Freshwater and Harbord Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.78° S 151.30° E

Freshwater and Harbord Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 am 23 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Freshwater and Harbord sea temperature is
17.5° C
0.4° 

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


Freshwater and Harbord surf forecast from 23 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 23 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 9s period, ENE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s period, SSW swell with 115 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 23 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 9s 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 Thursday (Jul 23) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 9s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Freshwater and Harbord in the next 16 days are 1.3m 6s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 9s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 30) at 4AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1PM (Thu 23rd Jul)2.5ft (0.8m) 9s
Best Surf 1PM (Thu 23rd Jul)2.5ft (0.8m) 9s
Most Powerful 1AM (Fri 24th Jul)4.5ft (1.3m) 6s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Freshwater and Harbord over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve gotta be straight with you – the next couple of weeks for the Freshwater and Harbord stretch are looking pretty grim. We’ve got a real flat spell on our hands for the bulk of the forecast period. The only break we’re really looking at is Freshwater itself, which is sheltered and picks up a bit of ENE swell, but even that’s not giving us much to work with. The water temp is sitting about average for this time of year at 64°F, so no surprises there.

We start off on Thursday the 23rd of July morning with a bit of life. There’s a small 0.9m (3ft) swell from the ENE at 9 seconds, giving us weak to moderate energy (119). The wind’s a cross-off at 9 mph, and it’s clean. It’s surfable, but honestly, it’s very ordinary. The afternoon goes downhill fast with 16 mph cross-shore winds and a chop that’ll have you fighting the board more than the wave.

From there, it’s a long, sad stretch. Friday the 24th, Saturday the 25th, Sunday the 26th, Monday the 27th – all through to the end of the month, the waves just drop off. We’re talking ankle-snappers at best: 0.5m (2ft), then 0.4m (1ft), then 0.2m (0.7ft). The combined energy barely gets out of single digits. There’s a brief moment of glassy conditions on Saturday afternoon with 0.2m (0.7ft) and a 3 mph NNW wind, but that’s about as exciting as watching paint dry.

We hit a full blank from the 30th of July through to the 31st of July – nothing, zero energy. Then things get interesting, but not in a good way. On the 31st of July afternoon, a big southerly change rolls in. We get a 2.5m (8ft) SSE swell at 11 seconds, and the combined energy spikes to a powerful 1628. That’s a big, powerful groundswell. Problem is, it’s coming with 22 mph cross-shore winds and heavy rain. That’s not paddle surfing weather; that’s kite surfing weather, and even then it’d be messy.

That big pulse sticks around into the start of August. Saturday the 1st of August has a 2.0m (7ft) SSE swell at 10 seconds (724 energy) but it’s cross-shore with a chop. Saturday afternoon drops to 1.8m (6ft) (556) and is only marginal. Sunday the 2nd is 1.3m (4ft) (226) and still cross-shore. These are all blown-out, lumpy. For beginners, anything over 1.5m (5ft) gets sketchy, and seeing 2.0m to 2.5m (7ft to 8ft) with onshore wind is expert-only territory, and even they’d be frustrated.

The real one to keep an eye on is August the 4th, Tuesday morning. We get a 0.8m (3ft) SE swell at 10 seconds (122 energy) with glassy conditions – just a 3 mph wind out of the SW. That’s clean, and the 10-second period will give you some reasonable shape. It’s still small, but if you’re desperate, that’s your best shot in the whole window. The crowds at Freshwater are often around, so expect company.

After that, it fades again. The 7th of August Friday morning has a 1.2m (4ft) ESE swell at 10 seconds (339), and the wind is a clean cross-off from the SW. That’s the other standout – bigger but still manageable, and the energy is solid moderate. It’s a good option if you can get on it before the wind swings onshore in the afternoon.

Overall, it’s a tough run. A blank stretch from late July into August is more normal for this area when the swell windows don’t line up. It tends not to stay this poor forever, but for now, you’re picking through scraps. Stay positive, check the 4th and 7th of August, and maybe give the kites a go on the 31st if that’s your thing.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat afternoon, min 7°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Thu afternoon, light winds from the SSW by Fri morning).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue morning, min 11°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
Monday
27
Tuesday
28
Wednesday
29
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
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
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)
0.9
ENE
9
0.8
ENE
9
1.3
SSW
6
0.5
ENE
8
0.4
ENE
8
0.4
ENE
8
0.4
NE
8
0.2
ENE
8
0.2
ENE
8
0.2
ENE
8
0.2
ENE
8
0.1
NE
8
0.1
NE
7
0.1
SE
14
0.1
SE
16
0.3
SE
7
0.3
SE
7
0.1
SE
14
0.3
NE
5
0.1
SE
13
0.1
E
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
119
92
115
40
28
28
17
6
6
6
6
2
2
8
10
8
8
8
4
7
4
Wind (km/h)
15
W
25
SW
25
WSW
15
SW
10
ESE
10
WNW
20
W
5
NNW
20
WSW
15
W
10
E
10
WSW
10
W
15
ENE
10
NW
10
NW
10
NNE
15
WNW
25
NW
30
WNW
20
WNW
Wind State
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
off
off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
3:41PM1.30m
4:11AM0.87m
4:35PM1.33m
5:17AM0.88m
5:25PM1.37m
6:11AM0.91m
6:11PM1.43m
6:55AM0.95m
6:53PM1.48m
7:35AM0.99m
7:32PM1.53m
8:12AM1.04m
8:09PM1.56m
Low Tide
10:38PM0.47m
9:39AM0.48m
11:37PM0.42m
10:35AM0.49m
00:26AM0.36m
11:28AM0.46m
1:07AM0.30m
12:15PM0.43m
1:45AM0.24m
12:58PM0.39m
2:20AM0.19m
1:38PM0.36m
2:54AM0.16m
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:54
6:52
6:52
6:52
6:50
6:50
6:50
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:07
5:08
5:09
5:09
5:10
5:12
5:12
 mm
1
Temp °C
18
18
11
13
13
11
17
19
13
14
15
14
15
16
15
19
19
14
15
12
8
Feels °C
13
12
3
10
9
8
13
16
8
11
13
12
13
13
12
15
16
10
8
4
2
  • 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 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.

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