Woolgoolga Back Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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.

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