
Surf Forecasts:
The Spit surf forecast from 20 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 22 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 9s period, E swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 21 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, ESE swell with 1,522 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 22 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 9s period with E swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for The Spit this week:
The surf forecast for The Spit over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at The Spit in the next 16 days are 3.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 3s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 25) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1PM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 1PM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Tue 21st Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Spit over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for The Spit over the next couple of weeks.
We’re starting off quiet, real quiet. The first few days are a write-off, with a bit of bumpy, cross-onshore junk on the 21st and 22nd that’s not worth paddling out for. The good news is things start to clean up nicely by Wednesday afternoon. That’s the day to circle.
On Wednesday 22nd July, the afternoon goes glassy, with a clean 5ft easterly swell wrapping in. The combined energy is moderate (522), and the wind goes dead off the land, ENE at just 3 mph. This is your window for a fun, decent session, especially if you’re a beginner or just want a cruisy one. The wave quality is looking very good, and the river mouth setup should handle the easterly direction well.
Thursday 23rd July morning is glassy again, but the swell drops to 4ft and the period shortens to 8 seconds, so it’s weaker (182) and pretty ordinary. The afternoon goes cross-onshore, so that’s that.
After that, we hit a long gap. From Friday 24th through to the end of the month, the swell is tiny, mostly under 2ft, with messy winds or weak, short-period dribble. There’s a brief moment on the morning of Saturday 26th with glassy conditions and a 2ft easterly, but it’s barely surfable. The energy is weak (77). Don’t bother.
The second week stays small and mostly flat. The period from the 28th to the 5th of August sees swell heights consistently below 2ft, and while the winds are often clean – even offshore or glassy – you just don’t have the waves. The combined energy is mostly in the low double digits. There’s a tiny pulse on the 30th with a very long 17-second period from the ESE, but the swell is only 1ft, so it’s more of a ripple than a ride.
The standout window is crystal clear: Wednesday 22nd July afternoon at The Spit. The swell is a consistent 5ft from the east, it’s glassy, and the water is about average for this time of year. The crowd factor is often busy, but with the conditions on offer, it’s worth the company. For a beginner-friendly spot, this is about as good as it gets in the forecast.
If you’re looking for a wave in the second week, you’re going to be disappointed. The blank run from the 24th right through to the 5th of August is a long stretch of flatness. Keep an eye on the sky, but don’t hold your breath.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu morning, min 15°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSE on Mon night, calm by Thu morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSE on Fri morning, calm by Sat morning). | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 5 | E 9 | S 9 | SE 15 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 10 | SE 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
1734 | 1111 | 524 | 425 | 320 | 313 | 264 | 173 | 133 | 103 | 98 | 67 | 103 | 256 | 223 | 63 | 43 | 28 | 31 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | glassy | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 00:49AM1.21m | 1:53PM1.18m | 1:34AM1.08m | 3:00PM1.20m | 2:28AM0.97m | 4:10PM1.25m | 3:37AM0.90m | 5:09PM1.32m | 4:53AM0.88m | 5:56PM1.40m | 5:56AM0.90m | 6:37PM1.48m | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:25AM0.34m | 8:01PM0.59m | 8:11AM0.36m | 9:24PM0.63m | 9:00AM0.37m | 10:45PM0.61m | 9:53AM0.37m | 11:48PM0.55m | 10:45AM0.35m | 00:36AM0.48m | 11:33AM0.32m | 1:16AM0.40m | |||||||
— | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:13 | — | |
mm | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 13 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | SE 15 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 |
1130 | 711 | 524 | 425 | 320 | 313 | 264 | 173 | 133 | 103 | 98 | 29 | 103 | 122 | 56 | 63 | 43 | 19 | 18 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | ENE 10 | SE 11 | ESE 9 | ENE 9 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 7 | SE 10 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 11 |
— | — | 33 | 4 | 86 | 193 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 23 | 8 | 27 | 30 | 19 | 29 | 28 | 31 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | E 12 | E 12 | SE 9 | SE 6 | E 12 | E 11 | NNE 9 | ESE 18 | SE 15 | NE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 6 | NE 6 |
— | — | 20 | 32 | 17 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 20 | 8 | 32 | 223 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 4 | SE 5 | SE 7 | S 9 | E 9 | — | — | ESE 3 | — |
1734 | 1111 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | 67 | 57 | 256 | 125 | — | — | 1 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 28 | 28 | 22 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 68 | 28 | 7 | 0 | 81 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gold Coast | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the The Spit Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for The Spit provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at The Spit can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our The Spit 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 (The Spit) 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 The Spit 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.
The Spit is 4 km (2 miles) from the city of Southport. If you plan a holiday in Gold Coast, look for hotels and other accommodation in Southport. Southport has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










