Surf Forecasts:
Little Austi and Main Beach surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 7s period, E swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 10s period, ESE swell with 117 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 11s period with ESE 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 19) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.8m and 5s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Little Austi and Main Beach in the next 16 days are 0.8m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Little Austi and Main Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, I’m Rusty, and I’ve got the local gen on what’s coming up at Little Austi and Main Beach. Honestly, for the next few weeks, it’s a bit of a mixed bag – we’ve got some small, clean windows, but a fair few days where you’re better off staying on the sand or looking for something else to do. Let’s get into it.
We start off on Wednesday the 19th of August with some small but surfable waves – around 2 ft from the ESE. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the NNE, so it’s clean, but the energy is moderate (198). It’s not a standout, but you’ll get a few. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so nothing wild there.
Thursday the 20th sees the swell dropping right off – 2 ft from the ESE in the morning with a short, weak period of 6 seconds and low energy (63). Thursday afternoon brings a tiny uptick to 2 ft from the ENE with a light offshore wind, but it’s still pretty average. The energy is weak (55). Honestly, not worth rushing for.
Friday the 21st is the best of this early run. Morning sees 3 ft from the ENE with a clean offshore wind from the NW, and a light breeze. The afternoon holds 3 ft from the NE with a gentle offshore, keeping it tidy. Energy stays weak (74 and 93), but the conditions are clean. If you’re keen for a paddle, Friday morning is your best bet in this first stretch.
Then we hit a gap. From Saturday the 22nd right through to Tuesday the 25th, the waves are tiny – 1 ft to 2 ft – with very weak energy (down to 9). There’s a glassy morning on the 23rd, but the swell is so small it’s barely breaking. A few days of poor surf, so don’t bother.
Wednesday the 26th is a write-off too, with onshore winds and a messy 2 ft to 3 ft swell. The afternoon brings a bump in energy (135) from the south, but it’s cross-onshore and choppy. Not for surfing.
Now, here’s the real highlight. Thursday the 27th of August – this is the one to circle. The morning has 3 ft from the ESE with a clean offshore wind from the NW, and energy is building (181). But the afternoon… wow. Glassy conditions, no wind, and 4 ft from the SE with a period of 8 seconds. The energy jumps to 281 – moderate and punchy. This is the best surf on offer in the whole outlook. Clean, glassy, and head-high sets for the intermediates. Get out there.
Friday the 28th goes backwards again – onshore winds and messy 3 ft surf. Not good.
Saturday the 29th is a big one, but not for paddling. We’ve got a massive 12 ft swell from the SSE, but with strong onshore winds at 35 km/h. The energy is extreme (1804), but the conditions are blown out and dangerous – that’s expert-only territory, and honestly, it looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. Same story into Sunday the 30th with 5 ft onshore and strong winds.
From Monday the 31st of August right through to Thursday the 3rd of September, the swell drops back to tiny – 2 ft to 3 ft – with poor winds and low energy. The last few days are a total blank for decent waves.
So, the standout is crystal clear: Thursday the 27th of August afternoon at Little Austi and Main Beach. Glassy, clean, head-high sets. Everything else is small, short-period, or wind-affected. Crowds are possible here sometimes, so get in early.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Thu morning, min 12°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Mon morning, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | ||||||||||||||
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 8 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | NE 6 | ESE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 9 | ENE 9 | NE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
100 | 82 | 117 | 79 | 32 | 28 | 53 | 74 | 54 | 18 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 20 | 31 | 18 | 17 | 43 | 43 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | on | glassy | glassy | cross | off | off | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 00:18AM1.05m | 12:56PM1.29m | 1:14AM0.93m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 6:15AM0.39m | 7:35PM0.47m | 6:58AM0.47m | 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 | |||||||
— | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 |
Temp °C | 14 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 21 | 19 | 16 | 19 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 23 | 21 | 17 |
Feels °C | 13 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 21 | 20 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | ENE 5 | ESE 10 | SE 9 | NE 5 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | SSW 9 | S 5 | S 9 | S 8 | S 10 | S 9 | S 10 | ENE 9 |
100 | 27 | 117 | 64 | 29 | 28 | 53 | 74 | 39 | 18 | 9 | 15 | 16 | 38 | 49 | 68 | 43 | 47 | 43 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | S 8 | E 9 | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | E 10 | S 11 | SW 4 | S 5 | SSW 5 | NE 6 | NE 6 | SE 4 | S 15 | NE 4 | NE 8 | E 13 | S 10 |
100 | 82 | 12 | 2 | 32 | 25 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 38 | 10 | 17 | 3 | 44 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | SE 7 | S 15 | — | E 11 | E 11 | S 12 | — | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 4 | S 9 | NE 9 | S 20 | NE 8 | NE 4 | S 16 | S 15 |
30 | 43 | 4 | — | 2 | 2 | 3 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 20 | 7 | 18 | 5 | 20 | 17 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | NE 6 | — | NNW 3 | — | W 2 | NE 6 | WSW 3 | W 3 | SSW 4 | — | — | ENE 9 | NNE 4 | — | ENE 7 | — |
— | 46 | 55 | 79 | — | 1 | — | 1 | 54 | 3 | 1 | 3 | — | — | 31 | 15 | — | 43 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 438 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 336 | 453 | 330 | 158 | 1 | 250 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 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.











