Woolgoolga Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, let’s get stuck into this one. We’re looking at Woolgoolga, and it’s a bit of a slow burn, to be honest. The first few days are pretty ordinary, so you’re not missing much if you’re hanging out for something decent. There’s a bit of a wait, but there’s a couple of rippers on the horizon.

Alright, the start of the week is a write-off. Sunday and Monday are just poor surf conditions with a messy cross-shore chop and not enough energy to get excited about. The combined energy is weak, only around 185 (Sunday morning) and 148 (Sunday afternoon), with a 3ft easterly swell at 9 seconds. It’s just not happening. You’d be better off doing something else.

Tuesday morning (11th August) we finally get a tiny window. It’s a clean, light cross-offshore wind, with a small 3ft ENE swell, period around 8 seconds. The combined energy is still pretty low at 153, and the conditions are described as “surfable waves but very ordinary”. It’s barely a paddle, but if you’re desperate, you might find a knee-high crumbler. It’s not worth rushing for.

Wednesday (12th) is more of the same – clean again, but the swell is tiny at 2ft. The energy is 166, so still very weak. Another one for the longboard if you’re just wanting to get wet.

Then things start to change. Thursday morning (13th August) is where it finally turns on. We’ve got a clean 5ft southerly swell, with a period of 8 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 362. That’s moderate energy, and the conditions are expected to be good. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the south. It’s still only a moderate-sized swell, but it’s the first real taste of something with a bit of push. Friday morning (14th) is even better – clean, 5ft from the SSE, period 10 seconds, and energy at 435. That’s a nice, solid groundswell. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.

But the real standout, the one you want to circle on the calendar, is the 21st of August. That Friday morning, we’ve got a 7ft ESE swell, period 8 seconds, and the energy is through the roof at 1120. That’s strong wave energy. And the wind? It’s a light cross-offshore from the SSW, and the forecast is for “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers”. This is the pick of the whole 16-day window. It’s a solid, powerful swell, and with that clean wind, Woolgoolga is going to have some proper, punchy waves. It’s a beach and reef setup, so the reef will handle the size well, and the long period from the 12-second swells later on (23rd) will mean long, clean lines, but it’s the 21st that has the best combo of size and wind. The 22nd and 23rd are also big, with 7ft and 7ft respectively, but the wind is a bit more onshore or cross-shore, so they’re not as clean. The 24th (Monday morning) is glassy with a 5ft ESE swell, period 11 seconds, and energy at 846. That’s a beautiful, clean groundswell, but it’s a week and a half away, so keep an eye on it.

So, to sum it up: the first few days are a dud. Thursday and Friday (13th and 14th) are your first good windows. The absolute best on offer is the Friday morning of the 21st of August – that’s the one to chase. The 24th is also a cracker, but it’s further out. This is a classic case of patience paying off.

Rusty.

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