Surf Forecasts:
Forster Beach surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 8s period, ESE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 10s period, ESE swell with 358 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 8s period with ESE 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 Tuesday (Aug 18) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be glassy 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 7AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (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 chew the fat on Forster Beach for the next couple weeks.
First few days are rubbish – Monday and Tuesday got rain and cross-onshore junk, swell pushin’ 4ft but short and weak. Not worth wettin’ a suit.
Then Wednesday morning August 19th – magic. Glassy as a lake, 4ft ESE swell with a 10-second period, combined energy 398 – moderate but clean. Offshore NNW breeze, waves lookin’ like glass. That’s your best early call, but it fades fast when the nor’easter kicks up in the arvo.
Rest of the week stays small – Thursday to Sunday, we’re talkin’ 2–3ft dribble, mostly poor wind. Sunday morning goes glassy but only 2ft swell – not enough to move the needle.
From Monday August 24th, a S swell starts nudgin’ in. Mornings glassy with 2–3ft swell, 10–11 seconds – surfable but not special. Energy sits 169–315, weak to moderate.
Friday August 28th arvo is a highlight – 5ft SW swell, 8-second period, combined energy 426. Clean cross-off wind, good shape. That’s a proper session, not huge but fun.
Then Saturday August 29th morning – boom. 8ft SSW swell, 10-second period, combined energy 2079 – strong. Cross-off SW wind at 30 km/h keeps it clean, but that’s expert territory. Big, raw, and the clear standout of the whole run – but it’s 12 days out, so keep tabs.
Sunday 30th through Monday 31st hold at 6–6ft S swell with clean cross-off wind – still big for most. Tuesday September 1st brings another spike: 7ft S swell at 14 seconds, combined energy 2053 – very long-period groundswell, meanin’ better shape and longer lulls. Forster handles it well. Light cross-shore wind keeps it clean but heavy.
Water temp’s 66°F – about normal for this time of year, no big anomaly.
Best on offer: Wednesday morning August 19th for clean, glassy fun, and the standout is Saturday August 29th morning – big, clean and for the brave only.
This is Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu morning, min 13°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 20°C on Fri morning, min 11°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | ||||||||||||||
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 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 10 | E 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | NE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | NNE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 8 | S 19 | S 8 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
173 | 197 | 207 | 178 | 161 | 345 | 319 | 232 | 102 | 82 | 108 | 31 | 37 | 127 | 56 | 46 | 31 | 55 | 62 | 46 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:34PM1.37m | 12:12PM1.39m | 00:15AM1.23m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:22PM0.46m | 5:39AM0.38m | 6:12PM0.55m | 6:12AM0.46m | 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 | |||||||
— | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | |
5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | |
mm | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 |
Feels °C | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 10 | E 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | SE 7 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 8 |
159 | 69 | 207 | 178 | 161 | 345 | 319 | 232 | 102 | 82 | 75 | 31 | 8 | 65 | 56 | 46 | 31 | 55 | 40 | 46 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 11 | S 12 | S 11 | ESE 11 | S 10 | S 10 | E 12 | E 11 | E 10 | SE 7 | SE 7 | S 11 | SE 7 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | ENE 9 | S 7 | S 19 | ESE 5 |
— | 30 | 98 | 85 | 143 | 46 | 29 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 19 | 13 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 15 | 4 | 62 | 15 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 12 | E 9 | ESE 13 | S 11 | E 9 | — | — | N 8 | S 14 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | S 10 | SE 7 | S 9 | S 8 | S 5 | S 9 | ENE 7 |
— | 27 | 6 | 69 | 56 | 7 | — | — | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 30 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | — | — | — | — | NE 4 | NNE 3 | N 3 | NE 4 | NE 6 | — | NE 6 | NNE 6 | — | — | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SSE 5 | — |
173 | 197 | — | — | — | — | 29 | 3 | 5 | 15 | 108 | — | 37 | 127 | — | — | 2 | 4 | 37 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 150 | 222 | 5 | 137 | 0 | 0 | 89 | 35 | 15 | 70 | 0 | 13 | 201 | 0 | 5 | 622 | 59 | 5 | 150 | 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.











