Crescent Head Surf Break

Lat Long: 31.19° S 152.98° E

Crescent Head Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 am 16 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Crescent Head sea temperature is
19.9° C
0.2° 

Crescent Head surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


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 TypeTime (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 Powerful10PM (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 Forecast

Light 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 Summary

Mostly 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
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
2
2
2
1
3
2
0
2
2
0
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.5
SSE
8
2.3
SSE
8
2.2
SE
8
2.1
SE
7
2.1
SE
7
2.1
SE
7
2.5
SE
8
3
ESE
10
2.5
E
10
2.5
ESE
10
2.5
ESE
10
2.2
E
10
1.9
E
10
1.7
E
10
1.6
E
10
1.5
E
10
1.4
E
10
1.2
E
10
1.1
E
10
1
E
10
1
E
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
725
575
544
485
452
440
921
1768
1425
1324
1245
928
682
535
482
426
379
279
235
192
180
Wind (km/h)
20
S
25
SSE
20
SSE
20
SSE
20
SSE
20
S
25
SSE
25
S
20
S
25
S
20
SSE
15
S
10
SSE
10
SE
10
WSW
5
WNW
10
NE
10
WNW
10
N
10
NE
5
WNW
Wind State
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
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
light rain
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:43
6:43
6:43
6:43
6:43
6:41
6:41
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
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
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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.

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