Surf Forecasts:
Apollo Bay surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, WSW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 21 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, WSW swell with 3,333 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 15s period with WSW 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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 15s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Apollo Bay in the next 16 days are 3.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Apollo Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Apollo Bay.
Alright, straight up, this isn’t a week for beginners looking for a cruisy paddle. The surf is going to be real for most of the run, with some solid groundswell piling in, especially towards the end. There’s a bit of a slow start, but once it kicks, it’s going to demand some respect.
The water temp is sitting at 57°, which is about normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.
The first real chance to get wet is Thursday morning, 20 August. Swell is a small 2 feet from the WSW, but the period is a long 17 seconds, so it’s a proper groundswell. The wind is a gentle cross-offshore, and the conditions are clean. It’s small, but it’s workable. The combined energy is moderate (277). Thursday afternoon cleans up even more with a light offshore breeze from the W, and the swell stays around 2 feet. It’s not going to get the heart racing, but it’s a tidy little window.
Now, Friday the 21st is where things start to get interesting. The swell jumps to 8 feet from the WSW, with a 15-second period. That’s a lot of water moving. The morning is clean with a cross-offshore breeze, but it’s big. Friday afternoon turns it on with a gentle offshore wind and the same 8 feet swell. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers, with combined energy strong (3689). This is a standout for the week – big, clean, and powerful. Only for the crew who know what they’re doing.
Saturday the 22nd keeps the goods rolling. Swell is 7 feet to 7 feet from the SW, with a moderate offshore wind all day. Conditions are clean, and the combined energy is still strong (2057 / 1848). Another excellent day for the experienced.
Sunday the 23rd is a beauty. Swell drops a touch to 6 feet from the SW, but the period hangs in at 14-16 seconds. The wind is offshore or light cross-offshore, and it’s clean. The combined energy is strong (1808 / 1532). This is a solid day, very surfable for intermediate to advanced surfers.
Monday the 24th sees the swell back to 4 feet. The morning is marginal, but the afternoon gets a good offshore wind, making it a clean option. Energy is moderate (652). Not a standout, but a chance to get out.
Tuesday the 25th is a mixed bag. The morning is a bit messy, but the afternoon is a ripper – 8 feet from the WSW with a 12-second period, and a light cross-offshore breeze. The energy is strong (2415). This is another excellent wave for the experienced crew.
There’s a bit of a lull mid-week, with Wednesday the 26th being poor. But then Thursday the 27th morning offers a clean 4 feet wave with a gentle offshore wind. The afternoon gets messy with a strong 22 mph wind, so stick to the morning.
Now, the real standout of the whole 16-day period is Friday the 28th of August. We’re looking at a massive 12 feet swell from the SW, with a 16-second period. The combined energy is huge (8211). The wind is a moderate cross-offshore, keeping it clean. This is a big, powerful, groundswell. It’s a serious, expert-only day. Saturday the 29th is similar, with a 13 feet swell, but the wind turns a bit cross-onshore, so it’s not as clean.
The run into the end of the month and start of September sees the size drop back. Sunday the 30th has some 8 feet to 7 feet swell, but it’s a bit onshore. Monday the 31st of August and Tuesday the 1st of September are small again, but the mornings are glassy. The best of this late period is Wednesday the 2nd of September morning, with a glassy 4 feet swell from the SW, and a 14-second period. It’s clean and calm, a nice little session.
Overall, the best on offer is clearly Friday the 21st, Saturday the 22nd, and Friday the 28th. The 28th is the biggest, but the 21st and 22nd are more consistent and cleaner. Apollo Bay is a beach and point setup, so when that big swell hits, it’s going to be powerful and focused. Crowds are possible, but with this size, it’ll thin out the pack.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue night, min 10°C on Thu night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon morning, min 8°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | ||||||||||||||
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 16 | SW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | SW 17 | SW 14 | SW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | WSW 13 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
287 | 178 | 158 | 142 | 188 | 191 | 376 | 3333 | 3035 | 1611 | 2009 | 1632 | 1784 | 1220 | 1552 | 1014 | 802 | 3136 | 755 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 6:06AM1.41m | 10:43PM1.71m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 2:08PM0.69m | |||||||
— | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | |
mm | 2 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 4 |
Temp °C | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 17 | 11 | 11 |
Feels °C | 10 | 8 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 7 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | SW 17 | SW 14 | SW 16 | WSW 15 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 |
287 | 178 | 158 | 142 | 188 | 191 | 376 | 393 | 489 | 1611 | 2009 | 1632 | 1784 | 1220 | 1552 | 1014 | 802 | 769 | 755 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 5 | — | ENE 6 | SW 18 | WSW 13 | SW 16 | SW 6 | WSW 19 | SW 6 | — | SW 24 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 18 | SW 16 | — | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 19 |
12 | — | 22 | 87 | 68 | 132 | 9 | 241 | 23 | — | 22 | 72 | 373 | 769 | 755 | — | 18 | 16 | 88 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | ESE 8 | ENE 5 | WSW 8 | E 8 | E 8 | WSW 7 | SW 18 | — | — | — | S 15 | — | — | — | SW 22 | S 14 | S 14 |
— | — | 6 | 2 | 21 | 5 | 1 | 30 | 168 | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | 18 | 4 | 4 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 4 | ENE 5 | NE 6 | NW 2 | NW 3 | — | NW 2 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 13 | — |
20 | 30 | 72 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 3333 | 3035 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3136 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 19 | 19 | 196 | 18 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 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.











