Noosa - Sunshine Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here, and I’ve been digging through the numbers for the next couple of weeks. It’s a tale of two halves, with a real gem hidden in the middle.

We’re kicking off with a solid bump in size, but the wind is going to be a real headache. The first surfable day is Tuesday 21 July. We’ve got a 8ft southeast swell from the east-southeast, with a period of 10 seconds. The combined energy is strong at 1233, but it’s a cross-on shore wind at 16 mph, making it choppy and messy. Not a day for clean lines. Water temp is 69°, which is just a bit cooler than average for the season.

Wednesday 22 July is a bit better, but still not firing. Swell drops to 6ft from the east, period 9 seconds, with a combined energy of 732. The wind eases to 9 mph, but it’s still cross-on. Marginal.

Now, Thursday 23 July. This is the standout. The swell settles to 4ft from the east, period 8 seconds, and the combined energy is a moderate 250. The wind is the key: early morning it’s glassy, with a light 3 mph south-southwest breeze. That’s going to make Sunshine Beach clean and offering some proper shape. It’s a consistent break, so you’ll find waves. Just be aware, crowds are sometimes a factor, so get in early. This is the best session of the entire outlook.

From Friday 24 July through to Saturday 1 August, the surf takes a nosedive. We’re looking at a long stretch of tiny waves, mostly under 3ft, and poor to marginal conditions. The swell energy drops into the double digits several times, and the wind is a mess – cross-shore, onshore, and often strong. There’s a brief spike on Friday 24 July afternoon, but it’s a short-period, wind-affected 6ft from the south-southeast with a fresh 19 mph wind, making it lumpy. Not worth your time.

That’s a gap of nearly a week with nothing worth paddling for.

Things perk up again towards the end of the run. On Sunday 2 August, a new pulse arrives. A 6ft south-southeast swell, period 7 seconds, brings the combined energy up to 338. The wind is a clean cross-off shore from the south-southwest, which is a huge plus. It’s a short-period swell, but the clean conditions will make it rideable. This is a late-stage option, so a bit less certain, but it’s the best call in the second week.

Monday 3 August keeps the energy going with a 6ft swell from the south-southeast, but the wind swings around and becomes more cross-shore, making it choppier.

After that, it’s messy again. Strong winds and rain showers make for lumpy, poor conditions through to the end. For the beginners out there, the 6ft days on the 2nd and 3rd are a bit much, and anything over 8ft is for experts only, which we don’t see here.

So, bottom line: Thursday 23 July morning is your absolute best bet for a clean, fun session at Sunshine Beach. Keep an eye on Sunday 2 August as a promising, but less certain, follow-up.

Rusty.

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