
Surf Forecasts:
Freshwater and Harbord surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 19 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 11s period, ENE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 11s period, ENE swell with 1,256 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 11s period with ENE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Freshwater and Harbord this week:
The surf forecast for Freshwater and Harbord over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 11s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Freshwater and Harbord in the next 16 days are 2.3m 11s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.5m 9s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 23) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Freshwater and Harbord over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
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
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat morning, min 12°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Thu afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Wed afternoon, min 10°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed afternoon, fresh winds from the S by Thu morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 6 | E 7 | E 8 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SSW 6 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
108 | 113 | 364 | 1091 | 901 | 808 | 692 | 607 | 442 | 373 | 325 | 312 | 161 | 119 | 90 | 186 | 28 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 7 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | on | on | glassy | cross-off | cross | off | off | cross | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:23AM1.23m | 11:18PM1.47m | 12:11PM1.24m | 00:05AM1.31m | 1:01PM1.26m | 00:56AM1.14m | 1:52PM1.27m | 1:53AM1.01m | 2:46PM1.28m | 2:59AM0.91m | 3:41PM1.30m | 4:11AM0.87m | 4:35PM1.33m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:04PM0.33m | 5:53AM0.13m | 6:02PM0.40m | 6:33AM0.22m | 7:05PM0.46m | 7:13AM0.31m | 8:14PM0.50m | 7:56AM0.39m | 9:28PM0.50m | 8:44AM0.45m | 10:38PM0.47m | 9:39AM0.48m | 11:37PM0.42m | ||||||||
6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | |
— | 5:05 | — | — | 5:06 | — | — | 5:06 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:08 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 19 | 20 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
Feels °C | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 17 | 18 | 13 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 9 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | E 7 | E 8 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 |
69 | 113 | 364 | 1091 | 901 | 808 | 692 | 607 | 442 | 373 | 325 | 312 | 161 | 119 | 90 | 42 | 28 | 15 | 900 | 521 | 313 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 21 | S 10 | S 9 | S 17 | S 16 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | — | — | S 18 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 |
34 | 45 | 24 | 211 | 176 | 160 | 184 | 134 | 84 | 56 | 50 | 31 | 31 | 19 | 18 | — | — | 6 | 16 | 16 | 7 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 19 | S 20 | S 18 | SE 17 | SE 17 | SE 16 | SE 15 | SE 15 | S 15 | S 15 | S 15 | S 14 | S 13 | — | S 10 | — | — | — | S 18 | S 19 | S 19 |
7 | 31 | 107 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 4 | 3 | — | 18 | — | — | — | 25 | 29 | 29 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 6 | S 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 3 | — | NE 3 | NNE 5 | WNW 3 | NE 3 | WSW 3 | SSW 6 | S 9 | S 9 | — | — | — |
108 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | 3 | 28 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 186 | 1494 | 977 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 62 | 74 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 106 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 1 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Sydney North Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Freshwater and Harbord Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Freshwater and Harbord provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Freshwater and Harbord can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Freshwater and Harbord 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 (Freshwater and Harbord) 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 Freshwater and Harbord 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.
Freshwater and Harbord is 4 km (2 miles) from Dee Why. If you plan a holiday in Sydney North Coast, look for hotels and other accommodation in Dee Why. Dee Why has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










