Freshwater and Harbord Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let’s have a look at what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks. Straight up, I’m gonna be honest with ya—this is a lean run. We’ve got a long stretch of flat, weak, or just plain messy conditions ahead, and it’s not until the very end of the forecast that we finally see something worth paddling out for.

We’re looking at Freshwater (Sydney) here. For the first week and a half, from Friday the 11th right through to Thursday the 24th, it’s a write-off. The swell is tiny—most days we’re talking 0.7 ft to 2 ft—with periods so short (4 to 7 seconds) there’s no push. The combined energy is almost always in the weak range (9 to 79). Winds are mostly onshore, cross-on, or just messy. A few mornings clean up with light breezes, but there’s simply no wave to ride. This is a proper drought.

Now, there is one bright spot, and it’s a long way off, so don’t get too excited yet. On Thursday the 24th, in the afternoon, the swell finally picks up. We’re looking at 6 ft from the NE with a 6-second period. The combined energy jumps to 234 (moderate wave energy). The catch? It’s cross-shore with a cross-chop from a moderate breeze, so it’s not going to be a classic. At 6 ft, this is pushing into the zone that’s a bit much for beginners, but it’s the only real size we’ve seen. That swell direction (NE) is a long way from the optimum ENE, so it’s not lining up perfectly.

Then, on Friday the 25th morning, we get a small window of something surfable. The swell drops back to 3 ft from the ENE with a 7-second period. The combined energy is 96—still in the weak range. But the wind is a light cross-off from the NNE, which will clean things up. The wave comment says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions,” and that’s about right. It’s not a standout, but it’s the best of a bad bunch. This break is sheltered and consistent, so it does have a better chance than most to hold a little bump. Crowds are often here, and with no other options, expect the lineup to be busy.

So, my pick: If you’re desperate, the Friday 25th morning is your only real shot. It’s clean, it’s small, and it’s not going to be epic, but it’s waves. That Thursday afternoon with the 6 ft is the bigger swell, but the wind kills it for paddle surfing—honestly, with that cross-chop, the setup might be more interesting for the kite crew than us.

Water temp is sitting at 64°F, which is about average for this time of year (anomaly of -0.7°F). No surprises there.

That’s the long and short of it. A long wait for a couple of so-so sessions. Keep an eye on it—forecasts can shift, but right now, we’re in a flat spell.

Rusty.

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