Woolgoolga Back Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 30.12° S 153.21° E

Woolgoolga Back Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 pm 18 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Woolgoolga Back Beach sea temperature is
19.4° C
0.6° 

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 18 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period, ESE swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 10s period, ESE swell with 365 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period with ESE 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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Woolgoolga Back Beach in the next 16 days are 1.4m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 10PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7AM (Wed 19th Aug)4.5ft (1.3m) 8s
Best Surf 7AM (Wed 19th Aug)4.5ft (1.3m) 8s
Most Powerful 4PM (Wed 19th Aug)4.5ft (1.4m) 10s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll level with you – this stretch of the NSW coast is looking pretty grim for the next couple of weeks. Woolgoolga Back Beach is the only game in town, and honestly, it’s a tough one to get excited about. We’ve got a big gap of poor conditions right through the first week, and while there’s a pulse of energy late in the second week, the wind is just going to ruin it.

Right now, from Tuesday 18th August, we’re looking at a weak, short-period ESE swell around 4ft, but it’s onshore and messy. The water temp is sitting at 67°F, which is about average for this time of year. The combined swell energy is a moderate 299, but with the cross-on wind, it’s just choppy slop. Not worth a paddle.

Wednesday 19th and Thursday 20th are a little better, with a cleaner cross-off breeze on Thursday morning, but the swell is still small and weak – around 4ft to 5ft at best. The energy bumps up to 438 on Wednesday afternoon, but it’s still a short-period 10 seconds, so it’s not going to draw any decent lines. Honestly, these are just small, average waves for the beginners who want to get wet.

Then we hit a real dead zone. From Friday 21st August all the way through to Saturday 29th August, the swell drops right off – we’re talking 2ft to 3ft, mostly from the ENE, with periods under 8 seconds. The wave energy is mostly below 100, and the wind is either cross-off or onshore. Even the glassy mornings on the 22nd, 23rd, and 27th can’t save it because there’s just no swell to work with. That’s a solid nine days of almost nothing.

Now, the tail end of the outlook gets interesting, but not in a good way for surfing. On Sunday 30th August, a big southerly swell arrives. It’s pumping in at 6ft in the morning, building to 8ft by the afternoon, with a very long period of 18 seconds. The combined energy is a massive 3974 – that’s some serious ocean power. The swell direction is SSE, which is cross-on for this exposed beach break. That’s a lot of raw energy, but with a cross-on wind and a beach break, it’s going to be a closing-out, choppy mess. This setup looks way more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The long period will make it heaving and straight, and at 8ft, it’s strictly for experts only – and even then, the wind will kill any quality.

The best chance to get a surfable wave, if you’re desperate, would be on Monday 31st August. The swell drops to 6ft in the morning, with a period of 13 seconds, and the wind is a lighter cross-on from the SSW. The energy is still a strong 949. The conditions are listed as “marginal,” and with the onshore wind, it’s going to be lumpy, but the bigger swell might offer a few shifty peaks for the experienced crew. Just don’t expect any clean barrels.

So, the standout? There isn’t one. If you absolutely have to paddle, the cleanest air will be Thursday 20th August morning, when the NNE cross-off gives you a clean surface on the small 4ft swell. That’s your best bet for a fun, easy session, but it’s nothing to write home about. The rest of the forecast is a solid run of no real surf. Keep the board waxed and wait for the next system.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 20°C on Fri morning, min 14°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Sat afternoon. Warm (max 21°C on Mon morning, min 14°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
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)
1.4
ESE
9
1.3
ESE
8
1.4
ESE
10
1.2
ESE
8
1.3
ESE
7
1.2
E
7
1
E
7
0.8
E
7
0.9
NE
6
0.7
NE
6
0.6
ENE
6
0.8
NE
7
0.6
ENE
8
0.6
ENE
8
0.6
ENE
7
0.6
ENE
7
0.7
ENE
8
0.4
SSE
10
0.8
ENE
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
286
226
365
155
186
146
97
61
58
38
31
54
53
44
43
42
52
33
80
Wind (km/h)
10
SW
5
SSE
5
E
10
WSW
5
NNE
20
NNE
10
NW
15
NNW
25
NNE
10
NNW
5
WNW
5
NE
5
NW
5
S
10
ESE
10
NW
15
N
25
NNE
15
NNW
Wind State
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
glassy
cross
off
cross-on
on
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
11:53PM1.08m
12:49PM1.27m
00:41AM0.94m
1:49PM1.23m
1:46AM0.84m
2:58PM1.23m
3:12AM0.80m
4:07PM1.26m
4:31AM0.82m
5:04PM1.33m
5:29AM0.88m
5:51PM1.41m
Low Tide
6:02AM0.26m
7:10PM0.50m
6:44AM0.35m
8:31PM0.55m
7:39AM0.41m
10:01PM0.53m
8:51AM0.44m
11:11PM0.47m
10:03AM0.42m
00:00AM0.39m
11:03AM0.36m
00:38AM0.31m
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
light rain
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:16
6:16
6:15
6:13
6:13
6:11
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:23
5:24
5:24
5:25
5:25
5:27
 mm
1
1
1
Temp °C
17
17
17
16
17
17
15
20
18
16
18
18
17
18
18
17
21
20
17
Feels °C
17
15
15
16
15
14
13
17
14
14
17
17
17
16
17
16
18
17
16
  • Map Icons:
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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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