s most popular and reliable surf spots, located on the northeast coast in Yilan County, near Toucheng. It’s an easy-to-access beach break with a relaxed surf-town feel, known for consistent waves and a scenic backdrop of green mountains and long sandy shoreline.

Surf character

Wave type: Mostly beach break
Best conditions: Often works best with typhoon swells, northeast swells, and seasonally bigger winter surf
Wave quality: Can be fun and punchy, with occasional clean peelers on the right tide and swell direction
Skill level: Great for beginners to intermediate surfers, though bigger days can get powerful enough for advanced surfers too

Conditions

Wind: Offshore winds are often from the west or southwest, while onshore winds can make it messy quickly
Tide: Tides matter a lot; many surfers prefer mid tide for shape and rideability
Swell: Picks up plenty of energy from the Pacific, especially during typhoon season and winter swell events

Atmosphere

Wai-ao has a laid-back, friendly surf scene with local surf schools, rental shops, and cafés nearby. It’s one of the more accessible places to surf in northern Taiwan, so it can get busy when the waves are good.

Things to know

The beach can have strong currents and rips, especially when the swell is up
Conditions can change quickly, so checking local forecasts is important
It’s a good idea to be aware of local etiquette since it’s a popular lineup