Surf Forecasts:
The Spit surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 26 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 8s period, ENE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 30 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 10s period, ESE swell with 301 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 8s period with ENE 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 Monday (Aug 24) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 6s. 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 1.3m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Spit over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty here, and I’ve got a look at what’s cookin' for the next couple of weeks.
Honestly, mate, it’s looking pretty grim for a good paddle. The whole 16-day window is a real struggle. We’ve got a long stretch of poor surf conditions, with that wind just not playing nice. The only real window of hope shows up at the very end, but it’s a long way off.
Let’s break it down. The first few days, from Monday the 24th through the end of the month, are pretty much a write-off. We’re looking at small, weak swell, mostly around 2ft to 5ft from the ENE or E, with a short, weak period of 6 to 8 seconds. The wind is a killer – it’s a constant cross-on or onshore breeze, mostly from the SE and ESE, making everything choppy and lumpy. The wave energy is weak to moderate at best, with readings like 70, 93, and 140. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing to write home about.
The first week of September doesn’t start much better. Tuesday the 1st and Wednesday the 2nd are still messy. The swell picks up a bit, hitting 6ft to 6ft from the E and ENE, and the energy jumps, but the wind is still a problem. The swell period is a short 7 seconds, so it's all wind-slop and not worth the paddle. The wave energy is strong though, hitting 605 on Tuesday afternoon, but it’s all wasted energy with that onshore wind.
Now, the one tiny glimmer. Wednesday morning, September the 2nd. That’s your best bet. The swell drops back to a clean 4ft from the ENE, with an 8-second period, and the wind goes glassy. The wave energy is still strong at 253, but with that offshore wind, The Spit could be clean and fun for a beginner session. It’s the only time in the whole outlook where the conditions line up. But even then, it’s just a brief window before the wind turns on again.
The rest of the week into the second week is more of the same – small, weak swell, and a cross-shore or onshore wind. The swell drops back to 2ft to 3ft with very weak energy, and the wind is either a fresh cross-shore or a lousy cross-on. It’s a long, blank run. For a spot like this, that’s pretty normal—forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a waiting game.
If you’re a kite surfer, the bigger days with strong ESE and SE winds might look interesting, but for us paddle surfers, it’s a tough call. Keep your eyes on the forecast, but for now, I’d say grab a coffee and wait for a better day.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 23°C on Wed afternoon, min 16°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Wed night, min 15°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
67 | 58 | 85 | 87 | 107 | 110 | 198 | 99 | 99 | 76 | 119 | 213 | 153 | 115 | 90 | 133 | 109 | 76 | 151 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | on | glassy | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 5:45AM0.86m | 6:07PM1.41m | 6:29AM0.94m | 6:43PM1.48m | 7:06AM1.03m | 7:17PM1.54m | 7:40AM1.11m | 7:50PM1.57m | 8:13AM1.20m | 8:23PM1.58m | 8:46AM1.27m | 8:56PM1.56m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:13AM0.42m | 11:10AM0.36m | 00:48AM0.33m | 11:57AM0.31m | 1:19AM0.26m | 12:39PM0.26m | 1:48AM0.20m | 1:18PM0.21m | 2:16AM0.15m | 1:55PM0.18m | 2:45AM0.13m | 2:33PM0.17m | 3:15AM0.13m | ||||||
— | 6:09 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | |
mm | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 22 | 23 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 17 |
Feels °C | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 11 | E 9 | E 9 |
67 | 58 | 85 | 87 | 107 | 110 | 113 | 99 | 99 | 76 | 119 | 213 | 153 | 115 | 90 | 84 | 19 | 76 | 117 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 11 | SE 13 | SSE 6 | SE 5 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | S 10 | E 14 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | NNE 7 | SSE 10 | SE 10 |
5 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 73 | 86 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 17 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | S 10 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 5 | SE 5 | E 16 | E 15 | S 9 | E 13 | S 8 | S 16 | — | SE 10 | SE 13 | SSE 11 | NE 7 | NE 9 | NE 10 |
2 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 5 | — | 4 | 7 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 4 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 4 | — | — | — | — | ENE 8 | — | — | — | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | E 8 | — | — | E 8 | E 8 | ESE 4 | E 9 |
— | 3 | — | — | — | — | 198 | — | — | — | 17 | 44 | 148 | — | — | 133 | 109 | 18 | 151 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 14 | 22 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 555 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 14 | 28 | 28 | 17 | 22 | 28 | 14 | 22 | 28 | 14 |
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.











