Woolgoolga Back Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 30.12° S 153.21° E

Woolgoolga Back Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 pm 31 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Woolgoolga Back Beach sea temperature is
19.9°C
0.3° 

Woolgoolga Back Beach surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Woolgoolga Back Beach surf forecast from 31 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 10s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 7s period, NE swell with 206 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 16s period with SSE swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Woolgoolga Back Beach this week:

The surf forecast for Woolgoolga Back Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Woolgoolga Back Beach in the next 16 days are 1.5m 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 05) at 4PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Tue 1st Sep)1.5ft (0.4m) 16s
Best Surf10AM (Tue 1st Sep)2.5ft (0.7m) 10s
Most Powerful10PM (Mon 7th Sep)5ft (1.5m) 7s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Woolgoolga Back Beach over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

G’day, it’s Rusty here. Let’s cut to the chase. The next couple of weeks at Woolgoolga Back Beach are a proper test of patience. We’ve got a long, quiet spell to start, a dead run that’ll have you checking your wax stash, and then a big, messy pulse of energy that’s more about watching the horizon than getting a clean one. It’s not a total write-off, but you’ve got to pick your moments.

Right now, it’s small and pretty ordinary. Monday afternoon is a non-event with a weak 3ft of south-south-east swell, a short 8-second period, and a southerly breeze putting a chop on it. The water’s sitting at 68°, which is about normal for this time of year, so no drama there. Tuesday morning is the first flicker of hope – a clean 2ft with a 10-second period and a light offshore northerly. It’s tiny, but the surface will be glassy. The northerly is cross-off, so the lines might have a bit of shape. That’s your best window for a log or a fish in the first few days. The moderate wave energy reading backs that up. But don’t get too excited; it’s a short-lived clean spell.

The rest of that first week is a grind. We’re looking at a run of days with waves under 3ft and a mixed bag of winds. Wednesday has a few small ones with a gentle offshore, but it’s 2ft, so bring the foamie. By Thursday and Friday, it’s dropping further, and while the wind is okay, there’s just no push. The energy is weak. You’ll be fighting for scraps. Saturday morning sees a little 2ft pulse from the south with a clean offshore, but it’s not enough to get excited about. This whole stretch is a classic case of “if you’re desperate, you might get a knee-high burger.”

Then we hit a proper dead zone. From the 7th of September, the swells are tiny and the wind is all over the shop. A moderate northerly on Monday, then a fresh 35 km/h north-north-east breeze that afternoon, making a mess of things. Then comes a big jump in size on the 8th and 9th, but the quality tanks. The south-east wind swings onshore and builds. By Wednesday the 9th, we’re looking at 8ft and 12ft of south-south-east swell with a moderate cross-onshore breeze. That’s no good for a paddle. The energy readings are climbing, but the wind has turned it into a lumpy, choppy mess. If you’ve got a kite, that look might be more interesting than a surfboard.

The worst of it is the 10th of September. That swell maxes out at 15ft with a 12-second period, and the onshore wind is just ruining it. The energy is huge, but the waves are going to be a closed-out, wind-blown disaster. This is expert-only, and honestly, even then, it’s just not worth it. This is a time to watch and shake your head.

After that big pulse drops, we finally get a clean-up. Into the 11th, the swell eases to 12ft, and the wind finally swings offshore on Saturday the 12th. That morning looks all right on paper – 8ft of south-east swell with a light south-easterly – but the period is down to 9 seconds, and it’s still carrying a lot of energy, which makes it tricky at a beach break like this. It’s marginal at best. The clean-up continues into the 13th, with a dropping swell and lighter winds, but it’s still just over 5ft and a bit crumbly. The waves are straight and lumpy.

The last few days of the window just fade away. The swell ticks down to under 3ft, the period drops to 8 seconds, and we’ve got rain showers and onshore winds. It’s all over.

So, what’s the call? The standout is Tuesday morning, the 1st of September. It’s tiny, but it’s clean. The water temp is normal, the wind is offshore, and you might get a few fun little runners on the inside. The other moment is that Saturday the 12th morning, but it’s a promise – the swell is big, but the quality is iffy. For everything else, keep the board in the car and wait. It’s one of those blank runs that’s just normal for this place. It won’t stay poor for long, but this stretch is a test.

Rusty out.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 30°C on Thu morning, min 15°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 31°C on Thu afternoon, min 17°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Mon
31
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
Friday
4
Saturday
5
Sunday
6
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
1
2
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
SSE
8
0.8
SSE
8
0.7
SSE
10
0.7
SSE
12
0.6
SSE
11
0.5
SSE
11
0.5
SSE
10
0.4
SSE
11
0.4
SSE
10
0.4
SSE
10
0.4
SE
10
1
SSE
7
0.5
SSE
8
0.7
SSE
10
0.5
S
9
0.5
SSE
11
0.7
NE
7
0.3
E
10
0.3
E
10
0.5
S
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
113
90
81
150
93
64
62
44
39
39
27
93
37
110
40
66
47
18
17
56
Wind (km/h)
15
SE
10
W
10
N
30
NE
10
NW
15
NW
15
NNE
10
NW
15
NNW
15
WNW
10
WSW
10
SSE
15
NE
10
WNW
15
NNW
10
NW
10
W
15
S
10
E
5
NW
Wind State
on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
off
off
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
off
High Tide
9:57PM1.41m
10:33AM1.41m
10:38PM1.28m
11:20AM1.42m
11:26PM1.14m
12:16PM1.41m
00:26AM1.00m
1:24PM1.40m
1:46AM0.90m
2:42PM1.42m
3:18AM0.88m
3:58PM1.49m
Low Tide
4:14AM0.06m
4:42PM0.23m
4:50AM0.11m
5:38PM0.30m
5:33AM0.18m
6:47PM0.37m
6:26AM0.26m
8:15PM0.40m
7:35AM0.32m
9:47PM0.36m
8:58AM0.33m
11:01PM0.26m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:03
6:01
6:00
5:58
5:58
5:56
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:30
5:30
5:31
5:31
5:32
5:34
5:34
 mm
Temp °C
18
17
20
19
18
25
23
21
30
31
23
19
20
18
30
31
25
20
20
18
Feels °C
16
17
16
15
15
21
20
19
26
27
21
17
18
18
26
30
23
19
20
19
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Woolgoolga Back Beach Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Woolgoolga Back Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Woolgoolga Back Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Woolgoolga Back Beach 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 (Woolgoolga Back Beach) 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 Woolgoolga Back Beach 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.

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