Surf Forecasts:
Little Austi and Main Beach surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 25 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 8s period, NE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 25 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 8s period, NE swell with 350 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 5s 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 Monday (Aug 24) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 5s period. 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 1.8m 8s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.8m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Tue 25th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Tue 25th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Little Austi and Main Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Little Austi and Main Beach. It’s a bit of a mixed bag over the next couple of weeks, with a few windows that are worth paddling out for, but some real quiet patches too.
First up, the start of the period is a bit lean. The first spot that’s even worth a mention is Monday morning, the 24th of August. We’ve got a small 3 ft swell bumping in from the NE, with a short 6-second period. The wind is light and cross-off from the north, so it’s clean enough for a splash, but the energy is weak (66). It’s surfable, but honestly, it’s pretty ordinary.
Tuesday the 25th shows a bit more promise. The morning sees a 4 ft NE swell with a 6-second period, and the wind stays cross-off from the NNW – clean conditions. The combined energy jumps to a moderate 232, which is a step up. Afternoon bumps up to 5 ft from the NE, still clean with a north wind, and a solid 421 in energy. It’s pushing a bit for a beach and reef setup, but still manageable for an intermediate.
Wednesday and Thursday are a write-off. Wednesday the 26th has cross-on winds and rain, with poor surf all day. Thursday the 27th is small and weak, with a glassy 3 ft on the morning, but it’s just not enough.
Friday the 28th morning offers a little 2 ft SSE swell with a long 12-second period – clean with a light north wind. The energy is moderate (172), but the swell is tiny. It’s a long-period groundswell, so it’ll hold up better on the reef sections, but the size is lacking.
Now, Saturday the 29th of August is the standout in the first week. The morning is glassy, zero wind, with a 4 ft SSE swell running at 10 seconds. The energy is a solid 256, and it’ll be clean as a whistle. That’s the session to aim for – light crowds possible, but with that quality, it’s worth the gamble.
After that, it drops off. Sunday the 30th is poor, Monday the 31st is small and weak. Tuesday the 1st of September is glassy but tiny at 2 ft, and Wednesday the 2nd is similar. There’s a real gap of several days here with no real recommendations.
The second week is pretty flat overall. Thursday the 3rd of September has a 2 ft ENE swell with a moderate offshore wind from the NW – clean, but barely enough. Friday the 4th is the same story. The only thing that catches the eye is Saturday the 5th of September. We’ve got a 3 ft SSE swell in the morning with a very long 16-second period, and a 5 ft SSE swell in the afternoon with a 14-second period. The afternoon energy is strong at 839, but the wind is cross-on from the east, so it’ll be a bit lumpy. That long-period groundswell will be better on the reef sections, but it’s a promising call from the long range, so keep an eye on it.
The water temperature is about average for this time of year, no major anomalies.
So, bottom line: Saturday the 29th of August morning is your best bet – clean, glassy, and a decent chest-high swell. Don’t plan on much else until that Saturday the 5th of September window, but that’s a week and a half away and could change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Wed morning. Warm (max 21°C on Mon morning, min 12°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri morning, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 9 | NE 6 | NE 5 | NNE 6 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 9 | SSE 12 | NE 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
8 | 58 | 87 | 286 | 122 | 248 | 241 | 196 | 154 | 80 | 78 | 59 | 90 | 111 | 78 | 240 | 205 | 218 | 133 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross | glassy | glassy | cross | glassy |
High Tide | 5:49AM0.92m | 5:45PM1.38m | 6:31AM0.99m | 6:26PM1.45m | 7:08AM1.06m | 7:04PM1.50m | 7:42AM1.13m | 7:41PM1.53m | 8:16AM1.21m | 8:16PM1.53m | 8:51AM1.27m | 8:52PM1.50m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:58PM0.37m | 11:07AM0.49m | 00:37AM0.30m | 11:56AM0.43m | 1:12AM0.23m | 12:39PM0.37m | 1:44AM0.17m | 1:19PM0.32m | 2:15AM0.13m | 1:59PM0.28m | 2:45AM0.11m | 2:40PM0.25m | 3:16AM0.11m | ||||||
— | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 |
Temp °C | 14 | 21 | 19 | 16 | 20 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 19 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 12 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 16 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | NE 6 | S 10 | NE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 7 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 11 | S 9 | S 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 |
196 | 58 | 94 | 177 | 88 | 173 | 241 | 196 | 154 | 443 | 313 | 187 | 432 | 155 | 388 | 240 | 205 | 218 | 133 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | S 10 | S 18 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 15 | S 11 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 |
8 | 121 | 24 | 68 | 42 | 27 | 14 | 42 | 10 | 80 | 78 | 59 | 90 | 61 | 78 | 42 | 42 | 47 | 53 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 18 | ENE 9 | E 13 | S 18 | NE 9 | S 16 | S 16 | — | — | S 15 | S 15 | S 14 | — | SSE 12 | SSW 9 | S 19 | S 10 | S 16 | NE 4 |
6 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 22 | 20 | 21 | — | — | 18 | 39 | 99 | — | 111 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 5 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 5 | NNE 6 | NE 5 | NNE 6 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NNW 4 | SSW 4 | S 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 4 | NE 4 | NE 8 | NE 4 |
37 | 101 | 87 | 286 | 122 | 248 | 8 | 25 | 167 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | 9 | 102 | 4 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 0 | 104 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 13 | 29 | 5 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 0 |
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.











