Surf Forecasts:
Cathedral Rock surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 15s period, WSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 15s period, WSW swell with 7,459 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 17s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Cathedral Rock this week:
The surf forecast for Cathedral Rock over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 13s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Cathedral Rock in the next 16 days are 4.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 17s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cathedral Rock over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, I'm Rusty. Let's get into it.
We've got a solid run of swell coming through at Cathedral Rock. The water's sitting at 57°F, which is about average for this time of year, so nothing to worry about in the wetsuit department.
The first real chance to get wet is Wednesday afternoon the 19th. It's a bit small, 3 ft from the SW, but the wind is light offshore from the north, making for clean conditions. The combined energy is moderate (341). It's a gentle start.
Thursday the 20th sees a slight increase, with a 3 ft WSW swell Thursday afternoon. The wind stays light and cross-offshore, keeping it clean. The energy picks up to 592. Still on the smaller side, but rideable.
Now, Friday the 21st is where things get interesting. The swell jumps to 6 ft on Friday morning, coming from the WSW with a 15-second period – that's proper groundswell energy. The combined energy is a strong 2318. The wind is a light cross-offshore, so the waves will be clean. This is excellent for experienced surfers. By Friday afternoon, it's pumping 10 ft (WSW, 14s) with a massive combined energy of 4780. The wind is still clean. This is a standout session for the experienced crew.
Saturday the 22nd is big, with 10 ft SW swell, but the wind goes cross-shore, making things a bit chop. The combined energy is still very strong around 3801. It's one for the experts, and the crowds might be out, but the conditions are a bit messy.
Sunday the 23rd is a ripper. The swell drops slightly to 8 ft in the morning, but the wind goes light cross-offshore again. The combined energy is 2935. The waves will be clean and powerful. Sunday afternoon is similar with 7 ft and clean conditions. This is another top pick.
Monday the 24th is good, solid 6 ft SW swell with light cross-offshore wind. The energy is strong (1358). It's a solid day of surf.
Tuesday the 25th is a write-off. The wind swings onshore from the SE, making it choppy. The energy is still there, but the quality is gone. Give it a miss.
Wednesday the 26th is still messy with onshore wind, but the swell is 8 ft to 10 ft. It's not great for paddling, but for the kite crew, this setup could be more interesting.
Thursday the 27th sees a return of clean conditions with a light offshore. The swell drops to 3 ft, but it's clean. A good day for a small wave board.
Now, for the second week, we have some promising, but less certain, long-range standouts. Friday the 28th of August is a monster. The swell is 10 ft in the morning, building to 12 ft in the afternoon, with a 16-second period. The combined energy is off the charts at 6264. The wind is light offshore and clean. This is a major event for experienced surfers.
Saturday the 29th keeps the energy high with 12 ft to 13 ft swell, but the afternoon gets a bit of onshore wind. The morning is clean.
Sunday the 30th is still big, with 10 ft swell and light offshore wind in the morning. The energy is strong (2265). The afternoon gets a bit cross-shore.
Monday the 31st is a great session. The swell drops to 6 ft, but the period is a long 16 seconds, and the wind is light offshore. The combined energy is still strong (2194). This is excellent for experienced surfers.
Tuesday the 1st of September and Wednesday the 2nd see the swell fading to 4-4 ft, but the conditions are clean, with light offshore winds and even some glassy conditions. The energy is moderate. These are good small-wave days.
Thursday the 3rd of September starts glassy, but the wind goes onshore in the afternoon. The swell is 4 ft.
So, to sum it up, the standout days are Friday the 21st, Sunday the 23rd, and especially Friday the 28th of August.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu morning, min 9°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon morning, min 9°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | ||||||||||||||
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) | WSW 14 | SW 17 | WSW 13 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | SW 16 | WSW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | WSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
268 | 241 | 342 | 843 | 1332 | 3135 | 2831 | 7459 | 4497 | 3586 | 2323 | 3001 | 1933 | 1443 | 2817 | 1446 | 1569 | 1313 | 1688 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 4:38AM1.99m | 4:26PM1.85m | 5:22AM1.91m | 5:01PM1.75m | 6:08AM1.81m | 5:36PM1.64m | 6:59AM1.70m | 6:14PM1.53m | 8:01AM1.61m | 7:00PM1.43m | 9:17AM1.56m | 8:08PM1.35m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:11PM0.10m | 10:37AM0.53m | 10:49PM0.14m | 11:18AM0.66m | 11:29PM0.22m | 12:00PM0.79m | 00:11AM0.31m | 12:47PM0.92m | 00:58AM0.41m | 1:48PM1.03m | 1:57AM0.50m | 3:12PM1.07m | 3:08AM0.56m | ||||||
— | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | |
mm | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 14 | 13 | 9 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 17 | 15 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 10 |
Feels °C | 10 | 11 | 10 | 5 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 14 | SW 17 | WSW 13 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 14 |
268 | 241 | 342 | 843 | 1332 | 1370 | 2831 | 3757 | 3532 | 3586 | 2323 | 3001 | 1933 | 1443 | 1438 | 1446 | 1569 | 1313 | 1688 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | WSW 13 | SW 16 | — | SW 20 | SW 18 | S 17 | SW 24 | SW 22 | SW 19 | SW 18 | WSW 16 | S 15 | SW 21 | WSW 20 | SW 18 | SW 17 | WSW 16 | — |
121 | 154 | 219 | — | 99 | 275 | 6 | 22 | 163 | 531 | 881 | 1498 | 17 | 18 | 38 | 81 | 227 | 334 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 7 | WSW 8 | E 8 | — | — | — | — | S 16 | — | S 15 | — | — | — | SW 21 | S 14 | — | S 14 | S 13 | — |
5 | 35 | 5 | — | — | — | — | 19 | — | 17 | — | — | — | 18 | 16 | — | 15 | 12 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 3 | NW 2 | NW 3 | WNW 2 | WSW 10 | WSW 14 | — | WSW 15 | SW 15 | — | — | — | — | N 3 | WSW 13 | — | — | — | — |
4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 681 | 3135 | — | 7459 | 4497 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 2817 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 18 | 39 | 4 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Cape Otway | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Cathedral Rock Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Cathedral Rock provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Cathedral Rock can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Cathedral Rock 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 (Cathedral Rock) 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 Cathedral Rock 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.
Cathedral Rock is 52 km (32 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.











