Surf Forecasts:
Saltwater surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 7s period, ENE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 8s period, S swell with 728 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 11s period with S 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 (Aug 23) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s. 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 2.4m 8s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) 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 1.2m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Saltwater over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, it’s Rusty here with a look at the next stretch of surf.
To be straight with you, the first week and a bit of this forecast is pretty ordinary. We’ve got a fair few days where the waves are just not doing a thing for us at Saltwater. The swell is small, often under 3 feet, and the period is short and weak. Thursday the 20th and into the weekend, there’s a bit of wave action but it’s messy and blown out. There’s a brief clean window Sunday afternoon with a bit more energy, but it’s still small and cross-choppy, not really worth making a special trip for.
The middle of the week, from Monday the 24th through to Friday the 28th, is a mixed bag. The energy is moderate but the winds are mostly onshore and the quality is poor. There’s a glimpse of a clean, offshore morning on Wednesday the 26th under a gentle SW breeze, but the swell is inconsistent and only around 3 to 3 feet, so it’s just “surfable” at best. The following Friday morning, the 28th, has similar conditions, a light offshore wind but really not a lot of push.
Now, let’s talk about what you’re really waiting for: the first few days of September are the clear standouts. We’ve got a proper run of conditions coming through, starting Tuesday the 1st. The energy builds through the day, and the wind goes glassy. Wednesday the 2nd is the winner for me. The swell is a solid 5 feet from the ENE, moving through the water with a 10-second period, and the morning is dead calm, completely glassy. The energy gauge is pumping hard, which is a strong reading. This is the kind of morning you want to cancel plans for. Saltwater is a point break, so it’ll handle this swell well, and the light winds will keep it clean and lined up.
Thursday the 3rd will still have some size but the onshore wind picks up and chops it out. Friday the 4th shows another nice glassy morning, but the swell is a touch smaller, around 3 feet.
Water temp is sitting at 66°, which is just about normal for this time of year, so a spring suit is fine.
So there you have it. It’s a lean start, but that clean glassy morning on Wednesday the 2nd is the one to circle. It’s a bit of a ways out, so keep your fingers crossed the forecast holds.
Rusty, out.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sat morning. Warm (max 20°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 25°C on Tue morning, min 14°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | SSW 8 | S 11 | S 11 | E 6 | S 10 | S 11 | S 11 | NE 9 | NE 6 | ENE 8 | S 7 | S 8 | S 9 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 81 | 159 | 32 | 24 | 23 | 17 | 17 | 24 | 22 | 141 | 243 | 168 | 141 | 108 | 263 | 202 | 166 | 495 | 659 | 483 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | off | cross | cross | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:52AM0.88m | 2:52PM1.25m | 3:18AM0.85m | 4:02PM1.27m | 4:38AM0.87m | 5:01PM1.33m | 5:37AM0.93m | 5:49PM1.41m | 6:22AM1.01m | 6:30PM1.49m | 7:01AM1.09m | 7:06PM1.55m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:32PM0.56m | 7:42AM0.48m | 9:55PM0.55m | 8:53AM0.51m | 11:06PM0.50m | 10:06AM0.50m | 11:56PM0.42m | 11:06AM0.45m | 00:36AM0.34m | 11:55AM0.38m | 1:11AM0.25m | 12:37PM0.32m | 1:42AM0.18m | |||||||
 |  | | |  |  | | |  |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — |
 | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 16 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 20 | 19 | 16 | 25 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 16 | 13 |
Feels °C | 16 | 14 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 10 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | S 11 | E 6 | E 6 | S 11 | ENE 5 | ENE 9 | S 10 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 9 |
| kJ | 44 | 77 | 32 | 24 | 23 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 10 | 141 | 127 | 94 | 141 | 36 | 127 | 47 | 166 | 100 | 58 | 483 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSW 8 | S 11 | ENE 8 | S 12 | S 10 | SSE 17 | S 11 | S 10 | SSE 16 | S 9 | SSE 16 | SE 16 | ENE 8 |
| kJ | — | 19 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 24 | 22 | 41 | 132 | 168 | 27 | 108 | 72 | 24 | 42 | 25 | 10 | 35 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 13 | E 9 | E 9 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | NE 9 | ENE 9 | SSE 17 | S 9 | — | S 17 | ENE 9 | SSE 16 | — | SSE 16 | — | — | N 14 |
| kJ | — | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 56 | 54 | — | 49 | 31 | 27 | — | 25 | — | — | 4 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 6 | NE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 2 | SSW 4 | SE 4 | E 6 | — | E 6 | NE 5 | NE 9 | NE 6 | NNW 2 | S 7 | S 8 | — |
| kJ | 81 | 159 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | 9 | 243 | — | 58 | 69 | 263 | 202 | 1 | 495 | 659 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 68 | 280 | 39 | 19 | 39 | 39 | 39 | 173 | 39 | 22 | 86 | 56 | 37 | 348 | 22 | 56 | 72 | 0 | 0 | 116 |
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.
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