Woolgoolga Back Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a good hard look at what’s on the table for Woolgoolga Back Beach.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you—this forecast is a long, flat, and ugly stretch with one bright light way out at the end. The first real chance of a surf doesn’t arrive until Wednesday the 19th, and even then it’s just a teaser. We’re talking about a couple of days of something rideable before it all goes quiet again for the better part of a week.

Wednesday morning the 19th, we’ve got some 4ft ESE swell rolling in with a period of 8 seconds. The wind goes glassy, and that’s the key here—clean conditions make even small waves feel good. The water’s sitting at 67°, which is about average for this time of year. By the afternoon, the swell bumps up a touch to 5ft and the period stretches to 10 seconds, which will give the waves a bit more shape and push. Combined energy is sitting at (438) for that afternoon session—moderate energy, but with those glassy conditions, it’s a solid window for a beginner-friendly wave. It’s a fairly consistent break, so you’ll get a few. Just keep in mind, the swell is coming from ESE, which is straight on, so the wave face might be a little fat. And yeah, you might have some company—crowds are sometimes around.

Thursday the 20th starts off with a bit of hope—4ft ESE swell, period 8 seconds, and a light N wind making it clean. But that’s about it. The energy drops to (162) and the quality is just ordinary. By the afternoon, the wind picks up to 12 mph from the NNE and the waves get messy. After that, we hit the wall. From Friday the 21st all the way through to Saturday the 29th of August, it’s pretty much a write-off. Swells drop to under 3ft, periods are short, and winds are all over the shop—cross-off, cross-on, you name it. There are a few glassy moments on the 22nd and 26th, but with only 2ft to 2ft on offer and combined energy in the 40s and 70s, it’s barely a ripple.

Now, I told you there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Sunday the 30th of August. This is the standout. The morning brings a pulse of 6ft NE swell. That’s the biggest we’ve seen in the whole 16-day run. The period is a short 7 seconds, which means it’ll be a bit lumpy and sectiony, but the combined energy is a massive (677)—that’s strong energy for this spot. And here’s the clincher: the wind is glassy, dead calm. The break is exposed to swell from the NE, and while the period is short, that offshore/glassy combo will make the most of it. This is the best on offer by a long shot. After that morning window, the wind swings S and it’s all over. But for that one morning, it’s on.

The following days into early September are blown out by strong SSW winds—19 to 25 mph—and the swell drops back under 4ft with poor conditions. If you’re a kite surfer, some of those windy days might look interesting, but for a paddle surfer, it’s a no-go.

Bottom line: There’s one proper session to circle on the calendar—the morning of Sunday the 30th. The rest is a waiting game.

Rusty.

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