Surf Forecasts:
Bulli Beach surf forecast from 31 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s period, NE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 6s period, NE swell with 67 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s period with NE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Bulli Beach this week:
The surf forecast for Bulli Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 5s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Bulli Beach in the next 16 days are 1.1m 6s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 10s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bulli Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the forecast for Bulli Beach.
To be straight with you, the next two weeks are looking pretty lackluster for a proper paddle session. The wave energy is low, with the combined swell energy sitting at a weak 17 in the early part, and the small 1.0ft swell from the east-northeast just doesn't have the push. The water temp is sitting at 64°, pretty much average for this time of year.
We start off on Monday the 31st with glassy conditions in the morning, but the swell is tiny and weak. That glassy moment is a tease, but there's just no power behind it. The rest of the week through to the 7th of September is a washout of small, weak swells, mostly under 3ft, and the wind is all over the place. The combined energy values are all in the low double digits or under 100, which tells you the ocean is flat and lifeless. For a few days there, from the 1st to the 4th, you get clean conditions with offshore or cross-offshore winds, but 1.0ft to 2ft of weak, short-period swell is just not enough to ride.
The 8th of September is the first time we see a bit of size, with the swell jumping to 5ft from the northeast. The combined energy hits 146, which is moderate, but the period is a short and choppy 5 seconds. That’s a messy, weak wave, not a clean face. Then from the 9th through the 12th, it gets ugly. Southerly winds kick up, cross-on and strong, with speeds up to 31 mph. The swell gets bigger, up to 7ft on the 10th, with the combined energy reading 660, but it’s blown-out, messy, and cross-on. For a beach and reef setup like Bulli, this is more of a kite-surfing scenario than a good paddle surf. The waves are too lumpy and the wind is too strong.
The only glimmer of hope comes around the 14th and 15th of September. Monday the 14th morning has a 3ft swell from the east with a light north wind, making it cross-offshore and clean. The combined energy is 169, so it’s moderate. It’s described as "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions," so it’s not a standout, but it’s the best of a bad bunch. Tuesday the 15th morning is similar, with a 4ft swell from the southeast, light cross-onshore wind, and a combined energy of 211. The conditions are "marginal," but it’s the closest we get to a decent session.
Overall, the 16-day window is a long stretch of poor surf. The best bet is the morning of the 14th or 15th of September, but even then, don’t expect much. For a break that is fairly consistent, it’s a rough run. Crowds are sometimes an issue here, but with this forecast, it’ll be quiet.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Wed morning, min 13°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Sat morning, min 11°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Fri morning, fresh winds from the WNW by Sat morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 11 | NE 6 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | NNE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | NE 5 | ENE 9 | NE 5 | E 11 | E 11 | NE 4 | E 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 37 | 34 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 21 | 24 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 27 | 9 | 14 | 9 | 9 | 20 | 8 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross | off |
High Tide | 10:03AM1.38m | 10:11PM1.34m | 10:43AM1.40m | 10:57PM1.23m | 11:29AM1.41m | 11:50PM1.11m | 12:22PM1.40m | 00:57AM1.01m | 1:27PM1.40m | 2:19AM0.94m | 2:40PM1.42m | 3:47AM0.95m | 3:54PM1.47m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:08PM0.25m | 4:23AM0.18m | 4:58PM0.28m | 5:01AM0.25m | 5:56PM0.31m | 5:46AM0.32m | 7:05PM0.34m | 6:41AM0.40m | 8:25PM0.34m | 7:50AM0.45m | 9:47PM0.30m | 9:09AM0.46m | 10:57PM0.22m | ||||||||
6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | |
— | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 17 | 15 | 25 | 24 | 18 | 26 | 26 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 16 | 20 | 19 | 16 | 22 | 22 | 16 | 19 | 17 | 15 |
Feels °C | 16 | 14 | 14 | 20 | 22 | 15 | 22 | 23 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 11 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 18 | 20 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | S 9 | S 9 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | NNE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | S 12 | S 8 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 11 |
135 | 166 | 97 | 233 | 178 | 128 | 106 | 100 | 50 | 21 | 24 | 15 | 397 | 171 | 200 | 78 | 39 | 25 | 459 | 156 | 178 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 15 | S 16 | S 13 | ENE 8 | ENE 11 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | S 10 | SSE 10 | S 10 | NE 7 | ENE 10 | NE 5 | ENE 9 | NE 5 | NE 6 | E 11 | S 16 | E 10 |
159 | 125 | 115 | 14 | 37 | 31 | 26 | 26 | 16 | 55 | 35 | 31 | 18 | 19 | 27 | 9 | 14 | 5 | 9 | 20 | 8 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 11 | NE 12 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | S 12 | ENE 10 | S 15 | E 9 | E 11 | NNE 6 | E 10 | S 18 |
17 | 16 | 15 | 11 | 6 | 34 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 3 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NE 2 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | NE 5 | NNW 3 | NW 3 | NNE 6 | NW 3 | W 3 | WSW 3 | WSW 4 | — | NE 3 | — | NNE 5 | NW 3 | S 3 | — | NE 4 | NE 5 |
— | 1 | 7 | 9 | 56 | 4 | 3 | 29 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 13 | — | 7 | — | 26 | 2 | 5 | — | 20 | 58 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 40 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 40 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 86 | 1 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Illawarra | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Bulli Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Bulli Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Bulli Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Bulli Beach 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 (Bulli Beach) 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 Bulli Beach 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.
Are you planning a holiday in Illawarra? If you are looking for accommodation near Bulli Beach, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Illawarra, consider staying in Wollongong which is 4 km (2 miles) away. Other places in and around Illawarra where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Port Kembla which is 8 km (5 miles) away, Engadine, Caringbah and Cronulla.











