Crescent Head Surf Break

Lat Long: 31.19° S 152.98° E

Crescent Head Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 am 13 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Crescent Head sea temperature is
19.9° C
0.1° 

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 12 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 18 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 9s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 15 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 11s period, S swell with 1,727 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 13 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s period with S 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 13) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Crescent Head in the next 16 days are 3.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 15) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 15) at 7AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10AM (Mon 13th Jul)2ft (0.6m) 8s
Best Surf10PM (Sat 18th Jul)8ft (2.4m) 9s
Most Powerful10PM (Wed 15th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 11s

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


Alright, Rusty here with a look at what's coming up for our stretch of coast.

To be straight with you, it's not going to be a classic run. We’ve got a long dry spell on the cards before anything worth getting excited about shows up. Most of the action is small and messy, and the window for truly good waves is narrow. But if you're patient, there is a standout session worth marking on the calendar.

Crescent Head is the only game in town, and for the first few days, it’s a bit of a write-off. Monday the 13th starts with a glassy 2ft S swell, but the wave energy is weak (73). It’s surfable, but nothing to write home about. That tiny bump gets wiped out by NE wind in the arvo. Tuesday morning the 14th is clean with a glassy 1ft S swell, but the period is short and the energy is pitiful. Honestly, the whole week from the 13th through the 18th is a grind. We see a jump in swell height around the 15th and 16th, with waves hitting 7ft to 8ft from the S/SSW, and the energy kicks up into the moderate range (736, 1134). But the period stays short and the cross-off winds, while clean, mix with a tricky tide to leave things feeling average. The weekend of the 18th and 19th is similar: plenty of size (7ft to 8ft, ESE direction) and solid energy (peaking at 1570 on the 19th), but the cross-shore winds and chop stop it from being truly clean. It's more of a power session than a grooming day.

Then we hit the real highlight. Monday the 20th of July is your best bet. We get a drop to a cleaner 6ft E swell with a longer 10-second period, pushing moderate energy (623). But the killer detail is the glassy, offshore WSW wind in the morning. The water is a touch above average for the time of year at 68°F. This is the one morning that looks genuinely good and clean. Tuesday the 21st also has another glassy morning with a 4ft E swell, offering a decent backup if you miss the main day.

After that, the second week fades out. The swell drops back under 5ft from the 22nd onwards, with the period shortening up. There are some clean, small mornings, like the 23rd with a 5ft NE swell or the 25th with a 3ft E swell, but the energy is low and they’re just ordinary sessions. By the 28th, we’re down to a glassy 3ft ENE swell with only 99 energy – a flat spell sets in.

So, if you want the one wave to chase, get to Crescent Head early on Monday the 20th for the cleanest, glassiest conditions of the whole forecast. The rest is for the die-hards or the kite surfers when the wind picks up.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed morning, min 11°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Thu night. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri morning, min 13°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
Sunday
19
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
3
3
2
1
0
2
2
2
1
2
3
2
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
S
8
0.5
S
8
0.3
S
8
0.4
S
7
0.4
S
7
0.2
SSE
12
1.7
SSW
6
2.2
S
7
2.5
S
10
2.3
S
8
2
S
8
2.2
SSE
8
2.4
SE
7
2.3
SE
7
2.5
SE
8
2.2
ESE
9
2.2
ESE
9
2.2
ESE
9
2.3
ESE
9
2.1
ESE
9
1.9
E
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
42
33
12
14
15
14
237
478
1227
682
539
525
598
552
789
759
721
753
847
660
614
Wind (km/h)
5
NW
15
NE
10
WSW
5
WSW
10
E
10
W
20
SSW
25
SSW
20
SW
25
SSW
20
SSW
20
S
25
SSE
25
S
20
S
20
S
25
S
15
S
15
S
15
S
5
S
Wind State
glassy
cross-on
off
off
on
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
High Tide
7:25PM2.04m
7:28AM1.12m
8:19PM2.10m
8:17AM1.16m
9:11PM2.10m
9:02AM1.20m
10:01PM2.03m
9:48AM1.25m
10:49PM1.90m
10:34AM1.29m
11:35PM1.73m
11:22AM1.32m
00:20AM1.53m
Low Tide
12:23PM0.08m
2:11AM0.28m
1:18PM-0.01m
3:01AM0.28m
2:10PM-0.07m
3:48AM0.32m
3:02PM-0.09m
4:31AM0.37m
3:53PM-0.06m
5:12AM0.43m
4:45PM0.02m
5:50AM0.48m
5:39PM0.15m
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
clear
light rain
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:45
6:45
6:45
6:43
6:43
6:43
6:43
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:00
5:01
5:01
5:02
5:02
5:04
5:05
 mm
1
1
8
2
1
2
Temp °C
16
16
14
16
16
16
17
17
14
15
15
16
18
17
17
16
17
16
17
17
17
Feels °C
13
13
13
13
13
13
12
11
10
11
11
12
13
12
13
12
13
13
14
14
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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