
Surf Forecasts:
Forster Beach surf forecast from 23 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 4PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 10s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 14s period, S swell with 2,372 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 23 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 9s period with ENE 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 (Jul 23) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 4s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Forster Beach in the next 16 days are 2.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Friday (Jul 24) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 4PM (Fri 24th Jul) | 7ft (2.2m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Forster Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, and I’ve got the outlook for your local stretch. Let’s get into it.
Overall, the pattern kicks off with some small, clean waves that are fun for a learner, but the real action builds through the end of the week and into the weekend. The standout period is Friday afternoon through Sunday, when a solid south swell arrives with good winds. The best bet on offer is Forster Beach on Saturday afternoon with glassy conditions and a clean 2ft south swell.
Forster Beach is the only break in the mix, and it’s a fairly consistent, beginner-friendly spot with a fair exposure to swell. The water temperature is 67°F, which is about average for this time of year.
The first session worth paddling out for is Thursday morning, 23 July. It’s small, 3ft from the ENE with a 9-second period, and the wind is light offshore from the WNW. The combined energy is moderate (157). It’s clean, but the waves are nothing special—good for a longboard or a learner.
Thursday afternoon stays small with the same 3ft ENE swell, but the wind swings to a cross-offshore 15 km/h from the WSW. The energy is a bit weaker (124). Still surfable, but ordinary.
Friday morning, 24 July, sees a big jump. A 7ft SSW swell rolls in with a 10-second period. The wind is cross-off from the SW at 20 km/h. The energy is strong (1544). The forecast says it’s marginal, but for experienced surfers, this is where it starts to get interesting. Friday afternoon is even better: 7ft from the south, 10-second period, cross-off SSW wind at 15 km/h, and the energy is very strong (1884). The wave quality is excellent for experienced surfers. This is a solid option for the crew who can handle some size.
Saturday morning, 25 July, is still pumping with 7ft south swell and a longer 12-second period. The wind is cross-off from the WNW at 10 km/h, keeping things clean. The energy is strong (1257). Expect very good surf. But the real standout is Saturday afternoon: the swell drops to 6ft from the south, 11-second period, and the wind goes glassy from the SSE at just 5 km/h. The energy is moderate (692), but the conditions are as good as it gets. The waves will be clean, lined up, and fun for a wide range of surfers. This is the pick of the forecast.
Sunday morning, 26 July, holds the 6ft south swell with a 12-second period and offshore WSW wind at 10 km/h. Energy is strong (921). Another very good session. Sunday afternoon sees the same 7ft south swell but the wind comes onshore from the south at 15 km/h, creating some cross-chop. The energy is still strong (975), but the quality drops.
From Monday 27 July, things wind down. The morning has a glassy 4ft south swell with light wind, giving good clean waves, but the energy is moderate (320). By Monday afternoon, the wind turns onshore and the surf goes poor. Tuesday is small and glassy in the morning, but the swell is only 3ft. The rest of the week is dominated by onshore winds and small, messy waves. Wednesday 29 July has a brief 1ft, 14-second period groundswell, but with strong cross winds, it’s not worth it.
There’s a spike in size on Thursday 30 July with a 7ft south swell, but the wind is howling at 25-30 km/h with rain, making it a mess. This is more of a kite-surfing day than a paddle session. The same goes for the first few days of August, with onshore winds and rain showers ruining the quality. By 2 August, the swell drops to 3ft and the conditions are ordinary.
The long-range part of the forecast (first week of August) offers no real standouts. The wind is consistently onshore or cross-onshore, and the swell is either small or blown out. There’s a 7ft SSE pulse on 4 August, but it’s accompanied by onshore rain showers and a short period. It’s not worth getting excited about.
So, the window is clear: get out Friday afternoon if you’re experienced, and don’t miss Saturday afternoon for the best all-round conditions. After that, it’s a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu morning, min 8°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun morning, min 13°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | |||||||||||||||
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 8 | SSW 10 | S 10 | S 14 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 15 | S 14 | S 14 | S 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
143 | 113 | 62 | 863 | 1020 | 2372 | 1225 | 673 | 482 | 915 | 969 | 459 | 312 | 244 | 260 | 117 | 74 | 69 | 66 | 35 | 887 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | glassy | off | off | cross | off | glassy | on | cross-off | glassy | on | off | cross-off | cross | cross |
High Tide | 3:26PM1.38m | 3:25AM1.04m | 4:21PM1.42m | 4:27AM1.01m | 5:15PM1.47m | 5:33AM1.01m | 6:05PM1.53m | 6:34AM1.04m | 6:49PM1.59m | 7:25AM1.09m | 7:31PM1.63m | 8:09AM1.14m | 8:09PM1.66m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:21PM0.68m | 9:33AM0.55m | 11:31PM0.63m | 10:28AM0.54m | 00:23AM0.55m | 11:21AM0.52m | 1:05AM0.46m | 12:10PM0.48m | 1:43AM0.38m | 12:55PM0.45m | 2:17AM0.31m | 1:37PM0.41m | 2:51AM0.26m | ||||||||
6:45 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | |
— | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:09 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | 2 |
Temp °C | 19 | 19 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 14 |
Feels °C | 16 | 15 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 11 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 10 | 9 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | S 10 | S 10 | S 14 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | NNE 4 | SSW 6 | S 14 | S 19 |
143 | 113 | 62 | 640 | 824 | 2372 | 1225 | 673 | 482 | 915 | 969 | 459 | 312 | 244 | 260 | 117 | 74 | 13 | 21 | 35 | 28 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 5 | S 10 | ESE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | NE 7 | NE 8 | NE 8 | S 14 | S 8 | S 14 | NNE 5 | E 13 |
6 | 8 | 6 | 39 | 38 | 25 | 17 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 15 | 34 | 66 | 2 | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | SE 8 | S 15 | SE 7 | SE 7 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | — | — | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 11 | SE 14 | SE 15 | S 15 | NE 5 | E 8 | E 14 |
8 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 15 | 6 | 1 | — | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 69 | 6 | 1 | 4 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 10 | S 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 6 | NE 3 | — | SW 5 | SSW 4 | S 8 |
12 | 15 | 103 | 863 | 1020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 6 | — | 18 | 32 | 887 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 5 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 69 | 0 | 13 | 362 | 116 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Port Macquarie | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










