
Surf Forecasts:
The Spit surf forecast from 4 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 5 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 10s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 9 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 9s period, E swell with 199 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 5 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 10s 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 (Aug 05) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 18s. 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 1.1m 9s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 09) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 4s period and expected on Monday (Aug 10) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Wed 5th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Wed 5th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Sun 9th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Spit over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, it’s Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – if you’re looking for a proper session at The Spit over the next couple of weeks, you’re going to have to pick your moments. The swell’s hanging around, but it’s mostly small and the wind’s all over the shop. That said, there are a couple of windows where it cleans right up, and those are the ones to chase.
Right now, we’re looking at a Wednesday morning with a bit of east swell pushing in. Waist-high stuff at 3ft with a 10-second period, and the energy is moderate (131). The wind is light out of the northwest, so it’s cross-off and clean. It’s surfable, but honestly, it’s pretty ordinary – not the kind of morning you’d set an alarm for. The water here is sitting at 68°, which is about normal for this time of year.
Thursday morning brings the best conditions we’ll see in the first few days. The swell drops a touch to 2ft with a short 8-second period, so the energy is weak (64). But the wind goes glassy out of the southwest – completely dead. That makes for a smooth, clean surface on the small waves. For a beginner or someone on a longboard, it could be fun, but there’s not much push to it. The afternoon turns onshore, so don’t bother then.
Friday morning is similar – 3ft at 7 seconds, still weak energy (82), but the wind is calm, dead glass. Clean but small. Saturday and Sunday, the breeze swings around and puts a chop on it, so those days are a write-off.
Now, here’s the standout. Monday the 10th. The swell stays at 3ft, period bumps up to 9 seconds, and the energy comes alive a bit (179). The wind on Monday morning is a fresh 30 km/h out of the west-northwest, cross-off, which keeps the faces clean. But the better call is Monday afternoon: 20 km/h offshore, 3ft of east swell, and the energy is still moderate (126). That’s a proper offshore wind on a river mouth, and it’s the best we’re going to get in this run. Clean, lined-up, and The Spit can handle that.
Tuesday the 11th, the morning is glassy again with a light west-northwest breeze, 3ft at 9 seconds (128). Another clean one, but the swell’s still small. Wednesday the 12th has a gentle offshore in the morning, again 3ft, and then the afternoon goes glassy with 2ft at 10 seconds (101). That afternoon is worth a look too.
After that, from Thursday the 13th through to about Tuesday the 18th, it gets messy. The swell teeters between 2ft and 3ft, but the period drops off, the wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, and the energy is all over the place. It’s small, lumpy, and not worth your time. Don’t even think about Saturday the 15th – the afternoon kicks up to 4ft but it’s a short, choppy 6-second windswell with a moderate cross-onshore. Sunday the 16th gets bigger, up to 5ft on the afternoon, but with 25 km/h cross-onshore winds and rain showers, it’s going to be a messy, blown-out affair. For a beach-break setup, that’s more kite-surfing territory than paddling.
The best of the second week comes on Tuesday the 18th morning. The swell is back to 3ft, period at 8 seconds, and the energy jumps to 184 – moderate but solid. The wind is light out of the southeast, cross-onshore, but only 5 km/h, so it won’t be too chopped up. It’s not perfect, but it’s the most promising of that stretch. Then Wednesday the 19th morning goes glassy again – calm wind, 2ft at 10 seconds (120). Another chance to get a clean one, though still small.
So, the honest take: the first week is hit-and-miss, with Monday the 10th and the following day offering the cleanest conditions. The second week is weaker and less reliable, with Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th mornings being the pick. There are a few quiet days in there, especially from the 13th to the 17th, but the window isn’t completely shut. You’ve just got to be patient and pick the glassy slots.
Keep an eye on it, and I’ll see you in the water.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Wed morning, min 13°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Mon afternoon, min 10°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSE on Sat morning, fresh winds from the WNW by Mon morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 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 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | E 9 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
122 | 101 | 55 | 33 | 33 | 29 | 70 | 66 | 52 | 60 | 153 | 142 | 159 | 160 | 127 | 101 | 101 | 103 | 113 | 113 | 110 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | off | glassy | on | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | glassy | cross | off |
High Tide | 12:50PM1.30m | 00:49AM1.17m | 1:55PM1.33m | 1:53AM1.05m | 3:12PM1.39m | 3:16AM0.97m | 4:34PM1.48m | 4:50AM0.96m | 5:43PM1.60m | 6:06AM1.02m | 6:41PM1.70m | 7:04AM1.10m | 7:30PM1.76m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:01PM0.51m | 7:12AM0.33m | 8:26PM0.56m | 8:14AM0.35m | 10:04PM0.55m | 9:25AM0.35m | 11:28PM0.46m | 10:38AM0.31m | 00:31AM0.35m | 11:44AM0.25m | 1:21AM0.26m | 12:42PM0.18m | 2:06AM0.18m | ||||||||
6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | |
— | 5:17 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:21 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 21 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 21 | 22 | 16 | 17 | 20 | 16 |
Feels °C | 17 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 9 | ENE 7 | E 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | E 9 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 |
122 | 101 | 32 | 33 | 26 | 28 | 70 | 66 | 52 | 60 | 153 | 142 | 159 | 160 | 127 | 101 | 101 | 103 | 113 | 113 | 110 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 18 | E 18 | E 9 | ENE 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | ESE 9 | SSE 10 | NE 10 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | E 13 | NNE 6 | NE 6 | NE 5 | S 6 | NNE 5 |
6 | 6 | 55 | 26 | 33 | 29 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 16 | 9 | 14 | 24 | 23 | 2 | 3 | 22 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 13 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 9 | SE 8 | E 18 | E 16 | E 16 | E 16 | SE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSE 10 | E 14 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | S 9 | E 13 | E 13 | SSW 4 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 8 |
3 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 2 | NNE 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 4 | S 4 | ESE 2 | — | — | — | NNE 5 | N 6 | NW 3 | — | — | N 3 | N 4 |
1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | 27 | 72 | 5 | — | — | 4 | 32 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 149 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 17 | 28 | 0 | 28 | 130 | 130 | 43 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gold Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
Latest Updates
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.











