
Surf Forecasts:
Little Austi and Main Beach surf forecast from 20 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 20 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 11s period, ENE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 20 Jul, 4PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 11s period, ENE swell with 743 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 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 Monday (Jul 20) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 11s 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 11s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 20) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.4m 8s period and expected on Friday (Jul 24) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Little Austi and Main Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Little Austi and Main Beach.
First up, Monday morning the 20th of July is the pick of the whole 16-day window. We’ve got a solid 6ft swell rolling in from the ENE with an 11-second period, so there’s a nice bit of groundswell energy in the water. The combined energy is sitting at 767, which is solid moderate wave energy. The wind is light offshore from the NW, so the waves will be clean and lined up. This is a setup that’s going to handle the shape well. The water temp is running at 65°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. Crowds are possible here, so get in early. This is the standout of the whole forecast.
Into Monday afternoon, we drop off a bit. The swell holds at 6ft and the period stays at 11 seconds, but the wind swings to a cross-off from the NNE at 9 mph. The score drops, and conditions become more marginal. The energy stays high at 764, but the tide or wind is making it tricky.
Tuesday morning the 21st still offers some clean surf. Swell drops to 5ft from the ENE, period 10 seconds, and the wind is again light offshore from the NNW. The energy is now 410 – still moderate. It’s clean, but not as punchy as Monday. Tuesday afternoon the wind goes cross-shore from the NE at 9 mph, and the surf gets a bit bumpy with a slight cross-chop.
Wednesday the 22nd has a smaller 4ft swell from the ENE, period 10 seconds. Morning wind is a cross-off from the W at 6 mph, keeping it clean. Energy is 238. Still surfable, but it’s dropping. Wednesday afternoon goes cross-shore, and the quality fades.
From Thursday the 23rd right through to the end of the forecast on the 4th of August, it’s a long stretch of poor conditions. The swell drops to 3ft and then smaller, with only a brief uptick to 1ft on the 25th, but that’s coming from a very long-period 18-second SSE swell, which is a long period, but the height is tiny. The energy on that afternoon is 118, which is weak. The wind is glassy, but there’s just not enough swell to surf. The rest of the time, the swell is mostly 0.7ft or 0.3ft, with energy in the single digits or low double digits. Winds are often cross-off or cross-onshore, and the odd glassy moment can’t save the lack of waves.
Honestly, after Monday and Tuesday, it’s a flat spell that lasts for nearly two weeks. If you’re a beginner, the 6ft swell on Monday is getting up there, but it’s still manageable. For experts, the whole period is a bust after the first couple of days. This setup is more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing on most days, thanks to the wind and lack of swell.
The best bet is clear: Monday morning the 20th of July.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Wed morning, min 10°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat morning, min 6°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 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) | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | SSE 18 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
743 | 743 | 575 | 410 | 314 | 218 | 231 | 210 | 142 | 94 | 92 | 53 | 28 | 28 | 14 | 18 | 104 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 2 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | off | off | cross | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 5:17AM0.88m | 5:25PM1.37m | 6:11AM0.91m | 6:11PM1.42m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 10:35AM0.49m | 00:25AM0.36m | 11:28AM0.47m | 1:07AM0.30m | ||||||||
6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | |
— | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:10 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 12 | 18 | 17 | 13 | 20 | 19 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 9 | 14 | 16 | 10 | 19 | 18 | 13 | 18 | 16 | 11 |
Feels °C | 14 | 14 | 11 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 18 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 3 | 11 | 12 | 5 | 16 | 16 | 9 | 14 | 13 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | S 9 | S 10 | S 14 | S 11 | S 12 | S 12 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 |
743 | 743 | 575 | 410 | 314 | 218 | 231 | 210 | 142 | 94 | 92 | 53 | 562 | 407 | 1055 | 485 | 446 | 690 | 408 | 327 | 349 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | NE 4 | S 10 | S 11 | S 10 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | SE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | SSE 18 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 12 |
178 | 127 | 82 | 55 | 31 | 11 | 17 | 20 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 2 | 28 | 28 | 14 | 18 | 104 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 27 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | SE 14 | S 15 | S 15 | S 10 | SE 13 | — | — | S 10 | S 9 | S 17 | S 15 | S 21 | E 12 | S 20 | ENE 8 | — | — | N 6 | NE 8 |
24 | 21 | 8 | 19 | 17 | 31 | 7 | — | — | 8 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 78 | 3 | 30 | 14 | — | — | 1 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NNE 3 | N 3 | NE 3 | NNW 2 | — | — | W 3 | WNW 2 | SSW 8 | S 8 | — | — | WSW 3 | — | — | WSW 3 | — | — | — |
— | — | 4 | 5 | 9 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 60 | 299 | — | — | 3 | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 1 |
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.










