
Surf Forecasts:
Little Austi and Main Beach surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 12 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s period, ENE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 17 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 7s period, ESE swell with 293 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s 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 Wednesday (Aug 12) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 10s 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 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) 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 1.9m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 13) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Wed 12th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Wed 12th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Little Austi and Main Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what the next couple of weeks have in store for us.
Honestly, the first week and a half is a bit of a struggle. We’ve got small, weak swell and the wind just won’t play nice. From early Wednesday morning through to about Friday the 21st, it’s a real mixed bag of tiny waves and cross-onshore chop. You’ll see the odd glassy moment, like Friday morning the 14th with the wind dead calm, but the swell is only 1.3ft. That’s a paddle-around session, not much else. The total wave energy is weak, sitting between 17 and 55 for most of that time, so there’s just no power in the water.
There’s a bit of a lift around Saturday the 22nd. The morning has a clean 3.3ft from the ENE with a 9-second period and a light cross-offshore breeze – that’s the best look of the early part. By the afternoon, it really comes together: glassy conditions, a clean 3.6ft from the ENE at 9 seconds, and the energy jumps to 215 (moderate). That Saturday afternoon session at Little Austi and Main Beach is the pick of the first week. The water temp is about average for this time of year at 63.7°F.
Sunday the 23rd pushes a bit more size through, with 4.6ft from the NE and ENE, and the energy climbs to 380-409 (moderate). The wind holds clean and cross-off. It’s a good-looking swell, but the forecast flags it as marginal for tide, so you’ll want to read the banks carefully.
After that, we get a bit of a chop-fest again from the 24th through to the 27th, with cross-onshore winds and dropping energy. It’s not a total write-off, but you’ll be working for it. If you’re a beginner, the 1.3ft to 1.6ft days early on are safe, but anything over 5ft – like that Sunday the 23rd – is a bit much if you’re just starting out.
The standout is definitely Saturday the 22nd afternoon. It’s the only session in the whole 16 days where we’ve got decent 3.6ft swell, a clean ENE direction, and glassy, clean conditions. Get on it. Sunday the 23rd morning is the other real option, with a touch more size, but keep an eye on that tide.
Stay safe out there.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed morning, min 9°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat morning, min 11°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 7 | E 7 | ESE 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ESE 6 | SE 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
51 | 52 | 48 | 55 | 35 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 17 | 157 | 216 | 160 | 268 | 142 | 186 | 255 | 126 | 108 | 75 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 7:50PM1.75m | 8:36AM1.23m | 8:37PM1.72m | 9:19AM1.29m | 9:21PM1.63m | 10:01AM1.32m | 10:04PM1.51m | 10:42AM1.34m | 10:47PM1.35m | 11:24AM1.34m | 11:31PM1.20m | 12:07PM1.32m | 00:18AM1.05m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:23PM0.23m | 2:34AM-0.04m | 2:14PM0.20m | 3:15AM-0.02m | 3:03PM0.20m | 3:53AM0.03m | 3:52PM0.23m | 4:29AM0.10m | 4:42PM0.28m | 5:04AM0.20m | 5:34PM0.35m | 5:39AM0.29m | 6:30PM0.42m | ||||||||
6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | |
— | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | 2 | — | 3 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 3 | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 18 | 17 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 11 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 |
Feels °C | 13 | 12 | 8 | 14 | 13 | 7 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 9 | ENE 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 | S 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | S 12 | S 11 | E 7 | ESE 7 | S 8 | E 7 | ESE 6 | SE 7 |
246 | 122 | 48 | 195 | 305 | 133 | 210 | 149 | 29 | 29 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 42 | 81 | 142 | 186 | 33 | 126 | 108 | 75 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | S 13 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | S 15 | S 19 | S 18 | S 17 | S 15 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | SE 7 | S 9 | — | S 9 | S 9 | ENE 6 |
51 | 52 | 3 | 55 | 35 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 18 | 29 | 58 | 50 | 41 | 20 | 19 | 102 | 56 | — | 40 | 25 | 30 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 16 | — | S 19 | S 15 | S 18 | S 19 | SE 9 | SE 8 | S 14 | — | — | S 15 | S 16 | S 10 | — | — | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 9 |
— | — | 5 | — | 7 | 17 | 26 | 29 | 3 | 3 | 4 | — | — | 18 | 21 | 89 | — | — | 24 | 24 | 23 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 3 | W 3 | SW 8 | W 4 | — | WSW 3 | — | — | S 7 | S 8 | S 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 7 | — | — | E 7 | — | — | — |
4 | 5 | 192 | 2 | — | 3 | — | — | 100 | 332 | 315 | 157 | 216 | 160 | 268 | — | — | 255 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 92 | 1 | 1 | 92 | 1 | 89 | 89 | 50 | 121 | 76 | 111 | 159 | 303 | 100 | 7 | 39 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Illawarra | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











