
Surf Forecasts:
Little Austi and Main Beach surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 19 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 11s period, ENE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 12s period, ENE swell with 1,170 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 11s period with ENE 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 (Jul 19) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 11s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Little Austi and Main Beach in the next 16 days are 2.1m 12s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 23) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Little Austi and Main Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Lookin’ at this stretch up to the start of August, and honestly, for a while there, it’s gonna be a real quiet one. We’ve got a big gap of flat, poor conditions before things finally wake up. Let’s get into it.
The first few days are a write-off. Saturday the 18th and Sunday the 19th are a mess – small, weak swell, choppy, cross-onshore wind. Not worth paddling out for. Monday the 20th is where it finally turns a corner. The morning is clean with a light offshore from the NW, and the swell picks up to a solid 6ft from the ENE with a decent 11-second period. The combined energy is moderate at 666. It’s not a monster, but with the wind glassing it off, Little Austi and Main Beach (beach and reef) should be offering up some fun, clean lines. The water’s sitting at 64°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year. No crowds mentioned, so you might have it fairly quiet. That Monday morning is the first real standout.
Tuesday the 21st is still clean in the morning with a light cross-off breeze, but the swell drops to 5ft, and the energy backs off to 373. It’s still surfable, but not as punchy. By Wednesday the 22nd, the swell fades away, and we’re into a long, flat spell again. From the 23rd through to the end of July, it’s mostly tiny, weak, or blown out – nothing to get excited about. Even the glassy days on the 24th and 25th have almost no wave height.
Then, looking into the first week of August, there’s a late-breaking glimmer. Saturday the 1st is a bit of a mess, with a building 5ft swell but short period and lumpy wind. But Sunday the 2nd is the real gem. The morning is flat calm – glassy conditions – and the swell hits 8ft from the E with a 10-second period, pushing a huge combined energy of 1311. That’s a strong groundswell, and with the offshore wind, it’ll be firing. This is only for experienced surfers, though – that size at a beach and reef setup will be powerful. If you’re skilled, that Sunday morning is the best wave of the whole outlook.
All in all, the two true standouts are Monday the 20th for a clean, fun session, and Sunday the 2nd of August for the big, clean groundswell that’ll test the experts.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat afternoon, min 10°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Thu morning. Warm (max 21°C on Wed morning, min 7°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 6 | E 7 | E 8 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
54 | 74 | 187 | 973 | 822 | 853 | 643 | 575 | 464 | 373 | 325 | 275 | 180 | 130 | 103 | 44 | 29 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 7 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | off | glassy | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:23AM1.22m | 11:18PM1.47m | 12:12PM1.24m | 00:06AM1.30m | 1:01PM1.26m | 00:57AM1.14m | 1:53PM1.27m | 1:54AM1.01m | 2:46PM1.28m | 3:00AM0.92m | 3:41PM1.30m | 4:12AM0.87m | 4:35PM1.33m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:05PM0.33m | 5:54AM0.13m | 6:03PM0.40m | 6:34AM0.22m | 7:05PM0.46m | 7:14AM0.31m | 8:15PM0.49m | 7:57AM0.39m | 9:28PM0.50m | 8:45AM0.45m | 10:38PM0.47m | 9:39AM0.49m | 11:37PM0.42m | ||||||||
6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | |
— | 5:05 | — | — | 5:06 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:08 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 18 | 17 | 13 | 21 | 20 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 16 | 17 | 9 |
Feels °C | 15 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 17 | 16 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 12 | 14 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | E 7 | E 8 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 |
54 | 74 | 187 | 973 | 822 | 853 | 643 | 575 | 464 | 373 | 325 | 275 | 180 | 130 | 103 | 44 | 29 | 15 | 715 | 413 | 224 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 10 | ENE 11 | S 17 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 11 | S 10 | — | — | S 18 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 |
46 | 44 | 48 | 145 | 86 | 153 | 178 | 127 | 82 | 55 | 48 | 31 | 31 | 20 | 8 | — | — | 6 | 16 | 16 | 7 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 21 | S 20 | S 8 | SE 17 | S 16 | SE 16 | SSE 15 | SSE 15 | SE 14 | S 15 | S 15 | S 14 | SE 13 | S 12 | S 10 | — | — | — | S 19 | S 19 | S 19 |
34 | 31 | 23 | 12 | 43 | 10 | 23 | 21 | 8 | 17 | 17 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 17 | — | — | — | 7 | 7 | 29 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 4 | S 4 | — | S 4 | — | — | — | — | N 4 | — | — | — | W 3 | NNE 3 | WSW 3 | S 7 | S 9 | S 8 | — | — | W 2 |
9 | 2 | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | — | — | 1 | 6 | 6 | 417 | 1495 | 759 | — | — | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 5 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 41 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 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.










