Saltwater Surf Break

Lat Long: 32.01° S 152.57° E

Saltwater Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 am 20 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Saltwater sea temperature is
19.4° C
0.3° 

Saltwater surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Saltwater surf forecast from 20 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 20 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 10s period, E swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 26 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 13s period, S swell with 892 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 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 Monday (Jul 20) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Saltwater in the next 16 days are 1.6m 13s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 26) 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 1.3m 6s period and expected on Friday (Jul 24) at 1AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10PM (Mon 20th Jul)5.5ft (1.7m) 10s
Best Surf10PM (Mon 20th Jul)5.5ft (1.7m) 10s
Most Powerful 1AM (Sun 26th Jul)5ft (1.6m) 13s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Saltwater over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let's take a look at what's coming down the line for Saltwater over the next couple of weeks.

First off, the water's sitting right around average for this time of year, so no major surprises there.

The start of the outlook is a bit slow. From Monday the 20th through Thursday the 23rd, it's a mixed bag with modest swell and tricky winds. Monday has a 7ft east swell, but the cross wind and the overall feel mean the surf won't be anything special. The combined energy is strong though, at 1140. Tuesday and Wednesday mornings have some clean windows with light offshores or glassy conditions, especially Wednesday morning with glassy conditions, but the swell is down around 3ft to 5ft. It'll be surfable but nothing to write home about. Thursday morning is pretty small at 3ft.

Things really pick up Friday the 24th. Friday morning brings a jump in size to 6ft from the SSW, with a cross-offshore breeze making it clean. The wave energy is strong at 973. That's a solid session. Saturday the 25th looks great: morning has 5ft from the south with a long 12-second period, cross-offshore wind, and energy at 594. Saturday afternoon goes offshore too. Sunday the 26th is another standout, with both morning and afternoon offering clean, cross-offshore winds and solid 5ft to 6ft south swell. The energy is strong, around 697.

After a bit of a lull on Monday and Tuesday the 27th-28th, with smaller 4ft to 4ft swell, the forecast gets seriously interesting heading into the end of the month. Thursday the 30th of July is an absolute standout. A clean, gentle offshore wind from the SW all day, and the swell is 6ft from the SSE with a massive 19-second period. The wave energy is huge – 4985 in the morning. This is a proper groundswell, and it's going to offer some incredible, well-shaped waves with long gaps between sets. This one's for experienced surfers only, as the period and size will make it powerful. The water temperature is still about average.

Friday the 31st holds excellent conditions in the morning: 7ft of south swell, 12-second period, offshore wind, and energy at 1277. Again, this is solid, quality surf. The 1st of August keeps the run going with a good mix of size and clean offshore winds from the SW, delivering 6ft from the SSE.

So, to call out the best of the bunch: definitely Thursday the 30th of July, with that incredible 19-second groundswell and clean offshore winds – that's one for the memory bank. Friday the 31st morning and Saturday the 1st of August morning are also top-tier, with consistent offshore wind and solid size.

The crowds can be an issue here at Saltwater – it's often popular, so get in early for those best sessions. The swell direction from the south and SSE is pretty much ideal for this point break.

Take it easy out there.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed morning, min 13°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu morning, min 8°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
3
2
0
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
3
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.1
E
11
1.9
E
10
1.7
E
10
1.4
E
10
1.3
E
10
1.2
ENE
10
1.1
ENE
10
1
ENE
9
0.9
ENE
9
0.9
ENE
9
0.7
ENE
9
0.6
ENE
8
1.9
SSW
9
1.8
S
10
1.4
S
11
1.4
S
12
1.3
S
11
1.6
S
13
1.6
S
12
1.7
S
11
1.6
S
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
992
789
575
384
326
271
230
185
146
113
79
55
586
605
459
574
433
892
690
688
504
Wind (km/h)
5
ESE
10
ESE
10
WNW
5
NW
15
E
10
NNW
5
WNW
10
SE
10
WNW
5
W
15
SW
25
SW
15
WSW
10
SE
10
WNW
10
W
15
SSW
15
W
10
WSW
15
SSE
10
W
Wind State
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross
glassy
cross
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
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
4:57AM0.88m
5:30PM1.39m
5:55AM0.92m
6:16PM1.46m
Low Tide
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
10:31AM0.43m
00:25AM0.42m
11:26AM0.41m
1:06AM0.35m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:46
6:46
6:45
6:45
6:43
6:43
6:43
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:05
5:06
5:06
5:07
5:07
5:07
5:08
 mm
Temp °C
17
16
15
18
17
16
19
18
16
19
19
15
14
15
12
17
18
15
17
16
13
Feels °C
16
15
15
16
15
15
18
16
14
17
15
9
10
12
10
13
14
12
14
13
11
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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