Noosa - Sunshine Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get real about Sunshine Beach for the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, it’s a tough stretch. We’re looking at a long, dry spell with next to nothing on offer for the first few days. The surf just isn’t happening. The pattern we’re seeing is a lot of wind-affected, small, and messy conditions. It’s not until the 3rd of August that we even get a glimmer of something surfable, and even then, it’s marginal.

The week starts off with a bit more energy, but it’s all cross-onshore and choppy. From the 31st of July through to the 2nd of August, we’ve got swell heights around 3 ft to 6 ft, but it’s coming from the SE and SSE with periods of only 6-7 seconds. That’s short-period, wind-driven junk, with a combined energy of 214 to 307 (moderate) – it’s just not worth paddling out for. The wind is a solid 15-16 mph from the SE, making it a choppy mess.

The first real chance comes on the morning of Monday the 3rd of August. There’s a pulse of swell from the ESE at 5 ft, but the period is 10 seconds, so it’s got a bit more shape. The combined energy jumps to 839 (moderate), which is the most we’ll see. The wind is a gentle cross-shore from the SSE at 9 mph, which is passable, but the forecast calls it “marginal” with questionable tide. It’s not a standout, but it’s the best of a bad lot.

After that, the bottom falls out. From the 4th of August right through to the 15th of August, we’re looking at tiny, weak surf. Swell heights drop to 1 ft to 3 ft. The combined energy is mostly below 100 (weak), with only a few readings just above that. The water temp is 69°F, which is about 1°F cooler than average for this time of year – nothing out of the ordinary.

There are a few glassy mornings on the 4th, 5th, and 10th of August with offshore or light winds, but the swell is so small (2 ft to 2 ft) that it’s barely breaking. You might get a knee-high runner on a longboard, but let’s be honest, it’s not worth getting excited about.

The best option in this whole outlook is the morning of Monday the 3rd of August. Noosa – Sunshine Beach is exposed to the E swell, and with a 5 ft ESE swell and 10-second period, it’s the only window where you’ll find a rideable wave. Crowds are "sometimes" an issue here, so expect a few others with the same idea. The wind is a gentle cross-shore, which is about as good as it gets for this period.

Take it from Rusty – this is a week for checking the forecast again, not for waxing up. The surf just isn’t cooperating.

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