
Surf Forecasts:
Sawtell-The Island surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 18 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 11s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 11s period, ESE swell with 3,184 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 18 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 11s period with E 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 Saturday (Jul 18) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 21s. Another secondary swell of 2.2m and 7s is also forecast. 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 11s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 23) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 13ft (4.0m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sawtell-The Island over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Righto, let’s see what’s cookin’ for Sawtell. The only spot in the mix is Sawtell-The Island, and it’s a proper advanced slab, so this ain’t for the faint-hearted. The water’s sittin’ at 68°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year – no surprises there.
The week kicks off on Saturday, 18 July, with a bit of a soaker – cloudy, southerly wind at 22 mph, and a messy 8 ft ESE swell. The cross-off wind is there, but the energy is wild (1184), and the sets are gonna be lumpy. Not your day.
Sunday, 19 July, fires up proper, but it’s a double-edged sword. Light rain, but the swell jumps to 12 ft from the ESE, period at 10 seconds, and the energy is massive (2814). That’s too big for this break – it’ll be a washing machine even for the best. The wind is cross-off, but the wave size is just plain dangerous. Afternoon is similar at 10 ft (2274). This is a pass for paddling.
Monday, 20 July, is still heavy. Morning at 10 ft (3360) with a southerly wind at 9 mph – cross-off, but again, it’s too much. The afternoon drops to 8 ft (1140), but the wind swings cross, and the quality is poor. Tuesday, 21 July, is the first real standout. Morning glass-off with a light SSW breeze at 3 mph, clean cross-off, and the swell drops to 6 ft from the east (583 energy). The period is 10 seconds, packing decent shape. This is the best session of the week – clean, manageable for advanced surfers, and the wind is near perfect. Afternoon is small and wonky.
From Wednesday, 22 July, through to the end of the month, it’s a long, flat spell. The swell dribbles down to 3 ft or less, and the wind is messy. A few clean moments on Thursday, 23 July, and Friday, 24 July, but the swell is either too small or too weak. The weekend of 25-26 July has a little bump – Saturday afternoon, 25 July, sees a 5 ft south swell (689 energy) with a light southerly breeze, clean and crossed-off. It’s a decent session, but nothing like Tuesday.
The first week of August shows a tiny pulse on Saturday, 1 August – 3 ft SE swell, glassy, clean. That’s a nice little window for a quiet paddle, but the energy is low (217). Sunday, 2 August, is similar but with a risk of storms.
The standout here is Tuesday, 21 July, morning. Clean, 6 ft east swell, light offshore – that’s the one to circle. The rest is either too big, too small, or too windy. The island doesn’t break often, so when it does and the wind plays ball, you go.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Sat night. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat afternoon, min 15°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Sat afternoon, light winds from the SSW by Tue morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 21°C on Wed morning, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 9 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SSE 7 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | S 10 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
791 | 3184 | 2696 | 1632 | 1506 | 1846 | 1086 | 701 | 535 | 392 | 274 | 194 | 157 | 140 | 109 | 88 | 295 | 566 | 965 | 783 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 11:11PM1.54m | 11:56AM1.21m | 11:54PM1.36m | 12:49PM1.22m | 00:40AM1.19m | 1:45PM1.23m | 1:31AM1.04m | 2:44PM1.24m | 2:32AM0.92m | 3:44PM1.27m | 3:42AM0.86m | 4:41PM1.32m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:47PM0.21m | 5:45AM0.08m | 5:42PM0.32m | 6:25AM0.15m | 6:42PM0.43m | 7:05AM0.22m | 7:51PM0.51m | 7:48AM0.29m | 9:11PM0.54m | 8:38AM0.34m | 10:30PM0.52m | 9:34AM0.36m | 11:34PM0.46m | |||||||
— | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | |
5:05 | — | — | 5:06 | — | — | 5:06 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:08 | — | |
mm | — | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 21 | 19 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 19 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | E 11 | S 18 | E 10 | E 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | SSE 9 |
791 | 2308 | 107 | 1632 | 1506 | 1480 | 1086 | 701 | 535 | 392 | 274 | 194 | 157 | 140 | 109 | 88 | 50 | 35 | 37 | 385 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 21 | S 20 | S 24 | SSW 18 | S 17 | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | — | SSE 12 | S 15 | ENE 9 | E 8 |
79 | 72 | 11 | 103 | 6 | 34 | 54 | 47 | 40 | 38 | 37 | 19 | 19 | 9 | 11 | — | 15 | 40 | 25 | 21 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | S 23 | — | — | — | S 16 | S 20 | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 | S 13 | E 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | 11 | — | — | — | 21 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 6 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | ESE 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | — | SSW 3 | SSE 6 | SSE 7 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | S 10 |
314 | 3184 | 2696 | 528 | 240 | 1846 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 3 | 106 | 295 | 566 | 965 | 783 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 522 | 406 | 406 | 309 | 75 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 30 | 75 | 75 | 0 |
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










