Surf Forecasts:
Apollo Bay surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 13s period, W swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 16s period, SW swell with 2,601 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 17s period with SW 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 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 14s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 6s 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 2.3m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be 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+) | 1PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 17s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Apollo Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here, and honestly, it’s been a bit of a slow start around Apollo Bay. The first few days are pretty average, with messy winds and not much joy. But don’t write it off yet – there’s a solid run of clean, quality swell coming up later in the week that’ll definitely get the stoke levels up.
We’ve got a decent pulse of long-period SW groundswell lining up. The water is sitting around 57°, which is pretty much average for this time of year, nothing to worry about.
Let’s kick off with Monday 17th August. The morning’s showing 1.3m (4.3 ft) of SW swell with a 16-second period, but the ENE cross-onshore wind is making things choppy. It’s only worth a 1 out of 10, and the combined energy is weak at 987 – a real struggle. By the afternoon, the wind shifts onshore and it’s a write-off.
Tuesday 18th isn’t much better. We’ve got 1.0m (3.3 ft) SW swell in the morning, but that NNE cross-on breeze keeps things messy. The energy drops away to 716 and the score stays at zero.
Wednesday 19th is still small, with 0.6m (2 ft) of SW swell. The morning is cross-shore with a fresh breeze and lumpy. The afternoon improves a bit with a cross-off breeze from NNW, cleaning it up, but the swell is just too small to get excited about.
Thursday 20th – now we’re talking. The morning sees a jump to 2.1m (6.9 ft) of short-period W swell at 8 seconds, but it’s cross-off and clean with a NW breeze. The energy is moderate at 770, and the tide might be tricky, but there’s potential. Then the afternoon gets good with a 0.5m (1.6 ft) SW swell and a solid offshore W wind at 15.5 mph. Clean conditions and a 2/10 rating. That’s a sign of things to come.
Friday 21st is where it really starts to fire. Both morning and afternoon have 1.4m (4.6 ft) of SW groundswell at 15 seconds, with light to moderate offshore W winds. The morning energy is strong at 1261, and the afternoon holds at 1010. Clean, glassy lines – this is your best bet for a fun session on a board. Score is a solid 3/10.
Saturday 22nd is the standout. The morning brings 1.8m (5.9 ft) of SW groundswell, with a 15-second period and offshore WNW winds. The energy jumps to 1581, and conditions are clean. The afternoon steps up further to 2.1m (6.9 ft) of SW swell with WSW offshore winds, and the energy hits 2002. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers – solid, clean, and powerful. Score of 4/10. This is the one to point your car at.
Sunday 23rd keeps the good run going. Morning has 1.8m (5.9 ft) of SW swell at 14 seconds, with a cross-off NW breeze and clean conditions. Energy is very strong at 2028. The afternoon pumps out 2.0m (6.6 ft) of SW swell at 16 seconds, with a light NW breeze and energy soaring to 3085. Perfect, glassy conditions again. Another 4/10 day for the experienced crew.
Monday 24th still has some swell, with 1.6m (5.2 ft) in the morning and 1.4m (4.6 ft) in the afternoon, but the wind gets a bit stronger (WNW 15.5 mph) and the energy drops to 988. The tide might be a factor, but it’s still rideable.
After that, we hit a bit of a lull. Tuesday 25th through to Thursday 27th the swell drops away, and the wind turns cross-shore or onshore. Not much to write home about – small, messy surf with scores of zero or one.
Friday 28th has a bit of a pulse, 1.1m (3.6 ft) to 1.4m (4.6 ft) of SW swell, but it’s all onshore wind. The energy is moderate to strong (801–1144), but the wind ruins the quality.
Now, Saturday 29th August is a weird one. The morning shows a huge 5.0m (16.4 ft) of WSW swell, with a 12-second period and energy at 9779! That’s massive wave energy. But the wind is onshore from the ENE, so it’s going to be a complete mess – definitely only for the brave or the experts, and even then, probably more of a kite surfing day than paddle surfing. The afternoon drops to 2.2m (7.2 ft), still messy.
Sunday 30th and Monday 31st are similar stories – moderate to big swell, but the wind is onshore or cross-on, keeping things choppy and disappointing.
Tuesday 1st September fades out with 1.1m (3.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Wed morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue morning, min 11°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu morning, min 9°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | WSW 14 | W 8 | WSW 14 | WSW 12 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
854 | 1027 | 868 | 412 | 496 | 287 | 178 | 191 | 140 | 486 | 132 | 1649 | 868 | 844 | 1286 | 1581 | 1985 | 2066 | 1255 | 1929 | 1486 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:41PM2.21m | 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 | 9:39PM0.54m | 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 | ||||||||
7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | |
— | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 7 | 3 | — | — | 5 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 12 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 10 | 11 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 8 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | ENE 6 | WSW 14 | WSW 7 | WSW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 |
854 | 1027 | 868 | 412 | 496 | 287 | 178 | 29 | 140 | 30 | 125 | 661 | 868 | 844 | 1286 | 1581 | 1985 | 2066 | 1255 | 1929 | 1486 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | E 5 | E 4 | — | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 6 | E 8 | WSW 19 | SW 18 | — | — | S 15 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 16 | S 15 |
22 | 20 | 47 | 47 | 29 | 14 | — | 191 | 87 | 186 | 18 | 1 | 241 | 166 | — | — | 17 | 59 | 769 | 1137 | 18 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | S 11 | SSW 10 | SW 18 | S 9 | — | — | — | ENE 5 | WSW 13 | SW 16 | — | WSW 20 | — | — | — | — | — | S 15 | S 16 | — |
93 | 58 | 19 | 255 | 6 | — | — | — | 2 | 68 | 132 | — | 152 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 19 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 5 | — | E 6 | E 6 | E 5 | ENE 4 | ENE 5 | NE 6 | NNW 2 | W 8 | — | WSW 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
40 | — | 89 | 49 | 40 | 16 | 17 | 50 | 1 | 486 | — | 1649 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 18 | 45 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 39 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Cape Otway | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











