
Surf Forecasts:
Saltwater surf forecast from 29 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 30 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 12s period, SSW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 30 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 11s period, S swell with 1,329 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 30 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 7s period with SSW 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 Thursday (Jul 30) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Saltwater in the next 16 days are 2.4m 11s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 30) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Thu 30th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Thu 30th Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Thu 30th Jul) | 8ft (2.4m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Saltwater over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get into it. This is Rusty.
We’ve got a bit of a slow starter for Saltwater, but there’s some real quality lurking later this week. It kicks off with a tiny 0.6ft SSE groundswell on Wednesday the 29th of July, but honestly, with only 42 weak energy, that’s a complete flat day, no point paddling out. Then things start to build overnight. The real story begins Thursday morning the 30th.
Thursday morning is where it’s at. We’ve got a solid 6ft swell from the SSW, with a 12-second period, pumping a combined energy of 1612 (moderate wave energy). That’s a good, powerful wave for experienced surfers only. The wind is a light offshore from the WSW, so it will be clean. This is the standout of the whole run. The water is sitting at 66°, which is normal for the season, no real surprise there. That Thursday morning session is the one to clear your diary for. Thursday afternoon does drop off a notch with a cross-offshore wind, so the quality won’t be as good.
Friday the 31st and Saturday the 1st of August hold fun waves too. Friday morning has 6ft S swell, 11-second period, with light offshore SW winds – very good surf. Saturday morning is similar, 6ft S, 10-second period, also with light offshore winds. Good clean waves for a solid intermediate.
Now, Sunday the 2nd of August is a real gem. Early morning, it’s glassy with light NNW winds, and we get 6ft from the SSE at 12 seconds. Combined energy hits 1052 (moderate wave energy). This is excellent for experienced surfers. The glassy conditions will make it look like a mirror. After lunch, the wind shifts cross-onshore and the quality gets marginal, so the early bird gets the worm.
Then we hit a flat spell. Monday the 3rd and Tuesday the 4th have tiny, weak surf with poor conditions. It stays quiet through the rest of the first week and into the second. There’s a long gap of many days with nothing worth mentioning until we get to the tail end of the forecast.
Around the 12th of August, we see a new pulse of 7ft from the S with 11-second period, but the wind is onshore and marginal, so it looks messy. The 13th of August has similar problems with onshore ENE winds, so don’t get too excited.
So, to sum it up: clear the deck for Thursday morning the 30th of July – that’s the best. Sunday morning the 2nd of August is a close second if you can get out early for the glass. The rest of the window is mostly flat or blown out.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sat morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed afternoon, min 10°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon morning, min 13°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 16 | NE 6 | SSW 12 | S 10 | S 9 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SE 15 | SSE 12 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | S 6 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
26 | 8 | 1012 | 708 | 262 | 639 | 580 | 893 | 550 | 502 | 472 | 1039 | 887 | 627 | 404 | 240 | 138 | 75 | 46 | 40 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | on | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:10PM1.62m | 8:40AM1.11m | 8:43PM1.64m | 9:16AM1.15m | 9:16PM1.62m | 9:53AM1.20m | 9:50PM1.57m | 10:31AM1.24m | 10:25PM1.50m | 11:12AM1.27m | 11:03PM1.40m | 11:57AM1.30m | 11:48PM1.28m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:51AM0.17m | 2:14PM0.27m | 3:23AM0.13m | 2:52PM0.27m | 3:53AM0.10m | 3:31PM0.30m | 4:25AM0.10m | 4:12PM0.33m | 4:57AM0.11m | 4:59PM0.37m | 5:33AM0.14m | 5:52PM0.42m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | |
5:10 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:15 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 14 |
Feels °C | 14 | 8 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 6 | NE 6 | S 12 | ENE 6 | S 9 | S 11 | ENE 7 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 12 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | S 6 |
14 | 8 | 594 | 4 | 262 | 639 | 5 | 683 | 550 | 502 | 451 | 1039 | 887 | 627 | 404 | 240 | 138 | 75 | 46 | 40 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 16 | S 14 | ENE 6 | E 13 | SSE 12 | ENE 7 | E 13 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | SE 15 | SE 15 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | S 21 | S 19 | ESE 11 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 8 |
26 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 220 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 107 | 472 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 35 | 7 | 24 | 32 | 20 | 22 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 6 | E 13 | E 12 | E 13 | ENE 6 | E 13 | — | E 13 | SE 15 | NE 6 | NE 9 | E 17 | E 17 | S 21 | E 16 | E 15 | NE 9 | E 14 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 |
2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | — | 3 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 36 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 16 | 7 | 7 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 6 | SSW 4 | SSW 12 | S 10 | — | — | S 10 | S 10 | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 3 | NNE 3 | NE 3 | — | SW 2 | S 6 | — |
13 | 37 | 1012 | 708 | — | — | 580 | 893 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | 4 | — | 1 | 29 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 48 | 34 | 0 | 169 | 0 | 0 | 134 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 297 | 22 | 22 | 56 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 22 |
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.










