Woolgoolga Back Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – the next 16 days at Woolgoolga Back Beach are a real mixed bag, and honestly, there’s nothing in the first week that gets me excited. It’s going to be a waiting game, but there’s a light at the end of the tunnel if you’re patient.

We’ve got a long dry spell kicking things off. From today, Friday the 21st of August, right through to the end of the month, the surf is small and poor. We’re looking at tiny waves, mostly around 2 ft to 3 ft, with short, weak swell periods around 6 to 8 seconds. The energy is low, with values down in the 40s and 50s for most of that time, barely a ripple. The wind is a mixed bag of cross-off and onshore, and while there’s a moment of glassy conditions on Saturday the 22nd afternoon, the swell is just too small at 2 ft to make anything of it. It’s a tough run, with no real standouts for over a week.

Now, we start to see a little pulse around Monday the 24th morning. There’s a glassy morning with a bit of a south swell – 2 ft at 11 seconds – and the combined energy jumps up to 133, which is moderate, but the conditions are described as ordinary, so don’t get your hopes up. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on Friday the 28th of August. The morning is looking promising, with a clean, cross-off wind from the NNW at 10 mph. The swell is a bit bigger at 3 ft, coming from the SSE with a 10-second period, and the energy is solid at 314. It’s still not huge, but it’s the cleanest, most lined-up the place will be all week. If you want a paddle, that’s your best bet in this first chunk, but be ready for a crowd – it’s a spot that does get busy sometimes.

Then we hit a real rough patch through the 29th and 30th with strong, onshore winds (22 mph) and lumpy, choppy conditions. The swell picks up a bit, hitting 6 ft on Sunday the 30th afternoon, but with a short 7-second period and an onshore wind, it’s messy. At that size and with that wind, the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Now, for the standout of the entire outlook. Mark your calendar for Tuesday the 1st of September. The morning is glassy – no wind, not a breath – and the swell is a consistent 4 ft from the east, with a 9-second period. The combined energy is 202, good moderate energy. This is the best on offer. The conditions are clean, glassy, and the wave state is perfect. It’s a beginner-friendly spot, so 4 ft is fine for learners, and with that quality, you won’t want to miss it. Bring a crowd, though – it happens.

After that, the surf holds at around 3 ft to 3 ft through the rest of the first week of September, but the winds turn more cross-onshore, and the quality drops back to ordinary. It’s not a total loss, but nothing compares to that Tuesday morning. That’s your moment. Until then, keep the board in the car and the coffee hot.

Rusty

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