Austinmer Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’m gonna level with you – this stretch of the Illawarra coast is in for a bit of a mixed bag over the next couple of weeks. We’ve got some decent pulses coming through, but you’re gonna have to pick your moments. The real standout is shaping up for the weekend, and there’s a sneaky good one the following week too.

First up, the only game in town early on is Austinmer Beach. The water temp is sitting about average for this time of year. Tuesday the 28th is a non-starter – tiny 1ft S swell with a short period of 8 seconds, and the energy is weak (26). The wind is offshore, but there’s just nothing to ride. Wednesday the 29th is even worse, with a pathetic 0.3ft SE swell; the swell energy drops to a measly 9. Just forget it.

Now, Thursday the 30th morning is where things start to wake up. We get a jump to 4ft S swell, period 9 seconds, and the combined energy is moderate (263). The wind is light WSW at 5 km/h, crossing offshore, and the report says “expect good surf conditions.” It’s rated a 2 out of 10, but honestly, for the size, it’s clean and fun. The afternoon looks a bit ordinary with onshore SE wind, so get in early.

Friday the 31st: The swell is solid. Morning has 6ft S swell, a nice 11-second period, and moderate to strong energy (651). The wind is light cross-shore, but the report flags it as marginal. By the afternoon, it’s pushing 7ft S swell with strong energy (1418). That’s getting big for this beach and the wind is cross-onshore, making it pretty messy. It’s the biggest swell of the period, but it’s also a bit too much for a beginner spot like this.

The standout of the whole forecast is Saturday morning, August 1st. We’ve got a 5ft SSE swell, 10-second period, with moderate to strong energy (450). The wind is glassy – absolute dead calm from the south at 5 km/h. That’s as clean as it gets. The report says “expect good surf conditions.” This is your morning. The afternoon turns a bit average with cross-shore NE wind, so don’t sleep in.

Sunday, August 2nd, is also a ripper. Morning brings 5ft SSE swell, a long 12-second period, and strong energy (720). The wind is cross-offshore from the NNW at 15 km/h, keeping it clean. The afternoon holds with 5ft SE swell and clean cross-offshore wind. Both sessions are rated 3 out of 10, which is the highest we’ll see. This is a very solid, consistent day.

Then we hit a long dry spell. From Monday the 3rd through to Tuesday the 12th, the swell drops away and the wind turns onshore or choppy. There are a few tiny, weak days with 2ft to 3ft slop, but nothing worth paddling out for. The energy is weak, often under 100. That’s a gap of about 10 days with no real recommendations.

The only other glimmer is a couple of mornings around the 10th and 11th, where we get a 3ft NE swell with clean cross-offshore wind. The energy is still weak (108), and the period is short (8 seconds), so it’s just a fun, small wave option for a longboard.

So, to wrap it up: your best bet is Saturday morning, August 1st for the glassy conditions and solid 5ft SSE swell. Sunday, August 2nd, is a close second with clean, long-period swell all day. After that, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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