
Surf Forecasts:
The Spit surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 8s period, ESE swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 8s period, ESE swell with 688 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 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 (Aug 12) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at The Spit in the next 16 days are 2.4m 8s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) 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 0.2m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Wed 12th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Spit over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve got a look at the only spot firing in this region over the next 16 days. It’s The Spit, a river mouth break that’s consistent and exposed to the east, so it picks up pretty much anything that’s coming from that direction. Right now, the water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.
The short-term forecast is a bit of a struggle. Wednesday morning (12th) has tiny 2ft waves from the east with a light offshore breeze, making it clean but very ordinary. The combined energy is weak (68) and the period is short at 9 seconds, so it’s not doing much. That afternoon glass-off is a tease—still 2ft but glassy. It’s barely surfable.
Thursday the 13th gets smaller, 2ft, and by the afternoon the wind swings cross-onshore and it gets choppy. Friday the 14th through to the 17th is a write-off—strong cross and cross-onshore winds, lumpy, poor conditions. The swell tries to build on the 18th with 7ft morning and 5ft afternoon, but the wind is a mess, and the energy jumps to moderate (871 and 273). Still not worth paddling out.
Now, Wednesday the 19th morning is a standout—but not for the right reasons for most. We’ve got 8ft swell from the southeast, period 8 seconds, and the combined energy is strong (1421). The wind is cross-onshore though, and this spot is a river mouth. At 8ft, that’s expert-only territory, and the setup would be more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The forecast notes it’s too big for the break.
Things get interesting on Saturday the 22nd. The morning is a true gem—glassy, light offshore from the north-northeast, 6ft easterly swell with a period of 11 seconds. That’s a long-period groundswell, which means better shaped waves, more energy, and longer gaps between sets—ideal for a river mouth where the current can help you line up. The combined energy is strong (802). This is the best on offer. Clean, solid, and with that long-period push, it’ll be a ripper morning. Crowds are often, so get in early.
Sunday the 23rd morning is a second option: 5ft from the east, period 11 seconds again, cross-offshore wind from the north-northwest keeping it clean. The energy is moderate (446). It’s a step down but still a fun session.
Into the second week, Monday the 24th has a clean morning with 5ft and cross-off winds, and Tuesday the 25th morning is glassy with 5ft—both worth a look if you’re keen. The long-range forecast for Thursday the 27th morning shows a big 8ft southeast swell (period 10 seconds) with clean cross-off winds, but it’s too big for this break and is only for experts. Promising but less certain.
Overall, the standout is Saturday the 22nd morning. Clean, solid east swell, good period, and that glassy start. Don’t sleep on it.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 21°C on Wed morning, min 13°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed afternoon, fresh winds from the SE by Fri afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat morning, min 14°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | SSE 8 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SSE 6 | ENE 9 | SE 6 | SSE 7 | E 6 | ESE 6 | SE 6 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 8 | ESE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
60 | 61 | 61 | 42 | 42 | 257 | 38 | 39 | 146 | 29 | 83 | 56 | 32 | 91 | 261 | 319 | 226 | 406 | 650 | 377 | 563 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | glassy | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 8:15PM1.78m | 8:37AM1.24m | 8:57PM1.74m | 9:20AM1.28m | 9:37PM1.65m | 10:01AM1.30m | 10:15PM1.52m | 10:43AM1.29m | 10:51PM1.38m | 11:26AM1.27m | 11:27PM1.22m | 12:12PM1.23m | 00:04AM1.08m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:34PM0.13m | 2:47AM0.14m | 2:23PM0.12m | 3:25AM0.12m | 3:09PM0.14m | 4:01AM0.14m | 3:54PM0.20m | 4:37AM0.17m | 4:40PM0.29m | 5:11AM0.21m | 5:28PM0.39m | 5:47AM0.27m | 6:21PM0.49m | ||||||||
6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | |
— | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | |
mm | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 7 | 7 | — | 2 | 3 |
Temp °C | 21 | 21 | 14 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 19 | 20 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | SSE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SE 6 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | E 5 | E 6 | ENE 10 | ESE 6 | E 7 | SSE 8 | E 13 | E 8 | E 13 | E 8 |
60 | 61 | 61 | 42 | 42 | 50 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 7 | 32 | 32 | 85 | 215 | 107 | 4 | 377 | 3 | 326 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | SE 11 | NNE 6 | S 6 | SSE 7 | E 9 | NE 7 | SSE 10 | ENE 9 | SE 10 | — | ENE 9 | E 10 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 10 | E 13 | — | — | — | ESE 11 |
6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 11 | 43 | 2 | 9 | 27 | 4 | — | 29 | 17 | 1 | 29 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | 12 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 11 | S 14 | SE 11 | NNE 6 | NE 7 | NE 7 | — | — | SE 11 | S 19 | E 16 | — | ENE 7 | E 16 | E 11 | E 14 | — | — | — | — | — |
5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 4 | 7 | 5 | — | 10 | 5 | 9 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NE 6 | — | — | ESE 2 | SSE 8 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 5 | SE 6 | SSE 7 | S 3 | ESE 6 | SE 6 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 8 | ESE 8 |
— | 9 | — | — | 1 | 257 | 38 | 39 | 146 | 29 | 83 | 56 | 8 | 91 | 261 | 319 | 226 | 406 | 650 | 377 | 563 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 28 | 28 | 14 | 68 | 348 | 22 | 28 | 28 | 17 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 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.











