Reef
both
Level 8/10

Forresters Beach

Central Coast NSW, Australia
🪸Sharp reef🦈Sharks

Some of the most impressive reef breaks in NSW - multiple setups along a 600m offshore reef that handle serious size. Expert only. The main reef is a 15-minute paddle and demands respect, fitness, and experience. Shark activity is noted but the quality of waves keeps the committed crew coming back. When it's on, Forresters delivers world-class walls.

Forresters Beach surf forecast

Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.

10-Day Forecast
Today20
41
Poor
1.0m@11s
8km/h
Mon21
16
Poor
1.0m@12s
24km/h
Tue22
37
Poor
2.0m@10s
14km/h
Wed23
35
Poor
1.5m@14s
19km/h
Thu24
0
Poor
1.0m@11s
20km/h
Fri25
0
Poor
1.1m@11s
13km/h
Sat26
0
Poor
1.0m@7s
16km/h
Sun27
46
Fair
1.7m@10s
9km/h
Mon28
71
Good
2.5m@13s
9km/h
Tue29
62
Fair
1.8m@12s
8km/h
5+ days out, less certain

Today's Conditions

Find Flights
Best session: MorningAM 8 km/h · PM 8 km/h · Tide at 8am (0.8m)
Swell
1.0m
SSE(164°)
Score: 3/25
Period
11s
Medium period swell
Score: 6/25
Wind
8km/h
NNE(13°)
Score: 18/25
Weather
23°C
0.0mm0%
First light 5:17amSunrise 5:47amSunset 5:49pmLast light 6:19pm
Secondary0.2mConfidence
100%

Location & Conditions

Loading map...
0°45°90°135°180°225°270°315°NESW
Swell
Wind
Showing forecast for today

Hourly Forecast, Tide & Strike Windows

Strike window: 5:17am–1:51pm · through lowStrike window: 4:54–6:19pm · droppingIdeal tide: 0.4–1.4m
6am
9am
12pm
3pm
6pm
6am
9am
12pm
3pm
6pm
6am
9am
12pm
3pm
6pm
6am
9am
12pm
3pm
6pm
6am
9am
12pm
3pm
6pm
6am
9am
12pm
3pm
6pm
6am
9am
12pm
3pm
6pm
6am
9am
12pm
3pm
6pm
6am
9am
12pm
3pm
6pm
6am
9am
12pm
3pm
6pm
°C
13°
22°
26°
26°
20°
20°
27°
21°
19°
17°
16°
18°
17°
17°
16°
15°
20°
22°
21°
19°
17°
21°
22°
21°
19°
14°
20°
23°
23°
21°
17°
25°
25°
21°
19°
17°
20°
21°
20°
19°
18°
21°
22°
21°
19°
17°
23°
26°
25°
23°
3m1.5
sec
11s
11s
11s
11s
11s
12s
12s
12s
12s
12s
10s
10s
10s
10s
10s
14s
14s
14s
14s
14s
11s
11s
11s
11s
11s
11s
11s
11s
11s
11s
7s
7s
7s
7s
7s
10s
10s
10s
10s
10s
13s
13s
13s
13s
13s
12s
12s
12s
12s
12s
swell
windkm/h
10g17
7g22
8g23
13g31
3g10
22g44
24g50
29g64
27g66
22g57
15g34
14g32
15g35
15g33
13g27
12g23
17g38
19g44
23g51
25g53
15g31
19g43
22g51
23g54
22g51
11g23
8g23
13g33
17g40
17g43
5g18
4g12
11g31
30g66
31g79
4g25
5g18
9g23
14g36
12g40
4g9
6g18
8g26
14g34
15g38
5g21
3g16
8g22
13g35
10g36
tidem
3:15am1.1m
8:23am0.8m
3:25pm1.5m
10:23pm0.7m
4:28am1.2m
9:37am0.8m
4:13pm1.5m
5:10am1.1m
10:40am0.6m
5:08pm1.5m
5:52am1.2m
11:29am0.6m
5:44pm1.5m
6:30am1.2m
12:13pm0.4m
6:28pm1.5m
7:07am1.3m
12:55pm0.3m
7:06pm1.5m
1:31am0.1m
7:40am1.4m
1:33pm0.3m
7:48pm1.6m
1:59am0.2m
8:16am1.5m
2:20pm0.2m
8:27pm1.5m
2:33am0.2m
8:52am1.6m
3:03pm0.2m
9:10pm1.5m
3:06am0.2m
Ideal tideStrike windowNight

Tide times today

3:15 am
High tide - 1.07m
8:23 am
Low tide - 0.79m
3:25 pm
High tide - 1.50m
10:23 pm
Low tide - 0.66m
Times shown in spot-local time.

Strike Score Breakdown

41
Poor
Components
Swell Direction22/25
Swell Size3/25
Swell Period6/25
Wind18/25
Raw Score49/100
Adjustments
🌊 Tide+5
💨 Gusty Wind-4
📉 Undersized Swell-9
🚫 Undersized Capmax 44
Adjusted Score41/100
Confidence
Multiplier×1.00
Final Score41
🌊 Optimal tide window

Plan Your Strike

Return flights to SYD, departing today with a 5-day trip window.

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Swell Requirements

Optimal direction
SSE (160°)
Direction range
112° - 180°
Size range
1.2m - 3.8m
Ideal size
2.4m - 3.1m
Height multiplier
0.97×
Ideal period
15s+

Wind Requirements

Optimal direction
NW (315°)
Offshore range
280° - 350°

Tide Requirements

Optimal tide
mid
Optimal range
0.4m - 1.4m

Water temp

20°C

Wetsuit

3/2mm fullsuit

Difficulty

8/10

Crowd level

3/10

👥 Spring Break (Sep 26Oct 11) — expect extra crowds

Access: Beach access from Forresters Beach Road. Long paddle.

Frequently Asked Questions

What tide is best at Forresters Beach?

The Forresters Beach profile favors mid tide, ideally between 0.4m and 1.4m on the local tide chart. Compare this preference with the forecast tide and local conditions before choosing a session.

What wind direction is offshore at Forresters Beach?

The Forresters Beach profile uses wind from NW (315°) as its preferred direction, with an offshore range of 280° to 350°. Wind speed matters too: light winds outside that range can still produce surfable conditions, while strong offshore winds can make takeoffs difficult.

What swell size and direction work best at Forresters Beach?

The Forresters Beach scoring profile favors swell from SSE (112° to 180°), a swell-height range of 1.2m to 3.8m, and a reference period of 15s. These are model inputs, not guaranteed breaking-wave heights or a promise that the surf will suit every ability.

When is the best time of year to surf Forresters Beach?

The main season at Forresters Beach is Apr-Sep. A secondary window runs Mar, Oct. Winter swells only. Expert conditions.

How do I get to Forresters Beach?

The spot profile lists SYD as a nearby airport. The estimated road transfer is 75 minutes. Beach access from Forresters Beach Road. Long paddle.

What kind of wave is Forresters Beach?

Forresters Beach is a reef break, a peak with lefts and rights. Difficulty is rated 8/10.

Best Season

Peak: Apr-Sep

Secondary: Mar, Oct

Winter swells only. Expert conditions.

Getting There

Airport
SYD
Drive time
75 min
Data quality
verified

Strike Log

Community Discussion