Sawtell-The Island Surf Break

Lat Long: 30.37° S 153.11° E

Sawtell-The Island Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 am 07 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Sawtell-The Island sea temperature is
19.7° C
0.2° 

Sawtell-The Island surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Sawtell-The Island surf forecast from 7 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 10s period, SSW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 11s period, S swell with 1,276 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 7 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s 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 Friday (Aug 07) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Sawtell-The Island in the next 16 days are 2.3m 11s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 13) at 1PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7PM (Fri 7th Aug)1.5ft (0.5m) 10s
Best Surf 7PM (Thu 13th Aug)7.5ft (2.3m) 10s
Most Powerful10PM (Thu 13th Aug)7.5ft (2.3m) 11s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sawtell-The Island over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Righto, let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for Sawtell over the next couple of weeks.

First up, water temp is sitting at 68°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The next few days are gonna be a bit of a struggle. We’ve got small, weak swell – around 2ft to 3ft – with periods mostly under 10 seconds, so it’s lacklustre. The energy is low too (115 to 182). Friday the 7th starts glassy but with tiny SSE swell, just surfable but nothing to get excited about. Saturday morning the 8th cleans up a bit with a light cross-off, but the swell is still small and short-period. Sunday the 9th gets messy with a fresh onshore breeze, so forget it. Monday the 10th sees a cleaner window with a cross-off, but the swell is still anaemic. Tuesday the 11th morning goes glassy again with only 2ft – barely worth paddling out for. Wednesday the 12th is a write-off with onshore winds. Thursday the 13th afternoon finally shows some life: moderate offshore wind from the SW and a jump in energy to 297, with 4ft of S swell at 10 seconds – that’s more like it, but still ordinary.

Now, the standout. Friday the 14th – mark it. Morning glassy conditions with a clean cross-off. Swell jumps to 6ft from the SSE, period stretching to 13 seconds, and the energy is pumping at 1121. That’s proper groundswell, and it’s gonna be clean and powerful. This is for experienced surfers only – over 5ft and it’s a step up. The Island can handle it, but it’ll be a handful. Afternoon goes cross-on, so the morning is the window.

The rest of the second week is a bit of a mixed bag. Saturday 15th has a clean morning but the swell drops a bit, and the wind picks up later. Sunday 16th gets fresh and lumpy. Monday 17th into Tuesday 18th is all rain showers and fresh wind – not worth it. Wednesday 19th morning has a solid 7ft but the swell is short-period (8 seconds), so it’s gonna be fat and messy, maybe more for the kite crowd.

But then – Thursday 20th morning, glassy again, with 7ft of E swell at 10 seconds, energy at 806 – that’s a very good session. And Friday 21st morning is the real big one: 8ft of E swell, 13-second period, glassy conditions, energy at 1766. That’s a serious, powerful groundswell – only for experienced surfers, and it’ll be big, clean, and lined up. The Island is a reef, so it’ll handle that long period nicely. The morning is the only time, as the wind swings onshore in the afternoon. Saturday 22nd morning is still good with 6ft and glassy, but a step down.

So, the best on offer is the morning of Friday 14th for a solid, clean groundswell, and the morning of Friday 21st for the biggest, most powerful swell of the whole period. Both are for advanced surfers only. Crowds are sometimes a factor at The Island, so expect company on those days.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sun morning, min 13°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri morning, fresh winds from the NNE by Sun afternoon).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon morning, min 10°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
7
Saturday
8
Sunday
9
Monday
10
Tuesday
11
Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
1
2
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
SSE
10
0.5
SSE
10
0.5
SSE
10
0.7
E
8
0.9
E
8
1.1
E
9
1
E
9
0.9
E
9
1.6
NE
8
1.2
ENE
8
0.9
ENE
8
0.7
ENE
9
0.6
E
9
0.6
E
9
0.5
S
11
0.6
E
10
0.6
E
9
0.4
ENE
10
0.5
S
10
1.2
S
10
1.7
SSE
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
72
54
52
64
102
194
162
125
338
188
99
79
59
60
64
67
63
31
48
279
903
Wind (km/h)
0
SSE
10
E
10
WSW
10
SSW
10
E
10
NNW
20
N
30
NNE
25
N
15
WNW
15
W
10
WSW
5
W
15
NE
10
WNW
5
NNE
10
N
20
WSW
20
WSW
20
SW
15
WSW
Wind State
glassy
cross-on
off
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-off
off
glassy
on
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
off
off
off
off
High Tide
2:58PM1.40m
3:13AM0.94m
4:09PM1.49m
4:35AM0.94m
5:14PM1.60m
5:44AM0.99m
6:11PM1.71m
6:42AM1.06m
7:03PM1.79m
7:32AM1.14m
7:50PM1.83m
8:19AM1.21m
8:34PM1.80m
Low Tide
9:44PM0.40m
9:08AM0.26m
11:04PM0.30m
10:20AM0.23m
00:08AM0.19m
11:25AM0.16m
1:01AM0.08m
12:23PM0.09m
1:48AM0.01m
1:15PM0.04m
2:30AM-0.04m
2:04PM0.02m
3:09AM-0.05m
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:28
6:28
6:26
6:26
6:24
6:24
6:24
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:16
5:17
5:17
5:19
5:19
5:20
5:20
 mm
Temp °C
17
17
14
16
17
15
20
20
16
19
19
12
17
16
13
19
18
14
18
17
10
Feels °C
15
16
13
14
15
14
15
15
11
13
14
8
13
12
10
16
15
9
11
11
5
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  • 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 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

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