
Surf Forecasts:
Woolgoolga Back Beach surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 21 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 10s period, E swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 10s period, ESE swell with 3,222 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 21 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 10s period with E 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 (Jul 21) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m 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 4.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.2m 2s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Tue 21st Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Tue 21st Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 13ft (4.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Woolgoolga Back Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, I'm Rusty. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for the next couple of weeks.
Well, it's a pretty grim start to the outlook, I've gotta be honest. We're looking at a long stretch of poor conditions. The first real chance of a wave comes on the 17th of July, but it's a write-off. That afternoon sees a 7ft south-east swell, but with a 19 mph SSE wind smashing straight onshore, it's a messy, blown-out nightmare. The wave energy is moderate (543), but you wouldn't want to be out there.
The situation doesn't improve at all through the weekend. Saturday the 18th sees the swell jump up to 8ft from the ESE, but a screaming 25 mph S wind turns it into a total washing machine. Sunday the 19th is even bigger, with an 12ft ESE swell and strong onshore winds; that's proper expert territory, and the conditions are just plain ugly. The combined energy hits 2574, which is strong, but it's all for nothing with the wind. The whole week continues this way, with moderate to strong energy but constant onshore winds. By Monday the 21st, the swell drops to 6ft, but it's still cross-on and only marginal at best.
The first real glimmer of hope arrives on Wednesday the 22nd of July. Now, I'm not gonna get too excited, but for the first time in the outlook, we have a clean offshore wind. The morning session at Woolgoolga Back Beach shows a 4ft east swell with a light NW wind blowing offshore. This is a beginner-friendly break, and the conditions are clean. It's a small day, but it's surfable. The energy is still weak (219), and the 9-second period means it's a short-period wind swell, but if you're desperate for a paddle, that's the spot.
After that, it's another long dry spell. The swell fades away to nothing for days, with tiny 2ft and 1.0ft waves right through to the end of July. There's a glassy morning on the 27th, but with only 2ft on offer, it's barely a ripple.
The next potential standout is a long way off, on the 1st of August. It's a Saturday, and the morning looks promising. We've got a 4ft south swell, a clean offshore wind from the NNW, and the combined energy is a moderate 205. The 8-second period is nothing special, but the conditions are clean. For a beginner spot like Woolgoolga Back Beach, this is the best we're going to see in the entire 16-day window. The water temperature is sitting at 68°, which is about average for this time of year, so no need for a thick wetsuit. The crowd factor is listed as "sometimes," so you might have a few others with the same idea, but it won't be a circus.
The afternoon of the 1st of August sees the swell increase to 5ft, but the wind swings onshore and cross-shore, messing it up again. So, if you're hanging out for a wave, mark your calendar for the morning of the 1st of August. That's your one and only real chance. The rest is a whole lot of nothing.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 28mm), heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri afternoon, min 16°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the S on Sat afternoon, light winds from the SSE by Mon morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
472 | 479 | 460 | 1016 | 3222 | 2449 | 2013 | 1365 | 920 | 843 | 716 | 557 | 415 | 234 | 196 | 164 | 160 | 127 | 123 | 92 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-off | off | cross | off | cross-on | on | cross |
High Tide | 10:27PM1.71m | 11:04AM1.19m | 11:10PM1.55m | 11:55AM1.21m | 11:54PM1.37m | 12:48PM1.22m | 00:39AM1.19m | 1:44PM1.22m | 1:29AM1.04m | 2:44PM1.24m | 2:30AM0.92m | 3:44PM1.27m | 3:40AM0.86m | |||||||
Low Tide | 5:05AM0.02m | 4:47PM0.20m | 5:45AM0.08m | 5:41PM0.32m | 6:24AM0.15m | 6:40PM0.43m | 7:04AM0.22m | 7:50PM0.51m | 7:47AM0.28m | 9:09PM0.54m | 8:37AM0.34m | 10:29PM0.52m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | |
5:05 | — | — | 5:06 | — | — | 5:06 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 2 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 18 | S 14 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | S 20 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSE 16 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 |
54 | 16 | 460 | 1016 | 72 | 114 | 103 | 50 | 920 | 843 | 716 | 557 | 415 | 234 | 196 | 164 | 160 | 127 | 123 | 92 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 19 | S 22 | S 21 | — | S 24 | S 23 | S 17 | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 5 |
11 | 7 | 36 | 79 | — | 11 | 11 | 6 | 34 | 54 | 56 | 40 | 38 | 37 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 22 | 10 | 27 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | S 18 | — | — | — | S 16 | S 20 | S 16 | SE 15 | S 14 | S 13 | E 12 | S 6 | — | S 10 |
6 | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | 5 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | SE 7 | S 6 | S 7 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 5 | S 5 |
472 | 479 | 214 | 349 | 3222 | 2449 | 2013 | 1365 | 104 | 75 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 25 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 339 | 47 | 508 | 519 | 436 | 479 | 436 | 28 | 21 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 78 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 1 |
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.










