Forster Beach (Nambucca) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s get real—this stretch is going to make you work for it. The first week is small, choppy, and frustrating. The second week brings a serious slab of energy, but it’s going to blow out the main break until the very end.

The only spot on the menu is Forster Beach (Nambucca). It’s a beginner-friendly beach break that’s fairly consistent, but that’s about the only good news for a while.

Tuesday morning (Aug 4) kicks off with a tiny 2ft SSE swell at 8 seconds, glassy out of the north. It’s surfable but very ordinary—weak energy of 74. The afternoon turns to mush with a 20 km/h NE cross-on breeze.

Wednesday morning (Aug 5) is more of the same: 2ft of east swell, glassy, but still weak at 72. The afternoon gets onshore and poor. Thursday (Aug 6) morning has a longer 12-second period but the swell drops to 1ft. Light cross-offshore wind keeps it clean, but there’s just no power.

Friday (Aug 7) morning is the first glimmer. Swell rises to 2.3ft from the south at 10 seconds, with a light cross-offshore breeze. The energy is moderate now at 148. Still small, but the shape is better. The afternoon gets chopped again.

Saturday (Aug 8) is similar: clean morning with a 1.6ft south swell. Sunday (Aug 9) sees the swell push to 3.3ft from the east, but the wind is cross-on all day, making it poor.

Monday (Aug 10) morning is worth a paddle. The WSW offshore wind is light, and there’s a clean 3.3ft ENE swell at 9 seconds. Energy is moderate at 159. It’s still small, but it’s the cleanest, most rideable option so far.

Tuesday (Aug 11) morning is a letdown. Swell bumps to 3.9ft from the south, but the period drops to 8 seconds, and there’s a light cross-shore wind. Marginal at best. Wednesday (Aug 12) brings glassy conditions again with a 2.3ft ENE swell, but it’s weak. Thursday (Aug 13) is a write-off with 30-35 km/h SSW cross-offshore winds and tiny waves.

Then the ocean detonates. Friday (Aug 14) morning, the swell jumps to a massive 11.5ft from the south at 12 seconds. The energy is very strong at 4772. The wind and tide are favorable, and it’s clean—but this is way too big for this break. Unless you’re on a massive gun and have nerves of steel, you’re not surfing Forster Beach on this. The afternoon drops to 8.2ft, still too much.

Saturday (Aug 15) is more of the same: 10ft to 11.5ft of south swell with rain. Too big. Sunday (Aug 16) keeps the 11.5ft plus south swell pumping. Still too big. Monday (Aug 17) morning is glassy with a 10ft SSE swell, but again, way over the limit. This setup is far more interesting for kite surfers than paddle surfers.

Finally, Tuesday (Aug 18) morning is the standout. The swell eases to that magic 8.2ft mark from the SSE at 10 seconds. The wind is light cross-offshore, and the energy is strong at 2511. This is the one window where Forster Beach will hold some proper shape and size. It’s still big and powerful, so it’s for experienced surfers only, but for those who charge, this is the session to circle. Wednesday (Aug 19) morning drops to 5.9ft from the SE, but the wind picks up and it becomes more marginal.

So here’s the deal: the first week is small and junky. The middle of the second week is way too big. Tuesday morning, the 18th, is your one true standout—clean, powerful, and solid. That’s the one.

Catch you in the water.

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