Surf Forecasts:
Cathedral Rock surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 13s period, WSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 15s period, SW swell with 3,121 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 13s 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 27) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 16s. 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 2.5m 15s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Mon 31st Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Cathedral Rock over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey there, Rusty here. Let’s talk shop about Cathedral Rock.
The early part of this run is a bit of a struggle. We’ve got some swell around on Wednesday and Thursday, but the wind is swinging cross-on or onshore, and the waves are coming in pretty choppy. The combined energy is massive, like over 2500 on Wednesday afternoon, but it doesn’t matter if the wind is wrecking the surface. Not the time to be out there.
Things start to turn around on the weekend. Saturday the 29th morning is a real improvement. The wind goes glassy, dead still, and we get a clean 6ft groundswell from the SW. With the surface like a sheet of glass and a combined energy of 1289, that’s a solid, clean morning surf.
The real standout, the one you don’t want to miss, is Sunday the 30th of August morning. Wind is glassy, zero knots from the NW, and we’re looking at a clean 7ft SW groundswell at 13 seconds. That’s a dream combo for a point break like Cathedral Rock. The combined energy is 1786, and it’s going to produce some beautiful, lined-up waves. This is the session for the experienced surfer.
Monday the 31st morning is nearly as good, with a glassy 8ft SW swell and a huge energy reading of 2518. Another ripper early session. Water temp is 57°, right on the money for this time of year.
After that, the mornings stay clean with cross-off winds through the first week of September, but nothing else has that glass-off magic.
Come Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th, the swell is going to go huge. We’re talking 10ft to 13ft of SW groundswell, with the energy hitting over 35,000 on Friday. At that size, with a 17 to 18-second period, it’s a serious heavy water session for the experts only. It’s also going to be blown out a bit with cross-on or onshore winds, so it won’t be clean. That’s a big, raw, challenging day.
The final jewel in this forecast is Thursday the 10th of September morning. The wind is glassy again and we’ve got a massive 12ft SW groundswell at 15 seconds, with a combined energy of 5850. The surface will be flat calm. That is an extreme, high-performance day for the elite crew only.
So, the call is clear. The best day, the absolute winner, is Sunday the 30th of August morning. Glassy, clean, solid swell at Cathedral Rock. For an expert-level challenge with glassy conditions, look at Thursday the 10th of September morning.
Keep a close eye on the tides before you paddle out.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed morning, min 8°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon morning, min 9°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | |||||||||||||||
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 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | WSW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | WSW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1528 | 1417 | 940 | 243 | 215 | 846 | 1399 | 2829 | 2119 | 1407 | 1344 | 1137 | 1475 | 1791 | 2238 | 2717 | 2326 | 2829 | 1847 | 1326 | 3009 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross | on | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy |
High Tide | 10:34AM1.58m | 9:39PM1.32m | 11:33AM1.63m | 11:02PM1.38m | 12:17PM1.70m | 00:04AM1.49m | 12:52PM1.76m | 00:53AM1.62m | 1:23PM1.81m | 1:36AM1.76m | 1:52PM1.84m | 2:15AM1.89m | 2:20PM1.85m | 2:52AM1.99m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:43PM1.03m | 4:22AM0.56m | 5:46PM0.93m | 5:26AM0.53m | 6:29PM0.80m | 6:18AM0.49m | 7:03PM0.65m | 7:02AM0.45m | 7:33PM0.50m | 7:43AM0.42m | 8:02PM0.36m | 8:20AM0.43m | 8:32PM0.23m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — |
 | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 |
Temp °C | 14 | 13 | 9 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 14 | 15 | 9 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 18 | 18 | 13 | 21 | 20 | 12 |
Feels °C | 9 | 8 | 7 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 16 | 16 | 11 | 16 | 15 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | WSW 12 | SSW 11 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 23 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 |
| kJ | 1528 | 1137 | 940 | 243 | 128 | 846 | 1060 | 2829 | 2119 | 1407 | 21 | 1137 | 1475 | 1791 | 2238 | 2717 | 2326 | 2829 | 1847 | 1326 | 2232 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SW 16 | SSW 11 | SW 13 | WSW 19 | WSW 18 | — | — | — | — | SW 22 | SW 20 | SW 20 | S 16 | SW 20 | SW 19 | — | — | S 16 | SW 18 |
| kJ | — | — | 42 | 170 | 215 | 643 | 1399 | — | — | — | — | 73 | 136 | 61 | 21 | 377 | 589 | — | — | 19 | 203 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SW 24 | SW 15 | WSW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 16 | S 15 | SW 20 | — | S 15 | S 14 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 22 | 134 | 54 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 18 | 101 | — | 40 | 34 | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 3 | NNW 3 | SW 14 |
| kJ | — | 1417 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1344 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 7 | 3009 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 4 | 98 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 5 | 18 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 552 | 4 | 0 |
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.
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