Freshwater and Harbord Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. We’re looking at a pretty lean stretch ahead. The first week is mostly flat or small with wonky winds, so don’t get your hopes up too early. There is a little pulse around the first weekend, but the real standout is Sunday morning, 2nd of August – that’s your best bet if you can wait. After that, the second week has scattered small windows but nothing epic. Let’s break it down day by day.

Thursday, 30th July, through all of Friday, 31st July: forget it. Tiny swell, 0.3ft to 0.7ft, period around 6-7 seconds – that’s just wind slop. Winds are cross to cross-onshore, making it choppy and messy. Combined swell energy is weak (7 to 4). Not worth paddling out.

Saturday morning, 1st August: we finally see a pulse. Swell jumps to 5ft from the SSE at 9 seconds, with the combined energy now moderate (399). Winds are light, cross-offshore, so the surf will be clean. But the wave comment says “surfable but ordinary,” and the score is only 1 out of 10 – it’s small and a bit weak for the size. In the afternoon, the wind switches to a light cross-on and the swell drops to 5ft; it’s marginal. Still, if you’re desperate, the morning is the cleaner window.

Now, Sunday morning, 2nd August – this is the standout. Swell hits 6ft from the SSE with a long period of 12 seconds – that’s proper groundswell, which brings better shape and more energy. The combined energy is strong (902). Winds are light, cross-offshore, so the surf is clean. The wave comment: “expect good surf conditions.” This will be the best of the whole outlook, with clean, punchy waves. The break is Freshwater and Harbord (Freshwater)– it’s sheltered and consistent, so expect a few bodies in the water – crowds are often here. If you can make it Sunday morning, that’s your session.

Sunday afternoon: the wind goes to a moderate cross-shore (NE at 12 mph), and the chop builds. The swell drops a little but still 5ft from the SE at 12 seconds, but the quality tanks.

Monday, 3rd August, morning: swell drops to 3ft from the SE at 11 seconds, light offshore wind, clean but small – combined energy moderate (247). Afternoon fades to 3ft. It’s okay but not special.

Tuesday, 4th August, through to Friday, 7th August: nothing doing. Swell is tiny (0.7ft to 1ft), periods short or very long (13 seconds) with no real energy (15 to 36). Winds are cross-off or onshore, but there's simply no wave. A dry run.

Saturday, 8th August, morning: a bit more life – 4ft from the SSE at 8 seconds, light cross-offshore wind, clean. Combined energy moderate (269). But the short period (8 seconds) means weaker, less defined waves. It’s surfable but ordinary.

Sunday, 9th August, morning: clean with light NNW wind, swell 2ft from the ESE at 12 seconds (long period), combined energy moderate (198). Small but clean if you’ve got a longboard.

Monday, 10th August, morning: swell builds to 5ft from the ESE at 11 seconds, strong offshore wind from the NNW at 16 mph – but the wave comment says “poor,” so likely windy and tricky. The afternoon gets a fresh offshore at 19 mph (WNW) with 5ft swell at 12 seconds, combined energy strong (632). The report says “marginal” – it’s probably blown out and lumpy. Only for experienced heads if you can handle the wind.

Tuesday, 11th August, through to Friday, 14th August: mostly small (1ft to 3ft) with high periods (11-13 seconds) but low energy (99 to 215). Morning windows with clean offshore winds pop up on the 13th and 14th, but it’s knee-high at best. You’d need a foamy or a log.

Overall: If you want the best waves, aim for Sunday morning, 2nd August. That’s the clear winner – solid 6ft, 12-second groundswell, clean conditions. Everything else is either flat, small, or wind-affected. The second week has a few clean small days, but don’t expect much.

Stay patient. Rusty.

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