Woolgoolga Back Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Woolgoolga Back Beach over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you—this stretch of coast is going through a pretty ordinary run. For the first week and a half, there’s not much to get excited about. The wind is messy, mostly onshore or cross-onshore, and the swell is small with short periods. The water temp is sitting about average for the time of year, nothing wild. Expect a lot of choppy, lumpy surfaces and poor conditions through Thursday morning 13 August all the way to around Saturday 22 August. There’s a run of rain showers and moderate breezes that just won’t let up, and wave energy stays weak to moderate (466 or less) for most of that time. The swell direction is mostly from the S to SE, which is not ideal for this spot—it’s exposed to SE swell, but the wind just keeps trashing it.

Now, there’s a glimmer of hope as we head into the second week. Sunday 23 August morning sees a shift: a light offshore wind from the NW at 12 mph, with a small 3 ft east swell and moderate energy (134). It’s not pumping, but it’s clean. That afternoon gets even better with a glassy offshore breeze from the WNW at just 3 mph and 3 ft of east swell (169 energy). The surf is still very ordinary, but at least it’s rideable.

The real standout, though, comes on Tuesday 25 August morning. That’s the one to circle. Glassy conditions, a light N wind at 3 mph, and a 3 ft east swell with a period of 10 seconds. The combined energy is 212—moderate—and the water will be clean. This is the best of the whole run. The swell direction (E) is a good match for the optimum SE direction, and with glassy winds, it’ll be smooth and fun for a beginner-friendly wave. Just be aware crowds are sometimes around, so don’t expect total solitude.

After that, Wednesday 26 August morning also looks glassy with a 3 ft south swell, but the wind swings SSW and then the afternoon brings a big jump in swell—8 ft from the S with a 10-second period and a massive 1415 energy. That’s serious wave energy, but the wind is onshore at 19 mph, making it poor for surfing. That kind of power is more for the brave or the kite crew.

The rest of the week into 28 August fades back into smaller, wind-affected surf. So, overall, there’s a long flat spell, then a clean window on the 23rd and a real glassy gem on the morning of the 25th. If you’re keen, that Tuesday morning is your best bet.

Rusty.

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