Surf Forecasts:
Forster Beach surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 8s period, ESE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 17 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 12s period, S swell with 393 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 1.2m 12s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 10AM.
| 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 | 1AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Forster Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s talk about what’s comin’ up for Forster Beach over the next couple of weeks. Gotta be honest—it ain’t a classic stretch. Forster Beach is a beginner-friendly spot, fairly exposed to swell, but most of this 16-day run is ordinary with only a few windows worth paddlin’ out. The water temp’s sittin’ at 66°F right now, which is about average for this time of year.
First real chance of anythin’ decent shows on Wednesday the 19th of August in the morning. There’s a clean little 3ft swell from the ESE, period around 10 seconds, and the wind’s off from the WNW at just 3 mph. That’s proper clean. Combined wave energy is moderate at 262. Surfable but ordinary—but if you’re itchin’, that’s your best look for the early part.
Then we hit a long gap. From Wednesday afternoon through to Saturday the 22nd, it’s all cross-on or cross-off winds, choppy or lumpy, with swells mostly under 4ft and short periods. Not worth your time. There’s a brief moment Friday the 21st of August in the morning when it goes glassy—3ft from the ENE, period only 6 seconds, weak energy at 81. It’s surfable but very ordinary. Crowds can pop up here, but on a day like that you might have it quiet.
The next standout rolls in Monday the 24th of August in the morning. A long-period S swell comes in at 2ft but with a period of 19 seconds—that’s proper groundswell. Combined energy’s moderate at 281, and the wind’s cross-off from the NW at 6 mph, keepin’ it clean. This is the kind of swell that’ll offer some fun lines, especially for a beginner-friendly spot. Just note that long-period swell can break a bit fast on a beach setup, but it’s still your best session of the first week.
After that, the second week gets more interestin’ but with strong winds. Tuesday the 25th of August morning sees a 5ft S swell, period 9 seconds, and cross-off WSW wind at 16 mph—clean but marginal. The afternoon bumps up to 5ft from the S, period 12 seconds, with a 19 mph cross-off—clean but fresh. Combined energy goes strong at 752. That’s over 5ft, so only for those with some experience.
Wednesday the 26th of August is the real highlight. Morning has a 5ft S swell, period 12 seconds, with a strong offshore wind from the W at 19 mph. Combined energy is strong at 742. The afternoon holds similar—5ft S swell, 11 seconds, offshore at 22 mph. That’s fresh offshore and clean. This is your pick of the fortnight. Swell direction matches the spot’s optimum from the S, and offshore wind makes for smooth faces. It’s over 5ft, so more suited to intermediate and above. Crowds are possible, but the offshore wind might keep ’em down.
Then it all fades. From Thursday the 27th onward, swells drop under 3ft, periods get short or mixed, and it’s mostly cross-off winds keepin’ it clean but small. Energy drops into the double digits by the 30th. Not worth the drive.
So, bottom line: If you can, hit Wednesday the 26th of August in the morning—clean, offshore, decent size, proper energy. Otherwise, Monday the 24th of August in the morning for the long-period glass. The rest is a write-off.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun afternoon, min 14°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sat morning, min 14°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NE on Thu afternoon, calm by Fri afternoon). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 17 | S 12 | S 11 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | E 7 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 7 | ENE 7 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
151 | 393 | 185 | 204 | 218 | 193 | 187 | 161 | 118 | 290 | 232 | 117 | 103 | 92 | 71 | 51 | 40 | 40 | 44 | 30 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | off | off | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | cross |
High Tide | 10:55PM1.51m | 11:30AM1.42m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:37PM0.37m | 5:06AM0.30m | 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 | |||||||
— | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | |
5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | |
mm | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 20 | 18 | 16 |
Feels °C | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 18 | 13 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 7 | S 12 | ESE 7 | S 10 | S 8 | S 12 | S 11 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | E 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 7 | ENE 7 |
138 | 393 | 178 | 159 | 69 | 98 | 85 | 161 | 99 | 290 | 232 | 117 | 31 | 14 | 71 | 51 | 40 | 40 | 44 | 30 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 17 | SE 7 | S 11 | — | S 12 | E 9 | ESE 13 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | S 9 | E 12 | E 11 | E 10 | E 9 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 7 | S 10 | S 9 | NE 9 |
151 | 12 | 185 | — | 27 | 6 | 69 | 111 | 118 | 23 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 14 | 19 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | SSE 18 | S 16 | — | SE 11 | ESE 15 | ENE 10 | S 11 | S 10 | — | E 12 | S 15 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSW 8 |
51 | 102 | 47 | — | 32 | 21 | 9 | 56 | 45 | — | 11 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 13 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | — | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | — | — | — | NNE 4 | N 3 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | — | WSW 3 | — | — | — | — |
73 | 132 | — | 204 | 218 | 193 | 187 | — | — | — | 11 | 6 | 103 | 92 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 5 | 69 | 5 | 59 | 240 | 107 | 79 | 0 | 0 | 69 | 0 | 35 | 329 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 59 | 59 | 69 | 59 |
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.











