
Surf Forecasts:
Saltwater surf forecast from 10 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 11 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 8s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 12 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 11s period, S swell with 517 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 11 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 9s period with ENE 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 Tuesday (Aug 11) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s. 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 1.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 12) 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 0.8m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 13) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Tue 11th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 1PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Wed 12th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Saltwater over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright mate, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's lined up for Saltwater over the next couple of weeks.
We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but things start ticking over from Tuesday the 11th. The opening session on Tuesday morning is a bit of a write-off – only 3ft of weak, short-period ENE windswell and a cross-off shore breeze making for poor conditions. The afternoon shapes up much better though, with a pulse of SSW swell pushing 6ft, a period of 8 seconds, and a light cross-off breeze. The set-up feels a bit raw and the combined energy is moderate (486), but it’ll be clean and there's some fun, pushy waves there for a beginner-friendly point break.
Wednesday morning the 12th is a write-off again with a cross-on shore messing up a 4ft S swell, but Wednesday afternoon turns it around. The wind swings cross-off, the S swell cleans up to 3ft, and with a 10-second period it’ll have a bit more shape. A solid option for a quiet arvo surf.
Thursday morning the 13th is the first real standout. We get a clean 5ft S swell with a 12 mph offshore breeze from the SW. The period drops to 8 seconds, so the waves will be a bit more sectiony, but the offshore wind will groom it into nice walls. The combined energy is a moderate 306. This is your best call early in the run – clean, user-friendly and the point will be working nicely with an optimum SE swell direction. Afternoon is a bit more marginal with a strong cross-off breeze.
Friday the 14th morning is another beaut with offshore SW winds and a clean 4ft S swell. This is the pick of the first week, in my opinion. Glassy conditions, consistent waves, and the point will have some long, rideable lines. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.
Heading into the weekend, Saturday the 15th is a bit of a mixed bag with a bumpy cross-off breeze and a building 5ft S swell. It’ll be a bit lumpy but still surfable for those who don't mind a bit of chop. It’s a bit more of a kite-surfing kind of setup with the moderate wind energy. Sunday the 16th is similar, with a smaller 4ft SSW swell and cross-off breezes, but the period drops to 7 seconds, so it'll be a bit weak and messy.
Now, the second week gets a bit more interesting but also more uncertain. Monday the 17th sees a jump in size with a 8ft SE swell, but the period is only 8 seconds and the combined energy is strong (850). The wind is cross-off but it’s raining and the surf will be a bit raw. This is definitely expert-only territory – too big for beginners and the short period will make it dumpy and hard to handle. Tuesday the 18th holds similar size (8ft) and energy (718) but again, it's marginal and cross-off.
The best of this second week comes much later. Friday the 21st of August morning is a real gem. The swell drops to a clean 4ft from the E, but the wind goes totally offshore from the SW at only 3 mph – basically glass. The period is a solid 9 seconds, so the waves will have some shape and push. The combined energy is moderate (231). This is the true standout of the whole outlook – a classic dawny with clean lines and no crowd (though it can get busy here at times).
Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd are pretty poor – cross-on winds and small, weak swell. Not worth paddling out. Monday the 24th has a bit of pulse with a 5ft S swell and a cross shore breeze but it’s marginal and the wind ramps up to 19 mph in the arvo. The last real highlight is Tuesday the 25th of August morning with 5ft from the SSE, clean offshore SW winds at 16 mph, and moderate energy (411). That’s a solid, clean session for the more experienced crew.
So overall, the best on offer is Thursday morning the 13th and Friday the 21st morning. Thursday is the steady, consistent winner, and Friday the 21st is the glassy, long-range promise.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Tue morning, min 10°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Sun night. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri morning, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 9 | SSW 8 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 9 | SSW 8 | S 7 | S 9 | S 8 | S 7 | S 8 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
101 | 310 | 517 | 319 | 234 | 106 | 232 | 152 | 482 | 182 | 131 | 217 | 181 | 187 | 269 | 215 | 166 | 428 | 166 | 237 | 235 | |
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 | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 7:03PM1.79m | 7:43AM1.18m | 7:50PM1.83m | 8:28AM1.25m | 8:35PM1.80m | 9:11AM1.31m | 9:17PM1.72m | 9:53AM1.35m | 9:57PM1.58m | 10:34AM1.38m | 10:36PM1.42m | 11:15AM1.37m | 11:16PM1.26m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:26PM0.21m | 1:49AM0.01m | 1:19PM0.16m | 2:32AM-0.03m | 2:08PM0.13m | 3:11AM-0.03m | 2:56PM0.14m | 3:48AM0.00m | 3:43PM0.19m | 4:22AM0.06m | 4:31PM0.26m | 4:56AM0.14m | 5:20PM0.35m | ||||||||
6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | |
— | 5:19 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
Temp °C | 20 | 20 | 14 | 19 | 18 | 14 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
Feels °C | 16 | 17 | 11 | 17 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | SSW 8 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 9 | ENE 9 | E 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 9 | S 8 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | S 7 | SSE 16 | SSE 14 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 7 |
101 | 118 | 517 | 319 | 234 | 106 | 49 | 45 | 328 | 182 | 43 | 217 | 30 | 18 | 18 | 131 | 87 | 70 | 166 | 237 | 235 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | S 21 | S 20 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SSE 15 | S 20 | S 19 | SE 6 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | S 8 | S 7 | S 9 |
52 | 68 | 44 | 71 | 66 | 74 | 8 | 8 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 21 | 7 | 28 | 32 | 20 | 18 | 113 | 38 | 40 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 17 | NNE 7 | — | NNE 7 | — | S 21 | S 12 | S 18 | N 10 | SSE 19 | SSE 17 | SSW 12 | S 19 | SSW 19 | SSE 18 | ESE 8 | S 18 | SE 16 | S 9 | — |
— | 6 | 20 | — | 9 | — | 8 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 37 | 100 | 14 | 29 | 69 | 61 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 43 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 3 | SSW 8 | WNW 2 | — | — | SW 4 | SSW 8 | S 7 | S 9 | WSW 2 | S 7 | — | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 7 | — | — |
1 | 310 | 1 | — | — | 17 | 232 | 152 | 482 | 1 | 131 | — | 181 | 187 | 269 | 215 | 166 | 428 | 96 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 39 | 70 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 0 | 0 | 134 | 0 | 48 | 116 | 0 | 0 | 116 | 159 | 116 | 344 |
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.











