Surf Forecasts:
Friendly Beaches surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 7s period, N swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 8s period, N swell with 463 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 11s 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 Monday (Aug 17) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Friendly Beaches in the next 16 days are 2.0m 8s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Friendly Beaches over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s size up what’s on the menu for Friendly Beaches. Right now, it’s flat and lifeless. Tuesday the 17th has a 2ft southerly swell with a bit of waisted energy, but the wind is cross-on and messy. The water’s around 57°, which is a touch warmer than usual for Tasmania this time of year.
The next stretch is grim. Wednesday the 18th has a tiny 0.7ft southerly with a long 15s period but the wind ruins it. Thursday the 19th bumps up to 6ft from the north-northeast, but it’s short-period junk and choppy. Friday the 20th afternoon shows a glimmer: 5ft with clean cross-off winds, but it’s still average.
Saturday the 21st and Sunday the 22nd are tiny—1ft to 2ft with offshore breezes—clean but barely ridable. Monday the 23rd has 2ft with a very long 16s period from the south and energy around moderate, but it’s still ordinary for the persistent.
Now, Tuesday the 24th steps up: 3ft southerly with a 13s period, offshore wind, clean. Good morning for a paddle. Wednesday the 25th rises to 4ft with a 14s swell from the south and combined energy of 673—moderate—and clean cross-off conditions.
The bonafide stand-out is Saturday the 29th of August. That morning is a beast. You’re looking at 8ft of north-northeast groundswell—strong, with combined energy of 1241—and glassy flat calm. That’s expert territory. It’s too big for beginners. The break is exposed to easterly swell, so it’ll barrel, but for this beach setup it could be unruly. Crowds are possible, so get there early. By afternoon, the wind switches to cross-onshore and it gets sloppy.
Friday the 28th has a clean 5ft morning with a combined energy of 343, worth a look, but the prize is Saturday morning. After that, Sunday the 30th onward fades into small, choppy junk. So circle those dates: Tuesday the 24th for smaller clean waves, and Saturday the 29th for the heavy crew. Keep an eye on the forecasts, but for now, the best scores are at the end of the month.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed morning, min 11°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu afternoon, min 7°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 15 | NNE 4 | NNE 6 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | N 8 | NNE 7 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NE 8 | S 17 | S 15 | S 15 | S 15 | S 16 | S 16 | S 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 82 | 73 | 45 | 17 | 41 | 225 | 344 | 462 | 379 | 463 | 280 | 120 | 23 | 31 | 23 | 161 | 153 | 109 | 176 | 246 | 148 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:41AM1.11m | 11:53PM0.92m | 12:20PM1.12m | 00:56AM0.84m | 1:01PM1.12m | 2:05AM0.79m | 1:43PM1.11m | 3:16AM0.76m | 2:29PM1.11m | 4:21AM0.76m | 3:18PM1.12m | 5:16AM0.78m | 4:06PM1.14m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:02PM0.41m | 5:46AM0.41m | 7:04PM0.40m | 6:23AM0.49m | 8:04PM0.38m | 7:02AM0.56m | 9:03PM0.36m | 7:47AM0.60m | 9:57PM0.33m | 8:39AM0.63m | 10:48PM0.31m | 9:33AM0.63m | 11:33PM0.27m | ||||||||
 | |  |  |  |  | |  | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — |
 | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 11 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 15 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | 9 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 8 | E 12 | E 11 | E 10 | S 15 | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NE 8 | NE 7 | S 15 | S 15 | SSW 8 | SSW 9 | S 10 | S 9 |
| kJ | 82 | 73 | 45 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 345 | 280 | 120 | 23 | 31 | 14 | 161 | 153 | 83 | 138 | 141 | 142 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 11 | S 16 | S 15 | S 15 | S 15 | S 8 | S 15 | S 16 | E 9 | S 10 | S 10 | S 15 | ENE 8 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | NE 7 | N 6 | S 15 | S 16 | S 16 | N 6 |
| kJ | 11 | 47 | 40 | 17 | 18 | 5 | 17 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 11 | 109 | 176 | 246 | 21 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | ENE 10 | NE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | S 15 | SE 14 | SE 14 | SE 13 | S 15 | S 16 | E 12 | N 5 | S 15 | S 17 | NE 7 | SSW 8 | SSW 10 | NE 7 | — | S 14 |
| kJ | 20 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 18 | 23 | 2 | 21 | 30 | 2 | — | 148 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NNE 2 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | NNE 6 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | N 8 | — | W 4 | SW 6 | — | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | WSW 3 | W 3 | W 4 | N 6 | NNW 6 |
| kJ | — | — | 1 | 11 | 41 | 225 | 344 | 462 | 379 | 463 | — | 12 | 31 | — | 23 | 41 | 3 | 5 | 20 | 3 | 45 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 34 | 110 | 34 | 93 | 110 | 34 | 93 | 110 | 110 | 110 | 34 | 93 | 93 | 93 | 432 | 34 | 34 | 20 | 20 | 93 | 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.
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