Freshwater and Harbord Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll level with you—this 16-day window for Freshwater and Harbord is a real mixed bag, and honestly, it’s a bit of a grind for the first week and a half. We’ve got a long, quiet stretch to start, then a flicker of life, and then what looks like the real deal right at the end. Let’s walk through it.

The water temp is sitting at 63°, which is only about 1° cooler than the long-term average for this time of year, so about what you’d expect for a winter dip. No major surprises there.

The first real chance to get wet doesn’t come until Monday, July 20. Saturday the 18th and Sunday the 19th are write-offs—onshore winds, poor surf, and Sunday’s got a chunky 7ft swell but it’s all messy and wind-affected, so barely a looker. Monday morning, July 20, we finally get a clean window. The swell is 6ft from the ENE, period 11 seconds, and with a light WNW breeze blowing cross-offshore, the waves should be clean and shaped up. Combined energy is moderate (701). It’s a decent size for a beginner spot, but the quality is just good, not great. Crowds are *often* here, so expect company.

Tuesday morning, July 21, sees the swell drop to 5ft, still from the ENE, with a 10-second period. The wind switches to a light NNW offshore, making for clean conditions again, but the energy drops to 373. It’s surfable but ordinary. Wednesday the 22nd is even smaller, 3ft, with cross-offshore winds, and the energy is weak (161). You’re basically on a longboard or a foamie at this point.

Then, from Thursday July 23 through to Saturday August 1, things go flat or get blown out. We’re talking a solid 10-day stretch of poor surf with tiny swell—often below 2ft—and strong winds, including a few days of rain showers and fresh breezes. The combined energy readings are mostly in the single digits or low double digits, which is weak as. A few days have some southern swell, but it’s short period or cross-onshore, so not worth your time. This is a proper blank run.

Now, here’s the standout—and it’s a beauty, but it’s a long way off. Sunday, August 2. That’s the one to circle on the calendar. The morning brings a solid 8ft swell from the ENE, with a 10-second period, and combined energy reading a strong 1041. The wind is light, from the west, blowing cross-offshore (clean). The score is very good. This is the best on offer, no question. It’s a proper size for a beach break, but at 8ft, it’s getting up there—might be a bit much for groms or beginners. The afternoon drops to 7ft, still cleanish but with a light cross-onshore, so go early. This is the one day where it all lines up. Just remember, it’s still over a week away, so keep an eye on the forecasts—they can change.

The only other flicker is Saturday, August 1, but that’s ugly—rain showers, 10ft of messy east swell, and cross-onshore wind. That’s a kite-surfing day, not a paddle session.

So, bottom line: for the next week and a half, it’s mostly flat or rubbish. The real standout is Sunday, August 2, morning session at Freshwater. Get on it if you can.

Rusty

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