
Surf Forecasts:
Little Austi and Main Beach surf forecast from 12 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 17 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 9s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 9s period, SSE swell with 994 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s period with NE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Little Austi and Main Beach this week:
The surf forecast for Little Austi and Main Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 13s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Little Austi and Main Beach in the next 16 days are 2.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 17) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 4.0m 10s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Sun 13th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Thu 17th Sep) | 7ft (2.2m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Thu 17th Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Little Austi and Main Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's cookin' for Little Austi and Main Beach over the next couple of weeks. To be straight up with ya, it's a pretty bleak run. The first ten days are a real struggle, with mostly onshore or messy cross-shore winds and undersized, weak swell. There's a few clean-ish windows, but the wave quality is just ordinary.
The real standout pops up way down the track, on Saturday, September 26th. That morning, we're looking at a jump in swell, about 6 ft from the NE. The wind is set to be light offshore from the NNW, which means it'll be glassy clean. The energy is pumping with a combined swell energy of 469, which is moderate to strong. It'll likely be a bit too much for beginners, but for the intermediate crew, that's the session to circle on the calendar. The only bummer is the crowds are sometimes a factor here, but on a morning like that, it's probably worth the company.
Before that, there's a fleeting moment on Friday, September 18th morning. The wind is dead calm, glassy, with a 3 ft SE swell rolling in. The energy is moderate (131), and the conditions will be clean as a whistle. It's small, but for a quick fix, you could do worse. A few days later, on Tuesday, September 24th afternoon, we get a burst of longer-period SSE swell (10 seconds) and a combined energy of 191. The wind is light cross-off from the NNE, keeping it clean. Still small at 3 ft, but the longer period might give it a bit more shape.
Honestly, aside from that Saturday the 26th morning, there's not much to write home about. A lot of poor surf conditions, onshore breezes, and either flat spells or weak, choppy slop. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing out of the ordinary. For the most part, it's looking more like a kiteboarding kind of setup than a great paddle session.
Alright, hang in there. Bigger things might show on the next outlook.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 25°C on Mon morning, min 9°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun night, fresh winds from the S by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Fri morning, min 8°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Wed morning, calm by Fri morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NE 5 | NE 5 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 14 | S 10 | ENE 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | SSE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SE 10 | ESE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
21 | 68 | 136 | 127 | 69 | 136 | 77 | 54 | 18 | 20 | 0 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 608 | 314 | 419 | 379 | 196 | 92 | 27 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:37PM1.35m | 9:59AM1.44m | 10:18PM1.22m | 10:37AM1.41m | 11:00PM1.09m | 11:17AM1.36m | 11:46PM0.98m | 12:02PM1.30m | 00:43AM0.90m | 12:58PM1.25m | 1:57AM0.85m | 2:06PM1.22m | 3:21AM0.85m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:33PM0.18m | 3:42AM0.20m | 4:18PM0.23m | 4:14AM0.28m | 5:05PM0.29m | 4:47AM0.37m | 5:56PM0.37m | 5:23AM0.46m | 6:56PM0.43m | 6:08AM0.53m | 8:07PM0.47m | 7:08AM0.59m | 9:23PM0.47m | ||||||||
5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | |
— | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:49 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 23 | 20 | 16 | 25 | 25 | 19 | 21 | 18 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 21 | 19 | 16 | 25 | 25 | 18 |
Feels °C | 19 | 16 | 16 | 22 | 22 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 21 | 22 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 10 | NE 6 | NE 6 | S 11 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 14 | — | ENE 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | SSE 9 | S 8 | S 9 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | S 9 | S 9 |
143 | 135 | 136 | 68 | 79 | 136 | 77 | 54 | 16 | 20 | — | 17 | 7 | 7 | 608 | 230 | 320 | 379 | 196 | 109 | 78 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 5 | ENE 13 | S 12 | S 11 | ENE 13 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | ENE 13 | NE 7 | — | — | NE 13 | NE 13 | E 13 | ESE 10 | ESE 11 | S 9 | S 9 | SE 10 | ESE 8 |
21 | 17 | 174 | 119 | 17 | 30 | 27 | 14 | 18 | 2 | — | — | 7 | 7 | 3 | 314 | 419 | 205 | 126 | 92 | 27 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | ENE 13 | ENE 13 | ENE 13 | S 15 | ENE 12 | NE 13 | ENE 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 18 | S 17 | S 16 | S 14 | S 14 | NE 4 |
46 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 5 | 15 | 6 | 17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 24 | 130 | 102 | 64 | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 5 | NE 5 | NNE 6 | NE 7 | NE 6 | — | SSW 4 | S 6 | S 9 | S 9 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | — | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | — |
31 | 68 | 101 | 127 | 69 | — | 8 | 31 | 1678 | 1628 | 3232 | 3077 | 2277 | 1372 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 115 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 50 | 7 | 863 | 661 | 121 | 89 | 121 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Illawarra | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Little Austi and Main Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Little Austi and Main Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Little Austi and Main Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Little Austi and Main 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 (Little Austi and Main 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 Little Austi and Main 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 Illawarra? If you are looking for accommodation near Little Austi and Main Beach, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Illawarra, consider staying in Wollongong which is 15 km (9 miles) away. Other places in and around Illawarra where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Port Kembla which is 22 km (14 miles) away, Engadine, Caringbah and Cronulla.










