
Surf Forecasts:
Wategos surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 13 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 9s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, ESE swell with 2,022 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 13 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 9s period with ESE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Wategos this week:
The surf forecast for Wategos over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 13) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 9s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Wategos in the next 16 days are 3.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 16) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Mon 13th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Mon 13th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Wategos over the next 16 days.
G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve gotta be straight with you – the next week and a half at Wategos is a bit of a mixed bag. We’re starting off with some tiny, weak waves, and it takes a while before anything gets the blood pumping. Hang in there, though, because the second half of the window has some serious grunt, but you’ll need to pick your moments.
Right now, Monday the 13th, it’s small. We’ve got a 2ft swell from the SE with a 9-second period – that’s weak energy (58) and the conditions are just ordinary. The morning is clean with a light cross-off breeze, but it’s not worth paddling out for. Come Monday afternoon, a NE cross-on kicks in and it’s a write-off.
Tuesday and Wednesday (14th & 15th) are flat. Swell drops to 0.7ft, energy is down in the teens (16, 15, 16), and even though the wind is cross-off and clean, there’s nothing to ride. Wednesday afternoon sees a strong offshore wind (30 km/h) but the swell is 0.3ft – forget it. Thursday the 16th is the same story: fresh offshore wind but only 0.7-1ft of swell (energy 8-11). This is a big gap of no surf.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Friday the 17th morning, the swell jumps to 8ft from the SE, period 8 seconds, and the energy is pumping (787). It’s clean with a cross-off breeze, but that’s a lot of power – this is expert territory. The waves are going to be chunky and a bit raw, but if you’ve got the skills, it’s on. Saturday the 18th holds similar size (7-8ft) with strong energy (700-902), but the wind is still cross-off, keeping it clean.
The standout, though, is Sunday the 19th. That afternoon brings a 10ft ESE swell, 10-second period, and the energy is massive (1906). The wind turns offshore, moderate at 25 km/h, and the conditions are clean. This is the best on offer – big, powerful groundswell, perfect for the point. But listen, 10ft is only for the experienced crew. Beginners, stay on the sand. Monday the 20th afternoon is also a cracker: 8ft E swell, 10-second period, offshore wind, and energy at 1069 – very good surf.
The week of the 21st to the 23rd sees the swell drop back to a more manageable 4-6ft, with clean conditions and light winds. It’s good, solid surf, but not the standout of the previous weekend. By Thursday the 23rd, it’s fading to 4ft and the energy is dropping (244). The 24th and 25th bring onshore winds and poor conditions, and the 26th-28th is a slow fade to 2ft with weak energy.
Water temp is about average for this time of year, so no shock to the system. Wategos is a point break that’s very consistent, but it’s always crowded, especially when the swell hits. For the big days on the 19th and 20th, expect a full lineup. That’s the price of a good wave.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon morning, min 12°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon morning, fresh winds from the S by Wed afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Fri night. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri morning, min 15°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sun 19 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | NE 10 | NE 11 | ENE 9 | NE 8 | NE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
98 | 38 | 37 | 20 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 776 | 784 | 844 | 902 | 692 | 1194 | 1693 | 1893 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 6:43AM1.03m | 7:18PM1.89m | 7:38AM1.06m | 8:08PM1.96m | 8:28AM1.10m | 8:55PM1.96m | 9:16AM1.13m | 9:40PM1.89m | 10:03AM1.16m | 10:23PM1.77m | 10:51AM1.18m | 11:04PM1.60m | 11:42AM1.19m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:15AM0.13m | 12:28PM0.03m | 2:07AM0.05m | 1:20PM-0.03m | 2:54AM0.01m | 2:10PM-0.05m | 3:39AM-0.00m | 2:59PM-0.03m | 4:21AM0.02m | 3:46PM0.05m | 5:00AM0.06m | 4:35PM0.16m | 5:38AM0.11m | 5:26PM0.30m | |||||||
— | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | |
— | — | 5:04 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:06 | — | — | 5:06 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
Feels °C | 13 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | SE 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 4 | ESE 9 | NE 10 | NE 11 | ENE 9 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | S 17 | S 12 | S 12 | ESE 9 | S 20 | S 19 | SE 18 |
98 | 38 | 30 | 30 | 22 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 23 | 12 | 11 | 692 | 7 | 7 | 13 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 9 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 10 | S 8 | SE 12 | E 9 | — | — | S 16 | S 18 | S 17 | — | N 9 | S 20 | S 21 | E 18 | S 13 | S 18 |
22 | 22 | 37 | 17 | 6 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 2 | — | — | 5 | 7 | 6 | — | 2 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 6 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 4 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 7 | ESE 10 | SE 6 | — | — | — | — | S 15 | — | — | — | — | E 20 | — | — | S 18 |
1 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | — | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 3 | SSW 3 | — | — | WSW 2 | SSE 2 | — | S 4 | SSE 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 7 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 |
2 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 28 | 461 | 706 | 843 | 731 | 595 | 776 | 784 | 844 | 902 | 254 | 1194 | 1693 | 1893 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 0 | 216 | 1 | 240 | 405 | 342 | 216 | 53 | 13 | 13 | 274 | 92 | 517 | 92 | 92 | 216 | 92 | 53 | 92 | 92 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Coast - New South Wales | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Wategos Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Wategos provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Wategos can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Wategos 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 (Wategos) 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 Wategos 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.
Wategos is 27 km (17 miles) from Ballina. If you plan a holiday in North Coast - New South Wales, look for hotels and other accommodation in Ballina. Ballina has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











