Surf Forecasts:
Forster Beach surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 25 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 7s period, NE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 10s period, ESE swell with 328 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 7s period with E swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Forster Beach this week:
The surf forecast for Forster Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Forster Beach in the next 16 days are 1.3m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Tue 25th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Forster Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s happening at Forster Beach for the next couple of weeks. The short story? It’s a slow grind to start, but there are two clear days where this place will turn it on, and you won't want to miss them.
The first week is pretty much a write-off. We’ve got small surf, weak energy, and a lot of cross-shore and onshore winds chopping everything up. The combined energy is mostly weak to moderate, ranging from about 205 to 436 (moderate) for some sessions, but the waves are just too small and messy. There’s a brief clean window on the morning of Friday the 21st with a light offshore breeze and a small 0.9m easterly swell, but it’s marginal at best. Same story on the morning of Sunday the 23rd – a clean 0.5m southerly groundswell, but you’ll be hunting for anything rideable. This poor stretch runs right through the 26th. Energy stays low, wind is average, and the swell directions are all over the shop. It’s a proper dry spell.
Then comes Thursday the 27th of August. That morning, a big Southerly groundswell hits at 3.5m with an 11-second period from the SSW. The wind is a strong offshore at 25 km/h and conditions are clean, but the combined energy is a massive 5388 – that’s strong to very strong. This is way too much for Forster Beach. It’s a beach break, and with that kind of power, it’ll be a chaotic closeout. Unless you’re a pro looking for a battle, stay on the sand. The afternoon is still too big at 3.0m, and the cross-shore wind will make it uglier.
Forget Thursday. The real gem is Monday the 31st of August. The morning is your window. We’ve got a 1.9m SSE groundswell with a 9-second period, light offshore winds from the SSW, and a combined energy of 726 (moderate). This is clean, powerful, and full of potential. The swell direction is from the SSE, right in line with the break’s optimum, so the waves should be well-formed and holding up. This is the best session on offer. The afternoon is still okay, but a cross-shore breeze will make it a bit bumpy.
And then Tuesday the 1st of September serves up another cracker. The morning is glassy – absolutely no wind – with a 1.8m SE groundswell at a 12-second period. Combined energy is 1015 (strong). That long period and clean conditions will produce some proper, meaty surf. Just keep in mind, a long-period swell at a beach break can sometimes make the waves break a bit too straight, but the power and shape should still be excellent. The afternoon sees a light cross-onshore breeze, so get out there early.
After that, the swell backs off through the 2nd and 3rd. It’s not terrible, but nothing special. Water temp is around 19°, which is pretty normal for the season, so you’ll still want a good suit.
So here’s the plan: be patient through the flat spell, steer clear of the giant swell on the 27th, and then make the most of the mornings on the 31st of August and the 1st of September. Those are the two days it’ll all come together.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Fri morning, min 14°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NE on Thu afternoon, calm by Fri afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Mon morning, min 14°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 9 | E 7 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | S 9 | S 9 | S 13 | S 10 | NE 5 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
133 | 328 | 188 | 127 | 133 | 114 | 52 | 35 | 40 | 27 | 16 | 18 | 41 | 59 | 55 | 73 | 92 | 146 | 169 | 240 | 129 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | on | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 12:57PM1.37m | 1:00AM1.11m | 1:48PM1.36m | 1:53AM1.02m | 2:43PM1.36m | 2:58AM0.96m | 3:42PM1.38m | 4:10AM0.96m | 4:41PM1.42m | 5:22AM1.00m | 5:34PM1.48m | 6:19AM1.07m | 6:20PM1.53m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:11PM0.64m | 6:51AM0.53m | 8:25PM0.69m | 7:41AM0.59m | 9:55PM0.68m | 8:46AM0.62m | 11:11PM0.61m | 9:57AM0.62m | 00:01AM0.52m | 11:01AM0.58m | 00:39AM0.43m | 11:54AM0.52m | 1:12AM0.34m | ||||||||
6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | |
— | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 4 |
Temp °C | 16 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 24 | 17 | 17 |
Feels °C | 15 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 23 | 18 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 7 | S 10 | E 9 | E 7 | SE 8 | SE 7 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 10 | S 9 | S 10 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 8 |
93 | 29 | 188 | 127 | 29 | 14 | 52 | 35 | 40 | 27 | 16 | 18 | 41 | 59 | 52 | 73 | 44 | 53 | 169 | 165 | 129 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 10 | S 9 | S 8 | E 11 | E 10 | E 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SW 4 | S 9 | SSW 9 | NE 6 | NE 9 | ENE 8 | E 5 | S 16 | S 15 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 |
133 | 27 | 18 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 15 | 11 | 38 | 45 | 11 | 20 | 40 | 49 | 31 | 17 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | — | E 12 | — | — | S 13 | E 9 | S 11 | S 10 | SE 7 | — | SSW 5 | NE 9 | S 17 | S 13 | ENE 7 | SSW 16 | — | SSW 14 | — | S 14 |
30 | — | 11 | — | — | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | 19 | 50 | 55 | 36 | 50 | — | 37 | — | 15 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ESE 10 | NE 4 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | — | — | SW 4 | — | SSW 4 | — | — | — | NE 3 | NNE 4 | NE 5 | NE 6 | — | NE 7 | WSW 3 |
— | 328 | 18 | 69 | 133 | 114 | — | — | 6 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 3 | 15 | 92 | 146 | — | 240 | 3 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 15 | 195 | 35 | 34 | 107 | 27 | 17 | 210 | 69 | 69 | 137 | 59 | 0 | 137 | 0 | 15 | 35 | 34 | 35 | 5 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Port Macquarie | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Forster Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Forster Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Forster Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Forster 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 (Forster 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 Forster 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 Port Macquarie? If you are looking for accommodation near Forster Beach, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Port Macquarie, consider staying in Forster which is 5 km (3 miles) away. Other places in and around Port Macquarie where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Taree which is 34 km (21 miles) away, Port Stephens, Port Macquarie and North Shore.











