wpForo has not direct link to search page. Yes I confirm it. Currently, this is the only workaround. We'll do our best to create a direct link for search page as soon as possible.

Can you please confirm that it isn't actually possible to do what I was asking... at least not without a blank search?

Or are you saying that is the only way and your team recommend that approach? 

I would like to think that any performance implications would have been tested before that option was even suggested, so can you please confirm that as well?

I don't get how that helps in any way? That just searches for uniquekey, which on this site returns your post as well as this one:

https://wpforo.com/community/how-to-and-troubleshooting-2/how-to-link-to-the-search-page-with-no-results-showing/#post-10969

I think you need to correct your post, in which you said what I asked was possible. It clearly isn't possible because you cannot get to the "advanced search" page without actually doing a search first. 

Currently, we can't provide another solution for you.

In case if you don't want to make to blank search, you can use a unique key with your forum home URL, something like this:https://wpforo.com/community/?wpfs=uniquekey

Is there an option which doesn't do a blank search, because that in no way is a viable solution. 

Just saw your screenshot 🙂

/Edit 2:

That isn't a link to an "advanced search" page. That does a blank search, which doesn't sound too healthy on a large forum. 

I'm sorry but we don't have such a feature yet.

However, the feature will be added in the next version releases.

Also, is it possible to have a direct link to a search page like that without having to search first? On other forums it's referenced as an advanced search option. 

sure, it is possible.

As far as the wpForo menu is a regular WordPress menu, you just need to add "Custom Links" with the wpForo search link in the forum menu. The option is located in the Dashboard > Appearance > Menu > Edit Menus tab. 

With the search functionality on most forums you have the option to choose whether you want the search to return posts or threads.

wpForo doesn't seem to have that option, which is quite unusual. 

We don't follow you well, please try to explain in other words or screenshot.

The wpForo search works in the following way, it makes a search by all posts and returns the post list.

However, if you mean the ordering, wpForo has the following option for order: