Surf Forecasts:
The Spit surf forecast from 5 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 11 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 9s period, SSE swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 11 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 9s period, SSE swell with 893 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 5 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s period with NNE 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 Saturday (Sep 05) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 10s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at The Spit in the next 16 days are 2.4m 9s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 11) at 1AM. 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 2s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Sat 5th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Fri 11th Sep) | 8ft (2.4m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Fri 11th Sep) | 8ft (2.4m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Spit over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for The Spit over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you – it’s a pretty grim run for the most part, but there’s one little gem hiding way out there if you’re patient.
The Spit is a river mouth setup, exposed to the east, and it’s a consistent little wave for beginners when it’s working. But for the first week and a half, it’s pretty much a write-off. The swell is tiny, the wind is all over the shop, and the energy is weak – we’re talking combined energy values in the double digits (29 to 85) for most of the first week, which is just sad. Even when the swell bumps up to 5ft on Sunday the 6th afternoon, the wind is cross-off but the period is a short, crumbly 6 seconds, so it’s not going to hold shape. The water temp is sitting at 69°, which is about normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.
We’ve got a long, dry stretch from the 5th all the way through to the 16th of September where you’d be lucky to get a single rideable wave. The wind is either onshore, cross-onshore, or just too strong, and the wave heights barely touch 3ft. There’s a bit of a tease on the 17th of September morning with a 3ft swell from the SE and a long 11-second period, plus a clean cross-off wind, but the combined energy is 369 (moderate) and it’s only rated as marginal. Could be a sneaky one, but don’t hold your breath.
Now, the standout. If you’ve got the patience of a saint, mark Friday the 18th of September on your calendar. The morning session is the real deal. We’ve got a 4ft groundswell from the SE with a very long 16-second period, combined energy of 776 (strong), and the wind is absolute glass – a light northerly at 3 mph. That’s the kind of setup that’ll have the Spit rolling in clean, long lines. The direction is a perfect match for the optimum easterly swell direction. It’s a beginner-friendly break, and with that kind of quality, the crowds are likely to be around, so get in early. Just keep in mind that long period like that can make the waves a bit straight at a river mouth, but with the glassy conditions, it’ll still be a blast.
After that, the 19th and 20th of September go back to being messy with fresh onshore winds, so that Friday morning is your only real window of glory.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 29°C on Sun afternoon, min 16°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSE on Sun afternoon, light winds from the E by Mon night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 20°C on Tue morning, min 15°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the ESE on Wed morning, fresh winds from the SSE by Thu morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | E 9 | E 9 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | N 6 | SE 6 | SSE 9 | SE 10 | SE 10 | E 10 | SE 5 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SSE 9 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 15 | 15 | 77 | 25 | 141 | 52 | 32 | 53 | 50 | 16 | 41 | 113 | 147 | 148 | 79 | 173 | 382 | 893 | 90 | 169 | 271 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 2:57PM1.41m | 3:25AM0.88m | 4:23PM1.48m | 5:01AM0.94m | 5:31PM1.56m | 6:05AM1.05m | 6:25PM1.63m | 6:54AM1.16m | 7:12PM1.65m | 7:37AM1.27m | 7:53PM1.64m | 8:17AM1.34m | 8:32PM1.57m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:10PM0.48m | 9:14AM0.39m | 11:24PM0.38m | 10:35AM0.34m | 00:17AM0.27m | 11:41AM0.26m | 1:00AM0.19m | 12:37PM0.18m | 1:39AM0.13m | 1:26PM0.13m | 2:14AM0.09m | 2:11PM0.11m | 2:48AM0.09m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | | |  | | | | | | |  | | | | | | |
 | 5:56 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — |
 | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:36 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 23 | 22 | 21 | 28 | 29 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 17 |
Feels °C | 21 | 20 | 19 | 25 | 27 | 13 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | NE 5 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | ESE 5 | SE 10 | SE 10 | NE 8 | E 10 | E 9 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 10 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 9 | ESE 7 | SE 15 | SE 7 |
| kJ | 15 | 15 | 23 | 25 | 42 | 16 | 15 | 53 | 50 | 9 | 16 | 14 | 147 | 148 | 79 | 12 | 12 | 266 | 90 | 35 | 63 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 6 | SE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | NE 8 | NE 7 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 15 | E 15 | E 9 | SE 11 | E 8 | SE 11 |
| kJ | 3 | 4 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 32 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 9 | 2 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 19 | 5 | 40 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 11 | NE 8 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | S 10 | E 9 | NE 6 | ENE 6 | SE 10 | E 7 | — | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | — | S 23 | E 15 | SE 15 | E 14 | E 8 |
| kJ | 11 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | 11 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 5 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NE 5 | NNE 6 | NW 2 | N 6 | SE 6 | — | ESE 5 | — | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 10 | — | — | — | SE 9 | SE 8 | SSE 9 | S 3 | SE 7 | SSE 7 |
| kJ | — | 13 | 77 | 2 | 141 | 52 | — | 12 | — | 9 | 41 | 113 | — | — | — | 173 | 382 | 893 | 3 | 169 | 271 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 81 | 288 | 0 | 66 | 0 | 28 | 24 | 28 | 14 | 28 | 166 | 14 | 28 | 28 | 14 | 68 | 787 | 22 | 28 | 28 | 17 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gold Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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