Surf Forecasts:
Apollo Bay surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 15s period, WSW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 16s period, SW swell with 8,248 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 13s period with W swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Apollo Bay this week:
The surf forecast for Apollo Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 4PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 13s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 16s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Apollo Bay in the next 16 days are 4.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Apollo Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, I'm Rusty, and I've been staring at the charts for Apollo Bay. The forecast is a decent run of swell, but we've got to wade through a bit of average stuff to get to the good bits.
We kick off on Monday the 17th with a 5ft SW groundswell pushing in, but it's wind-affected and messy. The combined wave energy is sitting at (1105), which is moderate-to-strong, but the quality is all wrong with an onshore breeze. You'd be better off grabbing a coffee. Tuesday the 18th is more of the same, with a drop in size to 3ft and cross-onshore winds keeping things choppy. Wednesday the 19th is tiny, but by the afternoon we start seeing some hope with a cross-offshore breeze cleaning up the 2ft swell. Thursday the 20th looks a bit more promising. The morning is still small (2ft) but clean, and by the afternoon the wind goes offshore from the west with the swell bumping to 3ft – that's the first window for a tired but clean wave.
Now, the real action starts Friday the 21st. This is the standout window. We've got a solid 5ft SW groundswell with a long period of 15 seconds, and the wind is offshore from the WNW. The wave energy jumps to (939), and it's looking clean and lined up. This is the day to point the car at Apollo Bay. Saturday the 22nd brings a bigger swell, hitting 7ft out of the SW, but it's powerful with (2366) on the energy scale. It's a bit heavy for the average punter, and the offshore wind will make it hollow. This is for the experienced crew only. Sunday the 23rd is the real gem. We've got a 6ft SW swell with light offshore winds, and the energy is at (1561). The forecast calls it excellent for experienced surfers, and I'd agree – the banks should be handling this nicely.
After that, the surf settles down a bit but stays clean through to Tuesday the 25th and Wednesday the 26th. The water temp is sitting on a normal 57° for this time of year, so don't expect a tropical bath.
The first week's highlight is definitely Friday the 21st and Sunday the 23rd. For the second week, I'm keeping an eye on the 30th of August. We get a 7ft SSW swell in the morning – it's a bit short-period at 8 seconds, so it'll be lumpy, but the afternoon clean-up with 6ft from the S with (1243) of energy has potential. There's also a late call on the 31st of August with a massive 20-second period SW groundswell at 4ft. That's a very long period groundswell, which means it's going to stand up nicely at Apollo Bay's point setup, but the onshore wind might kill it. Look, it's promising, but it's a long way out so don't book the week off yet.
Keep an eye on the crowds, because Apollo Bay can get busy when it's clean.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue afternoon, min 10°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Fri morning, min 8°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | ||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | WSW 15 | SW 15 | WSW 13 | W 13 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 16 | WSW 15 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
868 | 412 | 496 | 287 | 178 | 158 | 104 | 265 | 2217 | 905 | 795 | 763 | 1904 | 7330 | 2668 | 2148 | 1602 | 1742 | 1265 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 3:36AM2.16m | 4:22PM2.19m | 4:05AM2.05m | 5:03PM2.12m | 4:33AM1.92m | 5:46PM2.00m | 4:59AM1.78m | 6:35PM1.86m | 5:23AM1.65m | 7:37PM1.74m | 5:45AM1.53m | 9:07PM1.67m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:56AM0.19m | 10:17PM0.66m | 10:28AM0.19m | 10:54PM0.79m | 11:01AM0.24m | 11:30PM0.95m | 11:34AM0.32m | 00:08AM1.11m | 12:11PM0.44m | 00:56AM1.26m | 12:56PM0.56m | 3:19AM1.37m | |||||||
— | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 17 | 18 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 17 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 12 | 10 |
Feels °C | 10 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | SW 15 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
868 | 412 | 496 | 287 | 29 | 28 | 104 | 265 | 273 | 628 | 795 | 763 | 1904 | 2325 | 2668 | 2148 | 1602 | 1742 | 1265 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 5 | E 5 | SW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 10 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | WSW 19 | SW 18 | — | — | SW 22 | SW 20 | SW 18 | — | — |
62 | 33 | 23 | 16 | 178 | 158 | 31 | 147 | 130 | 905 | 241 | 166 | — | — | 73 | 188 | 379 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 10 | SW 18 | S 9 | — | — | WNW 6 | SW 18 | E 7 | E 7 | — | SW 20 | — | — | — | S 16 | S 14 | — | — | — |
18 | 255 | 6 | — | — | 8 | 54 | 4 | 1 | — | 99 | — | — | — | 5 | 16 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | E 6 | NE 4 | NE 4 | NE 5 | — | — | — | W 13 | — | — | — | — | WSW 15 | — | — | — | — | — |
92 | 38 | 3 | 10 | 62 | — | — | — | 2217 | — | — | — | — | 7330 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 39 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Cape Otway | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Apollo Bay Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Apollo Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Apollo Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Apollo Bay surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Apollo Bay) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Apollo Bay may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Apollo Bay is 91 km (57 miles) from the city of Geelong West. If you plan a holiday in Cape Otway, look for hotels and other accommodation in Geelong West. Geelong West has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











