Surf Forecasts:
Woolgoolga Back Beach surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 26 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 7s period, NE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 7s period, NE swell with 247 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 11s 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 Monday (Aug 24) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 6s. 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 1.6m 7s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Wed 26th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Wed 26th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Woolgoolga Back Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the menu for Woolgoolga Back Beach over the next couple of weeks.
Honestly, it’s a pretty grim stretch for the first week or so. The forecast has a lot of onshore wind and weak, short-period swell, so if you’re just looking at the first few days, you’re better off staying home. The swell is tiny, mostly around 2ft to 3ft, and the wind is either cross-on or just plain messy. There’s basically nothing worth a paddle from the start of the period right through until Tuesday the 25th of August, and even then, it’s only small, ordinary surf.
The first real flicker of hope comes on Tuesday morning, the 25th of August. The wind swings to a light cross-offshore from the north, keeping things clean. Swell is a tiny 2ft from the ENE, but the period is only 8 seconds, so it’s not going to have much push. The combined energy is weak at 126, so this is strictly for a longboard or a morning cruise if you’re desperate.
Wednesday the 26th of August keeps that same trend: clean conditions with a cross-off wind, but the swell is still only 3ft from the ENE with a short 7-second period. The energy is a bit better at 123 to 145, but it’s still very ordinary. Not a standout, just a step up from the junk that came before.
The real window, the one that’s worth circling on the calendar, is Tuesday the 1st of September. The afternoon session looks like the pick of the whole forecast. The swell is 3ft from the east, period is 8 seconds, and the wind is light and cross-off from the north, so the conditions will be clean. The combined energy hits 272 (moderate), and the forecast rates it as good surf conditions. It’s a beginner-friendly break, so it won’t be too intimidating, but the crowds are listed as “sometimes,” so don’t expect to have it all to yourself.
After that, it turns ugly again. Thursday the 2nd of September sees a big southerly change with fresh, strong winds and lumpy, choppy conditions. Those 4ft to 4ft swells are blown out. The end of the run gets a bit wild, with a big pulse of 10ft swell from the SSE on Saturday the 5th of September, but it comes with a strong cross-on wind and a combined energy of 1568, which is very strong, but the quality is poor. That much swell with that much wind is only going to be a messy, washing-machine affair. Not for beginners, and not really for anyone looking for a clean wave.
So, bottom line: the first week and a half is mostly a write-off. The one standout is the afternoon of Tuesday the 1st of September. That’s the session to aim for. Clean, small, and fun enough for a beginner to get a few. Don't get too excited about the rest.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun morning, min 14°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Warm (max 20°C on Tue morning, min 15°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNE on Tue afternoon, calm by Wed morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | E 8 | SSE 12 | SE 6 | SSE 11 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | NE 6 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
33 | 32 | 26 | 29 | 49 | 72 | 69 | 82 | 72 | 73 | 49 | 98 | 247 | 136 | 94 | 140 | 173 | 173 | 137 | 140 | 115 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | on | off | cross-off | cross | off |
High Tide | 4:07PM1.26m | 4:31AM0.82m | 5:04PM1.33m | 5:29AM0.88m | 5:51PM1.41m | 6:14AM0.95m | 6:31PM1.49m | 6:52AM1.03m | 7:06PM1.56m | 7:28AM1.11m | 7:40PM1.60m | 8:03AM1.20m | 8:13PM1.60m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:11PM0.47m | 10:03AM0.42m | 00:00AM0.39m | 11:03AM0.36m | 00:38AM0.31m | 11:51AM0.29m | 1:11AM0.22m | 12:33PM0.22m | 1:42AM0.15m | 1:12PM0.16m | 2:11AM0.09m | 1:51PM0.13m | 2:41AM0.05m | ||||||||
6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | |
— | 5:25 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:29 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 23 | 21 | 18 |
Feels °C | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 6 | ESE 6 | SSE 10 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | SSE 9 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 |
33 | 32 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 72 | 56 | 82 | 72 | 73 | 49 | 17 | 108 | 136 | 94 | 140 | 173 | 173 | 137 | 140 | 115 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | SSE 7 | E 9 | S 8 | SSE 12 | E 7 | SSE 11 | ENE 7 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | S 16 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | S 8 | S 11 | S 11 | S 5 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | S 9 |
8 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 49 | 36 | 69 | 40 | 57 | 50 | 29 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 18 | 27 | 39 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 10 | SE 7 | S 6 | S 6 | SSE 9 | S 8 | SE 6 | SE 6 | ESE 6 | SE 5 | N 16 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | S 15 | N 13 | S 16 | S 10 | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | SSW 7 |
2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 27 | 29 | 16 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 29 | 25 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 18 | 16 | 18 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | S 4 | SSE 4 | — | — | ENE 8 | — | N 2 | NE 4 | NE 6 | NE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 2 | — |
— | — | — | 10 | 9 | — | — | 76 | — | 1 | 26 | 98 | 247 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 5 | 7 | 60 | 105 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 0 | 0 | 420 | 46 | 0 | 46 | 1 | 1 | 46 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Coast - New South Wales | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











