
Surf Forecasts:
Ballina North Wall surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 8s period, ESE swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 17 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 8s period, ESE swell with 698 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 9s period with E swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Ballina North Wall this week:
The surf forecast for Ballina North Wall over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 9s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Ballina North Wall in the next 16 days are 2.4m 8s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.0m 7s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Wed 12th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Ballina North Wall over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, it’s Rusty here.
Honestly, looking at the next couple of weeks, we’ve got a bit of a flat, blown-out run ahead before things finally start to come together. The swell window is essentially shut for now, and the wind is going to mess with most of what little energy we do see. Don’t get too excited for the first week—this is more about waiting for the ocean to sort itself out than scoring anything decent.
Wednesday, August 12th kicks things off with small, but workable waves at Ballina North Wall (Ballina-North-Wall). The morning is your best bet: a clean 2ft of east swell with a light WSW wind. The water’s at 69°, which is about normal for this time of year. That’s the only window that’s even worth a paddle, and it’s marginal at best.
From Thursday, August 13th through Sunday, August 16th, we’re in a rough patch. Swell stays tiny, in the 1ft to 2ft range, and the wind just gets annoying. It’s choppy and lumpy, with rain showers moving through. There’s a brief pulse on Sunday afternoon, with the swell jumping to 5ft, but that’s all jumbled short-period windswell and cross-shore winds. Not worth your time.
The middle of next week, Monday, August 17th and Tuesday, August 18th, sees the size finally pick up, but it’s messy. We go from 5ft up to 8ft, but the wind is onshore and the period is only 8 seconds, so it’s going to be a washing machine out there. The combined energy gets strong (up to 622), but there’s no shape to it. You’d be lucky to get a clean one.
Wednesday, August 19th through Friday, August 21st, the swell drops back a touch to around 4ft to 5ft. The morning windows have a cross-offshore wind, which keeps it clean, but it’s still pretty average. Not a total write-off, but you’d be scratching for waves.
Here’s where it gets interesting. The real standout, the one to circle on the calendar, is Saturday, August 22nd. Overnight the wind swings to a light offshore (WSW at 3 mph), and the swell settles into a clean 4ft of east groundswell with a 10-second period. The combined energy is still modest (245), but the conditions are glassy and clean. This is the best morning of the whole period. Ballina North Wall is a proper point/breakwater setup that likes this direction, and with an offshore wind like that, it’ll be worth the paddle. Just know that crowds are possible here, and it’s an advanced wave.
Sunday, August 23rd is a near-repeat, with another clean 4ft morning, the period stretching out to 11 seconds, and that same light offshore. It’s looking good, though the north-easterly kicks in for the afternoon and chops it up.
After that, it all winds down again. Monday, August 24th and Tuesday, August 25th are blown out with moderate to fresh cross-shore winds. The swell drops away, and things go quiet.
The last few days of the period, from Wednesday, August 26th to Thursday, August 27th, the surf stays small and onshore. The wind turns northerly and the swell direction switches up, but it’s mostly junk. Not worth planning around.
So here’s the deal: the first week is a dud, but next Saturday and Sunday mornings (August 22nd and 23rd) are the clear standout windows. Those are your best bets—clean, offshore, with a little bit of push. It’s just a shame we have to wait that long for it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 20°C on Wed morning, min 13°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 45mm), heaviest during Mon morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat morning, min 14°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Sat morning, light winds from the SSE by Sun night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | SSE 7 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SSE 7 | E 10 | SSE 6 | ESE 6 | E 7 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 8 | E 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
83 | 85 | 83 | 60 | 43 | 43 | 43 | 42 | 181 | 28 | 28 | 219 | 51 | 191 | 97 | 215 | 616 | 670 | 549 | 326 | 302 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 8:16PM1.82m | 8:37AM1.26m | 8:58PM1.76m | 9:19AM1.30m | 9:37PM1.67m | 10:00AM1.32m | 10:14PM1.53m | 10:40AM1.31m | 10:50PM1.38m | 11:22AM1.29m | 11:23PM1.23m | 12:06PM1.27m | 11:56PM1.10m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:39PM0.14m | 2:52AM0.14m | 2:28PM0.11m | 3:29AM0.12m | 3:14PM0.13m | 4:05AM0.13m | 3:59PM0.18m | 4:38AM0.17m | 4:43PM0.27m | 5:11AM0.22m | 5:27PM0.39m | 5:42AM0.28m | 6:16PM0.51m | ||||||||
6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | |
— | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 6 |
Temp °C | 20 | 19 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 |
Feels °C | 18 | 15 | 10 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 7 | S 8 | E 9 | S 8 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SSE 7 | S 7 | ENE 10 | S 7 | E 7 | S 16 | S 16 | ESE 8 | E 8 | E 8 |
196 | 149 | 98 | 55 | 212 | 43 | 253 | 42 | 42 | 28 | 28 | 219 | 295 | 32 | 60 | 215 | 5 | 5 | 549 | 326 | 302 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | NE 10 | E 9 | NE 9 | SSE 19 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | ENE 9 | E 5 | SSE 16 | ENE 10 | S 8 | E 13 | E 13 | S 10 | S 9 | SE 11 |
83 | 85 | 83 | 60 | 43 | 4 | 43 | 3 | 35 | 25 | 22 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 32 | 74 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 15 | 31 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 7 | NE 6 | NE 6 | S 9 | NNE 7 | S 19 | NE 9 | S 15 | S 20 | N 8 | S 20 | SSE 19 | E 10 | E 15 | ENE 7 | SSE 12 | E 13 | E 13 | S 9 | E 12 | S 19 |
11 | 10 | 9 | 43 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 30 | 1 | 8 | 36 | 49 | 4 | 11 | 29 | 3 | 3 | 28 | 3 | 7 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | WSW 4 | S 7 | — | S 8 | S 8 | S 7 | SSE 7 | S 6 | SSE 7 | — | ESE 5 | SSE 6 | ESE 6 | — | SE 8 | ESE 8 | — | SSE 8 | SSE 8 |
— | — | 16 | 128 | — | 333 | 357 | 257 | 181 | 173 | 322 | — | 51 | 191 | 97 | — | 616 | 670 | — | 158 | 193 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 58 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 8 | 32 | 8 | 26 | 247 | 38 | 26 | 32 | 26 | 19 | 79 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 26 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Coast - New South Wales | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Ballina North Wall Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Ballina North Wall provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Ballina North Wall can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Ballina North Wall 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 (Ballina North Wall) 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 Ballina North Wall 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.
Ballina North Wall is 3 km (2 miles) from Ballina. If you plan a holiday in North Coast - New South Wales, look for hotels and other accommodation in Ballina. Ballina has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











