Surf Forecasts:
Friendly Beaches surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 30 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 15s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 30 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 15s period, S swell with 674 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 29 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 14s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Friendly Beaches this week:
The surf forecast for Friendly Beaches over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 10s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Friendly Beaches in the next 16 days are 1.2m 15s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 05) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Friendly Beaches over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll level with you straight up – the next couple of weeks are all about Friendly Beaches. That’s the only break that’s come up, so we’re working with what we’ve got. The water’s sitting at 57°F, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, so that’s a small win.
The surf window kicks off on Saturday the 29th of August with a very small start. Saturday morning is tiny with 1ft of S swell at 14 seconds. The combined energy is weak (159), so it’s barely a ripple. The wind is light offshore from the W though, making it clean, but you’ll be fighting for scraps. Saturday afternoon picks up slightly to 2ft, cross-off breeze from the WSW, and the energy bumps to moderate (200). It’s clean, but still pretty ordinary.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Sunday the 30th of August is the real standout of the first week. Sunday morning brings a solid 4ft of S groundswell with a very long period of 15 seconds. The combined energy is solidly moderate (690), and you’ve got a gentle offshore from the WSW. This is clean, has some push, and that long period will draw nice lines down the beach. If you can only paddle out one session, make it this one. Sunday afternoon drops back a little to 3ft, but it goes glassy with an ENE breeze at just 3 mph – an absolute dream for a late arvo session. That’s a true gem.
Monday the 31st of August is okay. Morning has 4ft at 11 seconds with a cross-off breeze, clean enough. But the afternoon turns to mush – cross-onshore from the NE and choppy. Give that a miss.
From Tuesday the 1st of September through to the end of the first week, it’s all downhill. The swell drops off, the periods get shorter, and the wind stays cross-off but the energy fades. Tuesday morning is 3ft and clean, but only 10 seconds and weak energy (216). It’s surfable but forgettable. Wednesday the 2nd of September has a tiny 1.0ft pulse of long-period S swell, but the energy is barely there (74) – not worth the walk.
The second week looks pretty grim until we hit Wednesday the 9th of September. That afternoon things turn around: 3ft of S swell at a very long 16 seconds, offshore from the WNW, and the energy jumps to moderate (387). Clean and promising. Then Thursday the 10th of September afternoon brings 4ft of S swell at 9 seconds with a gentle offshore from the WNW and moderate energy (476). Good conditions again.
The real second week highlight is Saturday the 12th of September morning. 7ft of SSE swell, but it’s only 6 seconds – that’s short period and messy. The offshore breeze from the WNW keeps it clean, but the energy is strong (506). This is getting into expert territory, though – 7ft is too big for beginners, and that short period will make it lumpy. It’s one for experienced surfers only, but the offshore wind is a big positive.
After that, Sunday the 13th of September drops back to 2ft and the window closes.
So the bottom line: Sunday the 30th of August morning is your best bet of the whole outlook – clean, solid 4ft, long period, and that gentle offshore. The second week is weaker all round, with the only moment of real size being Saturday the 12th of September morning, but that’s short period and strictly for experts.
Friendly Beaches is inconsistent as a spot, so this kind of patchy forecast is normal. It’s not looking amazing, but there are a couple of sessions worth suiting up for. The rest of the time, you’re better off cleaning your wetsuit.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sat afternoon, min 9°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Thu morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue morning, min 7°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 14 | S 14 | S 16 | S 15 | S 9 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | N 6 | N 6 | N 6 | S 15 | S 15 | N 7 | S 14 | S 8 | S 9 | N 6 | N 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
62 | 97 | 176 | 674 | 157 | 344 | 267 | 305 | 214 | 125 | 120 | 85 | 45 | 42 | 69 | 58 | 37 | 105 | 56 | 169 | 312 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | off | off | glassy | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:34PM1.15m | 9:36AM1.03m | 9:23PM1.10m | 10:11AM1.09m | 10:18PM1.03m | 10:49AM1.13m | 11:18PM0.96m | 11:32AM1.17m | 00:27AM0.90m | 12:20PM1.20m | 1:42AM0.86m | 1:14PM1.23m | 2:59AM0.85m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:31PM0.49m | 3:14AM0.22m | 3:23PM0.44m | 3:49AM0.27m | 4:18PM0.39m | 4:26AM0.34m | 5:17PM0.34m | 5:06AM0.41m | 6:19PM0.29m | 5:51AM0.48m | 7:24PM0.24m | 6:44AM0.54m | 8:32PM0.19m | ||||||||
6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | |
— | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 4 |
Temp °C | 19 | 20 | 13 | 19 | 18 | 13 | 18 | 14 | 12 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 10 | 16 | 15 | 15 |
Feels °C | 15 | 17 | 11 | 18 | 16 | 11 | 15 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 6 | 11 | 11 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 8 | S 15 | S 9 | N 5 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | N 6 | N 6 | S 15 | N 7 | SSW 7 | S 8 | S 9 | S 9 | S 15 |
45 | 68 | 81 | 674 | 157 | 4 | 267 | 305 | 214 | 125 | 94 | 42 | 45 | 18 | 69 | 58 | 108 | 105 | 56 | 39 | 116 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 10 | S 14 | S 16 | NE 9 | S 14 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | NE 9 | S 16 | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 | SSE 9 | S 15 | SSE 12 | S 15 | N 7 | S 14 | S 15 | S 15 | SSW 9 |
52 | 97 | 176 | 13 | 138 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 75 | 42 | 18 | 16 | 28 | 42 | 26 | 112 | 15 | 37 | 42 | 74 | 16 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 14 | ESE 9 | NE 9 | SE 8 | NE 9 | E 13 | — | N 15 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | NE 9 | SSE 12 | S 15 | SSE 12 | SSW 7 | SSE 12 | S 14 | N 6 | NE 11 | E 11 | — |
62 | 35 | 20 | 3 | 13 | 3 | — | 4 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 14 | 40 | 14 | 5 | 29 | 37 | 3 | 4 | 2 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 4 | — | W 4 | — | N 3 | S 11 | SW 3 | — | NNE 4 | N 6 | N 6 | N 6 | SW 4 | SSW 5 | N 5 | SW 4 | — | — | N 5 | N 6 | N 7 |
1 | — | 13 | — | 5 | 344 | 3 | — | 9 | 40 | 120 | 85 | 2 | 14 | 64 | 34 | — | — | 28 | 169 | 312 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 16 | 34 | 479 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 69 | 20 | 110 | 115 | 93 | 34 | 93 | 93 | 114 | 114 | 93 | 110 | 110 | 110 |
Best forecast wave conditions in East Coast of Tasmania | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Friendly Beaches Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Friendly Beaches provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Friendly Beaches can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Friendly Beaches 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 (Friendly Beaches) 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 Friendly Beaches 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.
Friendly Beaches is 114 km (71 miles) from Launceston. If you plan a holiday in East Coast of Tasmania, look for hotels and other accommodation in Launceston. Launceston has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











