Woolgoolga Back Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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.

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