
Surf Forecasts:
Sawtell-The Island surf forecast from 7 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 8 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 12s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 8 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 12s period, SSE swell with 3,725 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 8 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 12s period with SSE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Sawtell-The Island this week:
The surf forecast for Sawtell-The Island over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 08) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 4.0m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 3.0m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Sawtell-The Island in the next 16 days are 4.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 08) 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 0.4m 3s period and expected on Friday (Jul 10) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Wed 8th Jul) | 13ft (4.0m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Wed 8th Jul) | 13ft (4.0m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Wed 8th Jul) | 13ft (4.0m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sawtell-The Island over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Alright, grab a coffee and listen up. Rusty here.
We’ve got a solid run ahead, but ya gotta pick your moments. The first few days are all about big, powerful groundswell, and it’s a pretty wild ride before it settles into a mellow, clean spell. Keep your eyes peeled for the standout day—it’s a good one.
Wednesday the 8th is where it kicks off, but this is for advanced crew only. Sawtell-The Island is pumping with a massive 12ft SSE groundswell. That’s huge, and with a period of 11 seconds, the energy is peaking at a very strong 4393. The wind is a cross-off S’ly breeze at 12 mph, which keeps it clean, but the swell is just too big for this break for most. The afternoon drops slightly to 8ft (3813 energy), but the wind stays the same. This is expert territory, no doubt.
Thursday the 9th hangs in there, but it’s dropping fast. Morning shows 7ft SSE swell (1840 energy) and moderate to strong cross-off winds, but the quality is marginal. By the afternoon, it’s down to 7ft from the SE (949 energy) and the wind is lighter, but it’s still not the pick.
Friday the 10th is where the mood shifts. Morning is looking tasty. The swell has dropped to a much more manageable 6ft from the SE, with a period of 10 seconds. The combined energy is a moderate 614, but the wind turns light from the SSW, making for clean, cross-off conditions. It’s a good, solid wave. The afternoon holds the same size but the wind goes cross-shore, which kills the shape a bit.
Now, here’s the highlight. Saturday morning, July 11th. The swell is a friendly 4ft from the ESE (471 energy), the wind is glassy—completely dead from the NNW at 3 mph. It’s gonna be a beautiful, clean morning with fun little waves. This is the standout for the week. The afternoon sees an ESE groundswell with a longer 11-second period, but the wind turns cross-on from the NNE, so the morning window is the one.
Sunday the 12th keeps the good vibes rolling with clean, offshore SW winds. The swell is 3ft from the ESE (205 energy), clean and lined up. Afternoon gets a bit more wind, but it’s still offshore from the SW. Good, solid weekend waves.
We drift into the new week. Monday the 13th is clean and glassy, but the swell is dropping to 3ft and the energy is weak (155), with a short period of 8 seconds. It’s surfable, but pretty ordinary.
Tuesday the 14th and Wednesday the 15th are a write-off. Swell drops below 2ft and the energy is pathetic (33 and 30). Basically, a flat spell.
Thursday the 16th brings a pulse back, but it’s a messy one. Morning is 5ft but with strong 16 mph cross-off winds and poor conditions. The afternoon kicks up to 7ft S’ly swell (1472 energy) but it’s still windy and marginal. This is more of a wind swell and not recommended for paddle surfing—it looks better for the kite crew.
Friday the 17th is similar: 7ft from the S (1335 energy) with strong cross-off winds, and the quality is poor for a paddle board. The wind stays on it into Saturday and Sunday, with fresh 19 mph breezes washing things out. Not your friend.
Monday the 20th finally sees a lull in the wind, but the swell is small (3ft) and the energy is weak. Tuesday the 21st has a glassy morning with just 3ft of weak E swell (98 energy)—barely rideable.
For the rest of the forecast, it’s tiny and ordinary right through to the 23rd, with a bit of a NE bump coming through with offshore winds, but it’s only 2ft. Not enough to get excited about.
So, the standout is Saturday morning, July 11th. Glassy, clean, and fun at Sawtell-The Island with that 4ft ESE swell. If you miss that, Friday morning the 10th is your next best bet for a clean 6ft wave. The rest is either too big, too windy, or too flat.
Stay stoked.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Tue night. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed morning, min 12°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun morning, min 9°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tue 14 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | S 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 7 | SSE 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
3725 | 2575 | 1736 | 1347 | 943 | 865 | 624 | 542 | 576 | 425 | 241 | 349 | 333 | 204 | 120 | 138 | 115 | 72 | 48 | 24 | 13 | |
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 | off | cross-off | cross | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-on |
High Tide | 1:10AM1.23m | 2:22PM1.25m | 2:13AM1.13m | 3:24PM1.36m | 3:24AM1.06m | 4:26PM1.48m | 4:38AM1.02m | 5:25PM1.62m | 5:46AM1.02m | 6:21PM1.74m | 6:48AM1.05m | 7:15PM1.83m | 7:44AM1.08m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:44AM0.17m | 8:27PM0.46m | 8:37AM0.18m | 9:49PM0.41m | 9:34AM0.17m | 11:05PM0.31m | 10:34AM0.15m | 00:12AM0.20m | 11:33AM0.12m | 1:11AM0.09m | 12:30PM0.07m | 2:04AM0.01m | 1:24PM0.03m | ||||||||
— | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | |
— | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:01 | — | — | 5:01 | — | — | 5:02 | — | — | 5:02 | |
mm | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 19 | 18 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 16 | 15 |
Feels °C | 11 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 16 | 15 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SSE 10 | ESE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | S 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 7 | SSE 6 |
2367 | 1773 | 1625 | 1347 | 578 | 68 | 624 | 542 | 576 | 425 | 241 | 349 | 333 | 204 | 120 | 51 | 115 | 72 | 48 | 24 | 13 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ESE 15 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | S 23 | SE 14 | SE 14 | S 19 | ESE 15 | ESE 12 | SSE 9 | NNE 4 | NE 4 | — | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 10 | S 11 |
— | 45 | 454 | 604 | 308 | 10 | 147 | 72 | 7 | 42 | 224 | 99 | 1 | 1 | — | 49 | 31 | 14 | 6 | 8 | 9 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | S 23 | S 18 | S 21 | — | — | — | S 18 | S 18 | — | N 4 | N 4 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 7 | SE 7 |
— | — | — | — | 11 | 6 | 9 | — | — | — | 6 | 6 | — | 6 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 2 | WNW 3 | SW 3 | S 8 | — | — | — | — | — |
3725 | 2575 | 1736 | 1167 | 943 | 865 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 138 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 30 | 30 | 23 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 106 | 173 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Port Macquarie | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Sawtell-The Island Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Sawtell-The Island provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Sawtell-The Island can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Sawtell-The Island 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 (Sawtell-The Island) 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 Sawtell-The Island 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.
Are you planning a holiday in Port Macquarie? If you are looking for accommodation near Sawtell-The Island, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Port Macquarie, consider staying in Coffs Harbour which is 9 km (6 miles) away. Alternatively, find information about places to stay and car hire in South Grafton which is 62 km (39 miles) away











