Surf Forecasts:
Forster Beach surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 25 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 11s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 25 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 6s period, NE swell with 245 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 6s period with NE 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 Friday (Aug 21) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s is also forecast. 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 1.7m 6s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) 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 1.1m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Tue 25th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Forster Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s talk about the next couple of weeks at Forster Beach. Honestly, it’s a tough start—most of the first week is a dud, with tiny waves and messy wind. You’ll need to wait it out.
Forster Beach (Forster-Beach) is our spot, and the water temp is about average for this time of year, sitting at 66°F. Thursday, 20 August, kicks off with a poor 0.8m (3ft) SE swell, cross-shore wind, and only 147 units of energy. Not much to work with. Thursday arvo gets a bit more size but the wind is onshore and lumpy. Friday morning, 21 August, is glassy but the swell is a weak 0.9m (3ft) from the NE with just 62 units of energy—still poor. Saturday and Sunday are even smaller, with swells around 0.6m (2ft), and while the wind is calm or clean, there’s no power. Monday and Tuesday are more of the same: poor conditions, small swell, and cross-shore breezes. Energy stays under 300 units, which is weak.
You’ve got a long gap of several days with no real recommendations. The first standout doesn’t hit until Tuesday, 1 September. That’s over a week of waiting. On Tuesday morning, the wind is light and cross-off from the NW, conditions are clean, and we’ve got a solid 2.1m (7ft) swell from the east with a 10-second period. Combined energy is a strong 1386 units. This is the real deal—good for experienced surfers only, as the swell gets over 2.5m (8ft) in the afternoon. The direction is east, which works for the beach. This is definitely the best session on offer.
After that, Wednesday, 2 September, still has some size (2-1.7m, or 5-6ft) from the east, but the wind is a strong 30 km/h (19 mph) cross-off, keeping it clean but bumpy. Not ideal. Thursday and Friday, 3 and 4 September, drop off in size, but Thursday morning is clean with a cross-off breeze, and Friday morning, 4 September, looks promising—glassy conditions, a 1.4m (5ft) S swell with 8-second period, and 431 units of energy. The forecast says “expect good surf conditions,” so that’s a solid morning option.
To sum it up: wait until Tuesday, 1 September, for the big east swell—that’s your best bet for experienced surfers. Friday morning, 4 September, is a close second with glassy conditions and a decent southerly swell. The rest of the period is either flat or blown out, so be patient.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 20°C on Fri morning, min 14°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NE on Thu afternoon, calm by Sat night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 21°C on Mon morning, min 15°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SE 8 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | SSW 10 | S 10 | S 8 | S 10 | ENE 7 | S 10 | NE 9 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NE 7 | S 6 | SSE 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
75 | 138 | 106 | 52 | 35 | 40 | 27 | 27 | 17 | 31 | 68 | 69 | 73 | 120 | 80 | 148 | 245 | 176 | 91 | 78 | 135 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | off | cross-on | on | cross | cross | cross-on | off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 7:03AM1.14m | 7:01PM1.58m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 12:39PM0.46m | 1:44AM0.27m | ||||||||
6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | |
— | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | 1 | 1 |
Temp °C | 19 | 18 | 16 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
Feels °C | 15 | 13 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | S 5 | S 10 | E 5 | ENE 6 | S 10 | ENE 6 | S 10 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 8 | SSE 7 |
75 | 29 | 19 | 52 | 35 | 40 | 27 | 27 | 17 | 13 | 68 | 31 | 55 | 88 | 62 | 69 | 130 | 176 | 91 | 59 | 135 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 10 | S 13 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SW 4 | SE 7 | S 9 | SSW 6 | NE 7 | S 17 | S 8 | S 10 | S 16 | NE 5 | SSW 16 | ENE 8 | S 9 | S 15 | S 14 | NE 8 |
8 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 12 | 11 | 22 | 69 | 73 | 43 | 27 | 49 | 64 | 41 | 18 | 16 | 59 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 10 | E 9 | S 11 | SE 7 | S 10 | E 10 | SSW 8 | SSW 10 | E 14 | ENE 8 | S 7 | SSW 16 | S 10 | — | S 10 | S 16 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 |
— | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 31 | 4 | 39 | 27 | 50 | 80 | — | 66 | 43 | 3 | 9 | 10 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | — | — | — | SSW 4 | SW 4 | — | SE 4 | ESE 5 | E 5 | N 3 | ENE 7 | — | NE 9 | NE 6 | SW 3 | S 5 | S 6 | — |
64 | 138 | 106 | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | — | 6 | 37 | 49 | 5 | 120 | — | 148 | 245 | 2 | 58 | 78 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 34 | 260 | 0 | 5 | 20 | 20 | 59 | 195 | 69 | 59 | 35 | 35 | 15 | 27 | 0 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 5 | 195 | 5 |
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.











