Surf Forecasts:
Little Austi and Main Beach surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period, NE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period, NE swell with 152 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 6s is also forecast. 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 1.4m 6s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Little Austi and Main Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, let’s break down what’s cooking for the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, the water’s sitting at a pretty standard 64°, right on the money for this time of year, so no surprises there. The problem is, for the next week and a half, we’re looking at a real flat spell. From Thursday the 20th of August right through to Sunday the 30th of August, the surf is tiny and pretty gutless. The swell energy is weak, mostly under 100 (91) and often dipping into the single digits. The wind is mostly cross-off or glassy, but with waves barely scraping 3 ft and a short, weak period of 6 seconds, there’s just no push. A few mornings like Monday the 24th of August have glassy conditions, but the waves are too small to get excited about. It’s a long, quiet run.
But then, hold onto your board. The end of the month and start of September looks like a total game-changer.
The standout session is Monday the 31st of August. Little Austi and Main Beach (a beach and reef set-up) is going to fire. The morning brings a solid 8 ft swell from the ENE, with a moderate wave energy of 861, and a light offshore breeze from the NNW. That’s clean, lined-up surf, and the guidance says it’s the best on offer. The afternoon gets bigger, up to 12 ft, but the wind swings cross-off and the energy jumps to 2,814, which is serious power. That afternoon is for experts only.
Tuesday the 1st of September keeps the party going. Another 12 ft swell from the ENE, with a period of 10 seconds and energy over 2,300. The morning wind is cross-off from the west, keeping it clean. This is premium, heavy groundswell for experienced surfers.
After that, the swell slowly drops through the rest of the first week of September, with the wind turning more cross-on, making it choppier. Thursday the 3rd of September sees waves around 5 ft, but the wind is messy. By Friday the 4th of September, the afternoon glass off brings a 5 ft SSE swell and good shape, a nice little finisher to the run.
So, bottom line: the first week and a half is a write-off. The real action is from Sunday the 30th of August into Tuesday the 1st of September. That Monday morning, the 31st, with the 8 ft ENE swell and offshore breeze, is your window. It’s a long-range call, so keep an eye on it, but it’s looking like a beauty.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Thu morning, min 11°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 38mm), heaviest during Tue morning. Warm (max 23°C on Mon afternoon, min 11°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | SSE 5 | NE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 9 | NE 5 | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | NE 8 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 46 | 57 | 109 | 74 | 40 | 18 | 9 | 21 | 5 | 9 | 52 | 33 | 37 | 59 | 30 | 84 | 106 | 99 | 94 | 101 | 47 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-off | glassy | cross | off | off | glassy | off | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 1:51PM1.26m | 2:26AM0.86m | 2:55PM1.25m | 3:47AM0.84m | 4:00PM1.27m | 4:57AM0.87m | 4:57PM1.32m | 5:49AM0.92m | 5:45PM1.38m | 6:31AM0.99m | 6:26PM1.45m | 7:08AM1.06m | 7:04PM1.50m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:49PM0.50m | 7:53AM0.53m | 10:06PM0.48m | 9:01AM0.55m | 11:09PM0.43m | 10:09AM0.54m | 11:58PM0.37m | 11:07AM0.49m | 00:37AM0.30m | 11:56AM0.43m | 1:12AM0.23m | 12:39PM0.37m | 1:44AM0.17m | ||||||||
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | | | | | |  |  | |  | | | | |
 | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — |
 | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 14 | 14 | 9 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 19 | 16 | 21 | 20 | 16 | 19 | 17 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 22 | 23 | 16 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 11 |
Feels °C | 18 | 17 | 14 | 20 | 18 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 22 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | ESE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | S 5 | SSE 5 | NE 6 | S 9 | S 7 | S 10 | ENE 5 | S 9 | ENE 6 | NE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | NE 8 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 |
| kJ | 46 | 15 | 109 | 74 | 40 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 5 | 102 | 51 | 49 | 37 | 61 | 30 | 84 | 106 | 99 | 93 | 101 | 47 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | E 10 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | N 4 | NE 6 | NE 6 | S 5 | NE 6 | S 14 | S 7 | S 9 | S 16 | S 9 | S 9 | S 16 | S 16 | S 10 | NE 8 | ENE 8 |
| kJ | 43 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 34 | 14 | 60 | 20 | 60 | 41 | 20 | 20 | 2 | 64 | 43 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 11 | — | S 13 | — | — | S 10 | S 9 | S 8 | SE 4 | S 18 | E 15 | NE 9 | NE 8 | E 13 | NE 9 | S 16 | SSW 16 | — | S 15 | S 11 | S 10 |
| kJ | 2 | — | 3 | — | — | 2 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 20 | 17 | 3 | 20 | 21 | 50 | — | 5 | 9 | 8 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | ENE 6 | — | WNW 3 | NNW 3 | W 3 | — | — | — | E 3 | ENE 9 | NE 5 | — | ENE 6 | — | — | S 9 | SSW 4 | S 6 | — | — |
| kJ | 61 | 57 | — | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | 52 | 33 | — | 59 | — | — | 56 | 34 | 94 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 158 | 41 | 330 | 159 | 1 | 125 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 121 | 7 | 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.
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