Forster Beach (Nambucca) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for this stretch of coast.

The next fortnight or so is a slow burner. There’s a decent pulse of energy on the cards, but you’ll be waiting a full week before anything truly gets going. Forster Beach (Nambucca) is the only spot we’ve got to talk about, and it’s a beginner-friendly, exposed beach break that’s fairly consistent when there’s swell around.

Right now, the water temp is sitting at 20°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year. Not warm, not cold – just your standard winter bath.

The first real action shows up on Sunday the 2nd of August. Glassy conditions early with a 5ft SSE swell and a period of 11 seconds – that’s a nice groundswell push with moderate energy (863). The wind is dead calm in the morning, so the surface should be clean as a whistle. Afternoon winds swing onshore, so make the most of the morning session. Monday the 3rd is similar: glass again in the morning with 5ft SE swell, but again the afternoon gets blown out by a moderate cross-onshore breeze.

The middle of the week drops right off. Tuesday through to Thursday brings small, weak swell – under 3ft, with short periods and low energy (down around 74 to 135). Not worth paddling for. Friday the 7th offers a glimmer: 4ft S swell with glassy conditions and moderate energy (354). It’s surfable, but nothing to write home about.

Then comes the real standout. Monday the 11th of August is your best bet. The morning brings a solid 5ft S groundswell, period of 12 seconds, strong energy (675), and glassy conditions with a slight air. The water’s clean, the swell has push, and Forster Beach should have some proper waves for the first time in a week. After that, the swell fades back to average for the next few days.

There’s a big, big swell on the radar for Saturday the 15th – 13ft from the south with a very long 14-second period, and combined energy is off the charts (10423). But honestly, that is way too much for this break. It’s only for experts, and even then, a beach break with that much juice will be a washing machine. Not recommended for normal paddle surfing. However, Sunday the 16th of August is looking ripper for experienced surfers: 8ft SSE groundswell, 12-second period, strong energy (1787), and clean cross-off winds in the morning. That’s proper, hefty surf with shape.

So to sum it up: the first week is mostly small and frustrating, but if you’re patient, Monday 11th offers the best clean, glassy mid-range swell for the average surfer, and Sunday 16th is a great option for the crew who want a bigger, more challenging wave. Crowds are possible at Forster Beach, so get in early.

Rusty.

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