Surf Forecasts:
The Spit surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 7s period, SE swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 11s period, ESE swell with 2,379 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 22 Jul, 10AM (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 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m 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 11s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.2m 3s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 25) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Spit over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Imperial Units
Alright, strap in, 'cause it's a rough start. For the first few days, we’re looking at the remnants of a big swell, but the wind is a total mess. Strong cross-shore breezes are making a mess of things. Saturday the 18th and Sunday the 19th are write-offs – big, lumpy, and blown out with a solid 8ft to 12ft of messy ESE swell. The combined energy is massive (2852) but it’s a complete dog’s breakfast. You’d be better off with a kite than a paddle board.
Things start to settle down a bit by Monday the 20th and Tuesday the 21st, but it’s still on the cross-onshore wind, keeping the surface choppy and lumpy. The swell drops a touch to 7ft to 8ft, but the energy is still high (over 1400) and the quality is just not there.
Then we get a real window of hope. Wednesday the 22nd is the standout. The wind goes glassy, and the swell drops to a clean, juvenile 4ft to 5ft from the east with a 9-second period. The combined energy is a much more manageable 337. This is the best on offer, hands down. It’s a small, clean river mouth wave, perfect for a beginner. The water temp is about 70°, which is bang on average for the time of year, so no wetsuit worries.
Thursday the 23rd starts off glassy in the morning with a tiny 3ft swell, but it’s pretty weak energy (152). The afternoon sees the wind turn back onshore, killing it. Friday the 24th through to the end of the month is a sad story. The swell hangs around, but the wind is consistently cross-shore or cross-onshore, keeping the surface messy. The energy drops steadily, and by the end of the month, we’re looking at knee-high dribble.
There’s a long gap of poor conditions from the 24th right through to the end of the forecast. Into the first week of August, the swell is tiny and weak, with the odd onshore breeze. The 31st of July sees a bit of a longer period (13 seconds) but it’s still cross-onshore and messy. There’s nothing to get excited about in the second week, just a long, flat run of poor conditions.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Sat night. Warm (max 20°C on Mon morning, min 17°C on Sat afternoon). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSE on Sun morning, moderate winds from the SE by Tue morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue afternoon, min 15°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed afternoon, fresh winds from the SSE by Fri morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 10 | ESE 11 | SE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | ESE 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1489 | 2291 | 1522 | 2194 | 2372 | 1886 | 1422 | 1047 | 1042 | 690 | 365 | 313 | 258 | 165 | 133 | 105 | 99 | 373 | 244 | 96 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | glassy | off | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 11:25PM1.52m | 12:03PM1.19m | 00:07AM1.37m | 12:55PM1.18m | 00:49AM1.21m | 1:53PM1.18m | 1:34AM1.08m | 3:00PM1.20m | 2:28AM0.97m | 4:10PM1.25m | 3:37AM0.90m | 5:09PM1.32m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:01PM0.33m | 6:01AM0.26m | 5:53PM0.42m | 6:42AM0.30m | 6:52PM0.52m | 7:25AM0.34m | 8:01PM0.59m | 8:11AM0.36m | 9:24PM0.63m | 9:00AM0.37m | 10:45PM0.61m | 9:53AM0.37m | 11:48PM0.55m | |||||||
 |  |  | | |  |  |  | | |  | | |  |  | | | | |  | |
 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — |
 | 5:08 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:12 | — |
mm | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 10 | E 18 | E 11 | — | — | — | — | — | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 |
| kJ | 1489 | 6 | 890 | — | — | — | — | — | 673 | 556 | 365 | 313 | 258 | 165 | 133 | 105 | 99 | 51 | 36 | 76 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 21 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | — | — | — | NE 9 | SE 10 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 5 | 4 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 16 | — | — | — | 3 | 51 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 20 | SE 16 | SE 14 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | ESE 11 | SE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | ESE 10 | E 9 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 3 | SSE 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 |
| kJ | 1363 | 2291 | 1522 | 2194 | 2372 | 1886 | 1422 | 1047 | 1042 | 690 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 69 | 373 | 244 | 96 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 787 | 671 | 671 | 576 | 348 | 166 | 166 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 28 | 348 | 28 | 28 |
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.
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