
Surf Forecasts:
Crescent Head surf forecast from 16 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 20 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 10s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 11s period, ESE swell with 2,338 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 10s period with E swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Crescent Head this week:
The surf forecast for Crescent Head over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 20) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 13s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Crescent Head in the next 16 days are 3.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 19) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Mon 20th Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Mon 20th Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Crescent Head over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, let's have a look at what's cookin'.
Alright, mate, it's a bit of a mixed bag ahead. We’ve got a lot of wind-affected, messy swell on the cards for the first week and a bit. The main event is definitely shaping up for the end of the month, and it looks like a ripper. But you’ll have to be patient and pick your windows.
For Crescent Head, a classic point break that's fairly consistent, the first real run starts on Thursday the 16th of July but, honestly, it's not pretty. We've got 8ft of SSE swell with a short 8-second period, blown out by a 12 mph cross-shore. The combined energy is pretty hefty (1243), but with the wind, it's gonna be a choppy mess. Thursday afternoon and Friday are more of the same – cross-shore wind, lumpy conditions. Saturday the 18th sees the swell building to a solid 10ft from the ESE with a bit more period (10 seconds) by the afternoon, and the energy jumps right up (3134). But again, it's got a 16 mph cross-shore on it, so for a point break, that's just going to be a washing machine. Kite surfers might be loving it, but for a paddle surfer, it's a no-go.
We finally get a glimmer of hope on Tuesday morning, the 21st of July. The swell drops to 5ft from the east, but the wind swings to a light 3 mph offshore from the WNW. The ocean goes clean, and it’ll be surfable, but it's only a small window before the wind turns cross-onshore in the arvo. Wednesday the 22nd has a similar story – glassy conditions but the swell is dropping out to just 4ft.
Then things go quiet for a while. From the 23rd through to the 28th, we’ve got a real flat spell. Swell drops below 3ft most days, with periods under 10 seconds. There's a morning here and there with glassy conditions, like Thursday the 23rd with 3ft, but it's just tiny. It’s a long, dry stretch.
Then, hold onto your board. The forecast for Wednesday the 29th of July is the absolute standout. Wednesday morning we see a new SSW groundswell coming in at 6ft with a clean, light offshore from the NNW. That’s good. But Wednesday afternoon, it gets epic. The swell jumps to 8ft from the south with a solid 10-second period. The energy is massive (1997). And the wind? A clean, light offshore from the NW at 6 mph. This is the gem. An 8ft S/SSW swell on a point break like Crescent with offshore winds is going to produce some perfection. It's going to be big enough that it's for experienced surfers only, and given the conditions, the point will be reeling. The crowd might be a factor, but on a day like that, everyone's a winner.
Thursday the 30th still has some clean 6ft waves in the morning from the SSE before another wind shift stuffs it up. Friday the 31st looks solid again in the afternoon with 8ft of S swell and clean offshore winds.
So, to sum it up: surf the tiny clean windows mid-week next week if you're desperate, but save your energy for that Wednesday the 29th. That's the day to be out there.
Stay salty.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu night, min 15°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon morning, min 14°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 | ESE 10 | E 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
725 | 575 | 544 | 485 | 452 | 440 | 921 | 1768 | 1425 | 1324 | 1245 | 928 | 682 | 535 | 482 | 426 | 379 | 279 | 235 | 192 | 180 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:01PM2.03m | 9:48AM1.25m | 10:49PM1.90m | 10:34AM1.29m | 11:35PM1.73m | 11:22AM1.32m | 00:20AM1.53m | 12:16PM1.34m | 1:03AM1.34m | 1:15PM1.37m | 1:47AM1.16m | 2:22PM1.40m | 2:36AM1.03m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:02PM-0.09m | 4:31AM0.37m | 3:53PM-0.06m | 5:12AM0.43m | 4:45PM0.02m | 5:50AM0.48m | 5:39PM0.15m | 6:27AM0.51m | 6:38PM0.31m | 7:04AM0.52m | 7:45PM0.46m | 7:43AM0.52m | 9:03PM0.57m | ||||||||
6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | |
— | 5:02 | — | — | 5:02 | — | — | 5:04 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:06 | — | — | 5:06 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 16 |
Feels °C | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 10 | E 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 |
518 | 261 | 309 | 320 | 329 | 349 | 635 | 1324 | 1425 | 1324 | 1245 | 928 | 682 | 535 | 482 | 426 | 379 | 279 | 235 | 192 | 180 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 7 | SSE 11 | SSE 21 | SSE 21 | S 6 | SSE 18 | SSE 17 | SSE 14 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 |
— | 159 | 82 | 44 | 39 | 12 | 44 | 42 | 104 | 31 | 29 | 36 | 60 | 83 | 79 | 47 | 38 | 31 | 19 | 18 | 18 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ESE 9 | E 9 | SSE 18 | SSE 15 | S 19 | — | — | SSE 19 | S 18 | S 17 | — | — | — | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 | S 15 | S 14 | S 14 | — |
— | 28 | 42 | 33 | 23 | 7 | — | — | 37 | 6 | 6 | — | — | — | 5 | 4 | 16 | 4 | 4 | 4 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 | ESE 10 | S 7 | S 6 | S 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 2 | NNE 3 |
725 | 575 | 544 | 485 | 452 | 440 | 921 | 1768 | 167 | 176 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 62 | 118 | 99 | 223 | 289 | 17 | 313 | 435 | 17 | 267 | 99 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 127 | 0 | 0 | 120 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Port Macquarie | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Crescent Head Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Crescent Head provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Crescent Head can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Crescent Head surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Crescent Head) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Crescent Head may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Are you planning a holiday in Port Macquarie? If you are looking for accommodation near Crescent Head, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Port Macquarie, consider staying in North Shore which is 25 km (16 miles) away. Other places in and around Port Macquarie where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Port Macquarie which is 28 km (17 miles) away, Taree and Coffs Harbour.










