Surf Forecasts:
Shipstern Bluff surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 2 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 16s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 14s period, SW swell with 6,849 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 11s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Shipstern Bluff this week:
The surf forecast for Shipstern Bluff over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Shipstern Bluff in the next 16 days are 4.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 10s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Mon 31st Aug) | 15ft (4.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Shipstern Bluff over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for Shipstern Bluff. This is a heavy, exposed reef that takes a serious south-west swell, and it's for advanced crew only. The water temp is sitting at 55°, which is about normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.
The window starts off quiet. Wednesday afternoon is a write-off with rain showers, a strong cross-onshore wind, and messy, choppy 7ft swell. You won't want to be out there. Thursday the 27th morning is actually the first real glimmer of hope. We've got a clean 4ft groundswell from the SSW, with a gentle offshore wind from the north. It's not huge, but the conditions are clean. Things get even better Thursday afternoon when the wind goes glassy, leaving the 3ft swell with a clean, smooth surface. This is a nice, mellow session for the experienced.
Friday the 28th, the wind swings onshore and gets fresh, blowing the 4ft and 4ft swells into a lumpy cross-chop. Not recommended. Saturday the 29th is a similar story on the morning with a 7ft cross-shore swell, but the afternoon sees a huge 13ft swell from the SW, though it's still cross-shore. The energy is massive (6254 combined energy), but the wind makes it ugly. That's a pass for me.
Sunday the 30th is a tease. The 10ft morning swell is still cross-shore, but the afternoon lights up. A 13ft SW swell, with a moderate cross-shore, is absolutely thumping – the energy is at 8334 – and the wind is just manageable. This is a big, heavy day for experts only. It's the standout of the first week.
Monday the 31st sees a drop in size to 7ft, with a clean cross-offshore wind. The energy is still serious (2157). It's a good session, but the swell is a bit smaller. Tuesday the 1st of September, the wind is howling again, so forget it. Wednesday the 2nd, we get another clean 7ft swell with a cross-offshore wind. A solid option.
Looking further out, there's a massive pulse building. Thursday the 3rd sees a 10ft swell with a clean cross-offshore wind, but the wind is strong. Friday the 4th, the swell peaks at 16ft from the SW, but the wind is a near gale. It's way too big and messy, even for Shipstern. That's a hard no. Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th are more manageable with clean conditions, but the wind is still strong.
The real standout for the second week is Tuesday the 8th of September. The morning has a 12ft SSW groundswell with a clean cross-offshore, and the afternoon blows up to a 13ft SW swell with the same clean wind. The energy is massive (12324 in the afternoon). This is a huge, clean, powerful day. The following days, Wednesday the 9th and Thursday the 10th, show a steady drop in size, wrapping up the run.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu afternoon, min 8°C on Thu morning). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Tue morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon afternoon, min 10°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Mon afternoon, strong winds from the WNW by Tue morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 8 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SW 13 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 17 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
660 | 361 | 308 | 173 | 466 | 794 | 921 | 2538 | 1313 | 4624 | 2722 | 3652 | 5636 | 6849 | 2005 | 1516 | 2285 | 1531 | 2700 | 3564 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | off | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross |
High Tide | 4:39PM1.10m | 6:57AM0.65m | 5:26PM1.08m | 7:30AM0.69m | 6:16PM1.03m | 8:03AM0.74m | 7:11PM0.97m | 8:36AM0.80m | 8:13PM0.89m | 9:11AM0.87m | 9:24PM0.82m | 9:49AM0.94m | 10:45PM0.76m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:24AM0.20m | 10:39AM0.56m | 1:01AM0.21m | 11:45AM0.55m | 1:36AM0.24m | 12:55PM0.52m | 2:11AM0.29m | 2:09PM0.48m | 2:46AM0.35m | 3:23PM0.41m | 3:23AM0.41m | 4:36PM0.33m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | |
5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:42 | — | |
mm | 2 | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 8 | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 9 |
Feels °C | 5 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 7 | 12 | 16 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SE 7 | SSW 11 | E 9 | E 10 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 13 | E 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | NE 7 | SSW 17 |
303 | 194 | 308 | 190 | 235 | 794 | 921 | 1809 | 148 | 1613 | 7 | 2606 | 2698 | 3049 | 2005 | 1516 | 2285 | 1531 | 9 | 3564 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SSW 12 | ESE 7 | SSW 10 | SSW 20 | E 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | SSW 22 | — | NE 9 | NE 9 | SSW 20 | SSW 18 | NE 10 | NE 6 | NNE 8 | ESE 10 |
44 | 361 | 105 | 173 | 336 | 87 | 106 | 77 | 38 | 17 | 45 | — | 3 | 3 | 152 | 662 | 4 | 6 | 51 | 11 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 8 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 21 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | NE 9 | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 9 | SSW 22 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 4 | SSE 11 | — |
11 | 86 | 33 | 89 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 46 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 12 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 8 | SW 4 | — | — | SW 13 | SW 7 | SW 7 | SW 16 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | — | — | NNE 4 | NW 3 | SW 15 | — |
660 | 27 | — | — | 466 | 422 | 341 | 2538 | 1313 | 4624 | 2722 | 3652 | 5636 | 6849 | — | — | 5 | 7 | 2700 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 565 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 41 | 41 | 26 | 26 | 41 | 47 | 35 | 30 | 26 | 13 | 10 | 27 | 726 | 41 | 29 |
Best forecast wave conditions in East Coast of Tasmania | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Shipstern Bluff Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Shipstern Bluff provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Shipstern Bluff can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Shipstern Bluff 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 (Shipstern Bluff) 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 Shipstern Bluff 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.
Shipstern Bluff is 11 km (7 miles) from Port Arthur. If you plan a holiday in East Coast of Tasmania, look for hotels and other accommodation in Port Arthur. Port Arthur has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











