Crescent Head surf break

Crescent Head surfForecast / NSW – Port Macquarie / Australia

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 9 pm Wednesday 20 May 2026 AEST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Crescent Head surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Crescent Head sea temperature is
23.5° C
(Which is 1.6°C warmer than normal for this time of year)

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 Sunday (May 24) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 18s. Another secondary swell of 1.0m and 8s is also forecast. 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 4.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Friday (May 22) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (May 26) at 4AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4AM (Sun 24th May)10ft (3.0m) 12s
Best Surf 4AM (Sun 24th May)10ft (3.0m) 12s
Most Powerful 4PM (Fri 22nd May)13ft (4.0m) 12s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Crescent Head over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Fri night. Warm (max 21°C on Sat morning, min 14°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sun morning, min 16°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
21
Friday
22
Saturday
23
Sunday
24
Monday
25
Tuesday
26
Wed
27
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
3
2
3
6
5
2
2
3
4
3
4
4
3
4
4
2
3
3
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3
S
9
2.5
S
10
2.5
S
10
3
S
8
4
SSE
10
4
SSE
12
3.5
SE
11
3
ESE
10
3
ESE
11
3
ESE
12
3
ESE
12
2.5
ESE
12
2.5
ESE
11
2.2
ESE
11
2.3
ESE
11
2.2
ESE
11
1.9
ESE
12
1.8
ESE
12
1.8
E
12
1.8
E
11
1.8
ESE
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1706
1375
1229
1397
2592
4330
2877
1868
1896
2056
2089
1805
1452
1106
1252
1146
995
928
909
819
807
Wind (km/h)
20
SW
25
SW
20
SW
25
SSW
30
SSW
30
SSW
20
SSW
15
S
20
SSE
10
S
10
SSW
15
S
10
WSW
10
SSW
15
S
10
SW
10
SW
10
S
10
WSW
5
WSW
10
E
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
glassy
on
High Tide
11:24PM1.97m
11:22AM1.01m
00:27AM1.87m
12:20PM1.00m
1:32AM1.75m
1:24PM1.04m
2:36AM1.63m
2:31PM1.11m
3:37AM1.51m
3:36PM1.21m
4:30AM1.40m
4:35PM1.34m
5:15AM1.31m
5:27PM1.46m
Low Tide
6:17AM0.41m
5:12PM0.13m
7:20AM0.49m
6:16PM0.19m
8:20AM0.55m
7:27PM0.24m
9:13AM0.58m
8:40PM0.29m
9:59AM0.57m
9:52PM0.33m
10:37AM0.54m
10:58PM0.35m
11:11AM0.49m
part cloud
cloud
light rain
rain showers
light rain
light rain
mod rain
light rain
cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
thunderstorm
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:31
6:31
6:31
6:33
6:33
6:33
6:33
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
4:57
4:57
4:55
4:55
4:54
4:54
4:54
1
1
1
1
6
2
1
Temp °C
14
15
17
18
18
18
18
21
21
20
21
20
18
20
20
17
20
19
18
19
19
9
11
14
14
13
13
16
18
18
18
19
18
17
19
19
16
19
19
18
19
20
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.2
SSE
9
2.2
SSE
9
2
SSE
9
2.5
SSE
8
3
SE
9
3.5
SE
12
3
SE
11
3
ESE
10
3
ESE
11
3
ESE
12
3
ESE
12
2.5
ESE
12
2.5
ESE
11
2.2
ESE
11
2.3
ESE
11
2.2
ESE
11
1.9
ESE
12
1.8
ESE
12
1.8
E
12
1.8
E
11
1.8
ESE
11
Energy kJ
796
721
629
878
1636
2840
2255
1868
1896
2056
2089
1805
1452
1106
1252
1146
995
928
909
819
807
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
E
10
1.1
E
10
1.1
E
10
0.9
E
10
0.1
S
16
1.3
S
9
0.2
S
20
0.2
S
16
0.1
S
15
0.1
S
13
0.1
S
11
0.1
S
11
0.3
S
15
0.2
SSE
14
0.2
SSE
12
0.3
SSE
11
0.2
SSE
11
0.4
SSW
11
Energy kJ
230
233
219
149
5
269
30
21
4
3
2
2
41
18
15
25
12
38
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
S
23
0.2
S
16
0.1
S
17
0.2
S
10
0.1
S
19
0.2
SSE
16
0.3
SSW
15
Energy kJ
11
20
6
8
7
27
44
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3
S
9
2.5
S
10
2.5
S
10
3
S
8
4
SSE
10
4
SSE
12
3.5
SE
11
1.8
SSE
10
0.9
S
5
0.5
S
5
Energy kJ
1706
1375
1229
1397
2592
4330
2877
567
37
10
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
2
3
5
4
2
4
4
3
4
4
4
4
4
2
3
3
3
Distance (km)
14
14
14
62
403
409
17
52
335
14
0
14
0
0
17
0
0
14
0
0
76
Best forecast wave conditions in Port Macquarie
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
7
5
5
4
5
4
4
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
4
5
5
5
5
7
6
5
5
9
6
5
5
4
4
5
5
4
5
5
5
  • 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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