Dreamtime Surf Break

Lat Long: 28.20° S 153.57° E

Dreamtime Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 am 18 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Dreamtime sea temperature is
20.1° C
0.6° 

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


Dreamtime surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 8s period, ESE swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 11s period, ESE swell with 878 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 8s period with ESE swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Dreamtime this week:

The surf forecast for Dreamtime over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Dreamtime in the next 16 days are 1.9m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 1AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7PM (Thu 20th Aug)5ft (1.6m) 8s
Best Surf 7PM (Thu 20th Aug)5ft (1.6m) 8s
Most Powerful 7AM (Wed 19th Aug)6ft (1.9m) 11s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, let’s get into it.

We’re looking at Dreamtime for the next couple of weeks, and honestly, it’s a bit of a tough watch to start. The first real surfable window is pretty slim, and even then, it’s more about just getting wet than scoring anything epic.

For the first few days, from Tuesday the 18th through Thursday the 20th, we’ve got some chest-high swell hanging around, 5ft to 7ft, mostly from the SE and ESE. But the wind is just relentless out of the SE and SSE, blowing cross-on at 12 to 12 mph, and that’s killing it – the wave comment is pretty clear: poor conditions. It’s choppy and messy, not worth paddling out for.

Friday the 21st morning is the first little glimmer. The swell drops right back to about 3ft from the ENE with a short 6-second period, but the wind swings around to a light N at 6 mph, giving us a cross-off breeze. The wave energy is weak (129), and the waves are small, but at least it’s clean. It’s surfable in an ordinary kind of way, but not what we’d call a standout.

The weekend and start of the following week (Saturday 22nd to Monday 24th) are more of the same – tiny swell, 2ft to 3ft, mostly ENE. The wind does improve at times; Sunday the 23rd morning is glassy with barely a breath of air, and we get a clean window Monday the 24th morning with a light N cross-off. But the wave energy is weak (between 89 and 124), and the waves are small and lacking punch. It’s a knee-to-waist-high dribble at best.

Then we hit a real dead zone. From Tuesday the 25th all the way through to the end of August, the swell just flatlines. We’re looking at 1ft to 2ft waves with very low energy (27 to 102). The wind is mostly clean from the N or NW, but there’s simply no swell to work with – a classic summer lull. You’d be better off with a longboard and a lot of patience.

Now, things do get interesting again as we move into September, but it’s a long-range call. On Tuesday the 1st of September, we see a pulse of S swell arrive, 5ft in the morning with an 11-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 875 – that’s moderate to strong energy. The catch? The wind is back on the cross-on angle from the SSE at 9 mph, which is going to mess up the face. The wave comment says poor conditions.

The real kicker comes on Wednesday the 2nd of September. We’ve got the biggest swell of the entire run: 8ft from the S with a 9-second period, and the energy reading is 1370 – strong stuff. For a break like Dreamtime, which is exposed to the SE, this S swell isn’t hitting its optimal direction, but it’s enough to make it pump. However, the wind is again cross-on from the S at 12 mph, which is going to chop it up significantly. The wave comment remains poor.

If I had to pick the only time to even look at the water, it would be the Wednesday the 2nd morning – that’s the biggest swell, but you have to be an experienced surfer to handle that size and the chop. For the average punter, there’s nothing in this 16-day window that screams “go now.” The first week is tiny and clean but weak, the second week has a bigger swell but messy wind. It’s a frustrating outlook for sure.

- Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue morning, min 16°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri morning, min 16°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
1
1
1
0
1
0
1
1
0
1
1
0
1
1
0
1
1
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.9
SE
8
2
ESE
8
1.7
ESE
9
1.5
SE
11
1.5
SE
10
1.3
SE
10
1.5
ESE
8
1.7
ESE
8
0.8
SE
8
0.8
ENE
6
0.9
ENE
7
0.9
ENE
7
0.9
ENE
7
0.9
ENE
8
0.9
ENE
8
0.9
ENE
8
1
ENE
8
0.9
ENE
7
0.9
ENE
8
0.7
E
8
0.7
ENE
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
473
527
465
515
478
303
263
318
90
52
77
66
66
99
107
105
107
90
88
64
70
Wind (km/h)
20
SE
20
SE
10
SE
15
SSE
15
SSE
15
S
10
SSE
10
E
5
W
10
N
15
NNE
10
NNW
10
NNW
10
NE
5
W
5
E
10
ENE
5
WNW
10
N
15
NNE
15
NNW
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
glassy
glassy
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
cross
cross-off
High Tide
11:47AM1.30m
11:35PM1.13m
12:42PM1.25m
00:20AM0.98m
1:48PM1.21m
1:28AM0.87m
3:05PM1.21m
3:04AM0.82m
4:15PM1.27m
4:27AM0.85m
5:10PM1.36m
5:24AM0.92m
5:53PM1.46m
Low Tide
5:48PM0.46m
5:52AM0.26m
6:52PM0.57m
6:37AM0.35m
8:21PM0.62m
7:38AM0.41m
10:04PM0.59m
8:57AM0.43m
11:13PM0.51m
10:09AM0.40m
11:59PM0.41m
11:05AM0.33m
00:35AM0.32m
rain showers
clear
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:15
6:13
6:13
6:11
6:11
6:09
6:09
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:23
5:24
5:24
5:25
5:25
5:27
5:27
 mm
2
1
2
5
2
Temp °C
18
18
17
17
17
16
18
18
17
19
19
18
19
19
18
19
19
18
19
19
18
Feels °C
15
14
15
15
15
14
16
16
16
17
17
17
17
18
18
18
18
18
19
17
16
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
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Information about the Dreamtime Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Dreamtime provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Dreamtime can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Dreamtime 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 (Dreamtime) 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 Dreamtime 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.

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