
Surf Forecasts:
Saltwater surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 11s period, E swell with 2,444 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 10s period with E swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Saltwater this week:
The surf forecast for Saltwater 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 2.4m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 15s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Saltwater in the next 16 days are 3.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) 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 1.6m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 19) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 8ft (2.4m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Saltwater over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what the next couple of weeks are serving up for us at Saltwater.
We’ve got a fair bit of swell on the horizon, but it’s a bit of a mixed bag to start. The first proper surfable waves we see kick off Saturday morning, 18 July, with a 6 ft swell out of the SE. The combined energy is moderate at 384, but it’s a short period of 7 seconds, so it’s going to be a bit lumpy and fat. The wind is a cross-off SSE breeze at 12 mph, which keeps it clean enough, but it’s only a marginal session. The water is sitting at 67°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year.
The action picks up through Sunday, 19 July. By Sunday afternoon, we’ve got a solid 8 ft swell from the E, with a period of 10 seconds and a combined energy of 1,517. That’s some proper power. The wind is still cross-off from the SSE at 10 mph, and the conditions are clean. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. If you’re a beginner, that 8 ft is a bit heavy, so sit this one out.
Now, the real standout? Monday morning, 20 July. The wind drops to a glassy 3 mph from the SE, and we’ve got a 6 ft swell from the E with a period of 10 seconds. The energy is moderate at 882, but those glassy conditions are going to make it silky smooth. This is a very good session for anyone who can handle the size. The swell direction is from the ESE, which is close to the optimum SE direction, so the point at Saltwater should be set up real nice. Crowds are possible here, so get in early.
Monday afternoon sees the swell drop a touch and the wind turns cross-on, so it gets a bit messy. Tuesday and Wednesday look pretty ordinary, with swell dropping right down to 3 ft on Wednesday morning, 22 July. Thursday morning, 23 July, sees a tiny 2 ft swell with offshore wind, but it’s barely worth a paddle.
Then, hold onto your boards. Friday, 24 July. We’ve got a new S swell. Friday morning kicks off with a 7 ft swell from the S, period of 9 seconds, and a strong offshore wind from the SW at 10 mph. The energy is 805 – moderate, but that offshore wind is the key. Then Friday afternoon, it jumps to a 8 ft S swell, period of 10 seconds, and a combined energy of 1,940. The wind is light cross-off from the SSE. This is excellent, powerful surf for experienced surfers. The S direction is right on the money for the optimum SE direction. This is the other big standout.
The second week has some fun pulses, but nothing as clean as that Monday and Friday. The weekend of 25-26 July has some glassy periods with 5 ft S swell, but the energy is lower. The following week, from 28 July onward, we see a few more S swells, but the wind is often stronger or onshore, which makes it a bit of a battle. The best of the second week is likely Tuesday morning, 28 July, with a 5 ft S swell and a moderate offshore breeze at 12 mph, keeping it clean. The energy is 453, so it’s worth a look.
The end of the period, 1 and 2 August, has some ENE swell, but the direction is not ideal for the optimum SE, and the wind is not always friendly. It’s surfable, but nothing to write home about.
So, to sum it up: Monday morning, 20 July, is the top pick for the glassy, clean conditions on a solid E swell. Friday, 24 July, is the pick for the powerful, offshore S swell. Get out there if you can.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sat morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat morning, min 13°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed morning, min 13°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed morning, fresh winds from the S by Thu afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
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 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | S 6 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
294 | 476 | 2444 | 1500 | 1384 | 989 | 834 | 656 | 509 | 386 | 328 | 232 | 143 | 140 | 106 | 57 | 235 | 1170 | 1960 | 1631 | 958 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross | glassy | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:12AM1.23m | 11:09PM1.55m | 12:01PM1.25m | 11:53PM1.37m | 12:52PM1.27m | 00:38AM1.20m | 1:45PM1.27m | 1:30AM1.05m | 2:43PM1.29m | 2:32AM0.94m | 3:42PM1.31m | 3:46AM0.88m | 4:39PM1.34m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:52PM0.30m | 5:46AM0.10m | 5:47PM0.39m | 6:25AM0.18m | 6:48PM0.48m | 7:04AM0.26m | 7:57PM0.55m | 7:47AM0.34m | 9:14PM0.57m | 8:36AM0.39m | 10:31PM0.54m | 9:33AM0.43m | 11:35PM0.49m | ||||||||
6:47 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | |
— | 5:04 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:06 | — | — | 5:06 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | |
mm | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | SSE 20 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 |
56 | 78 | 1875 | 1500 | 1384 | 989 | 834 | 656 | 509 | 386 | 328 | 232 | 143 | 140 | 106 | 57 | 40 | 24 | 1520 | 1217 | 681 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 21 | S 20 | SSE 19 | SSE 18 | SSE 16 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 11 | S 10 | E 8 | — | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 |
44 | 71 | 72 | 121 | 107 | 128 | 148 | 141 | 125 | 82 | 56 | 31 | 31 | 17 | 20 | 8 | 1 | — | 15 | 15 | 14 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 20 | SSE 19 | S 24 | S 9 | SE 16 | SE 16 | SE 16 | S 20 | SSE 15 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | SE 13 | S 12 | — | — | — | — | SSE 18 | — | S 16 |
— | 71 | 122 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 7 | 12 | — | — | — | — | 31 | — | 20 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | E 11 | S 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | NNE 4 | NNW 2 | — | — | SSW 6 | S 6 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 |
294 | 476 | 2444 | 92 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 11 | 1 | — | — | 37 | 235 | 1170 | 1960 | 1631 | 958 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 159 | 221 | 221 | 221 | 125 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 22 | 37 | 173 | 22 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 19 | 297 | 116 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Port Macquarie | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Saltwater Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Saltwater provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Saltwater can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Saltwater 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 (Saltwater) 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 Saltwater 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.
Saltwater is 15 km (9 miles) from Taree. If you plan a holiday in Port Macquarie, look for hotels and other accommodation in Taree. Taree has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










