Sawtell-The Island Surf Break

Lat Long: 30.37° S 153.11° E

Issued: 3 am 06 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Sawtell-The Island sea temperature is
19.8° C

Slightly cooler than normal

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 5 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 6 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 7 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 12s period, SSE swell with 4,206 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 6 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s 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 Monday (Jul 06) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 15s. 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 Tuesday (Jul 07) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 3s period and expected on Friday (Jul 10) at 7AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10AM (Mon 6th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 9s
Best Surf10AM (Mon 6th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 9s
Most Powerful10PM (Tue 7th 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, let’s talk about Sawtell – The Island. This is a top‑shelf advanced wave, exposed to the southeast, so it needs a decent southerly or south‑easterly pulse to fire. The next couple weeks bring a real mix, starting with some serious size that’ll only suit the most experienced – then we get a glassy gem mid‑month that’s the clear standout.

Monday July 6 through Wednesday July 8 sees a big SSE groundswell pumping, 10‑12 ft with a solid 11‑second period. That’s a lot of juice – combined energy climbing to 4691 – but the wave comment says it’s simply too big for this break. Wind is cross‑off and clean, so for the handful of local chargers who know The Island’s tricks, there might be a few bombs, but honestly it’s a “proceed with caution” situation. Water temp is 67.6°, about normal for the time of year.

Thursday July 9 and Friday July 10 see the swell drop back to 7‑6 ft, still SE, but the wind stays cross‑off and clean on Friday morning – “expect very good surf conditions” they say – so that Friday morning session could be worthwhile with moderate 6‑ft sets and light breeze.

Now the real highlight: Wednesday July 15 morning. S swell 7 ft, period 9 seconds, combined energy

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Mon morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue morning, min 13°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat morning, min 11°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
Friday
10
Saturday
11
Sunday
12
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
3
2
3
3
2
3
2
1
3
1
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3
SSE
9
3
SSE
10
3
SE
10
3.5
SSE
11
3.5
SE
11
4
SSE
12
3.5
SSE
11
3
SSE
11
2.3
SE
11
2.3
SE
10
2.2
SE
10
2
SE
10
1.9
SE
10
1.9
SE
10
1.7
SE
10
1.4
SE
9
0.9
ESE
12
1.4
ESE
10
1.3
ESE
11
1
ESE
10
0.8
ESE
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1363
1536
1601
2923
2553
4013
2529
1816
1246
1069
906
757
716
759
565
347
250
386
352
208
110
Wind (km/h)
25
S
30
S
20
S
25
SSW
30
SSW
20
SSW
20
SSW
20
SSW
20
SSW
20
SSW
15
S
15
SW
10
SSW
10
SSE
10
SW
5
NW
10
NE
10
WNW
10
NNW
15
N
10
NNW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross
off
glassy
on
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross
High Tide
12:28PM1.10m
00:17AM1.33m
1:23PM1.16m
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
Low Tide
6:05PM0.42m
6:58AM0.16m
7:10PM0.46m
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
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
clear
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:43
6:43
6:43
6:43
6:43
6:43
6:43
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
4:59
5:00
5:00
5:00
5:00
5:01
5:01
 mm
1
1
4
1
2
4
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
Temp °C
16
16
15
17
17
15
16
16
14
15
16
14
16
16
13
17
16
14
22
21
16
Feels °C
10
10
11
11
11
10
12
13
10
11
13
11
14
14
11
15
14
12
18
17
13
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
E
15
0.3
E
14
0.3
ESE
13
3
SE
11
3.5
SE
11
3
SE
11
2.5
SE
11
2.3
SE
11
0.1
S
23
0.1
S
23
2
SE
10
1.9
SE
10
1.9
SE
10
1.7
SE
10
1.4
SE
9
1.2
SE
9
1.4
ESE
10
1.3
ESE
11
1
ESE
10
0.8
ESE
9
Energy kJ
17
35
34
1768
2622
1868
1596
1246
11
10
757
716
759
565
347
235
386
352
208
110
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
SSW
16
0.1
S
20
1
SE
13
1.3
ESE
11
0.1
S
21
0.1
S
20
0.1
S
19
0.1
SE
16
0.6
ESE
13
0.9
ESE
12
0.9
SSE
9
0.7
S
9
0.1
SE
9
0.2
NNE
4
Energy kJ
51
8
321
426
9
8
7
10
137
250
146
79
3
1
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
S
21
0.1
S
19
0.1
S
17
0.7
ESE
12
0.1
SE
8
Energy kJ
8
7
6
131
3
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3
SSE
9
3
SSE
10
3
SE
10
3.5
SSE
11
3.5
SE
11
4
SSE
12
3.5
SSE
11
3
SSE
11
2.2
S
11
2.3
SE
10
2.2
SE
10
Energy kJ
1363
1536
1601
2923
2553
4013
2529
1816
1165
1069
906
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
3
5
6
5
7
1
3
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
2
2
1
Distance (km)
252
531
30
30
75
30
23
23
2
16
16
0
0
2
0
0
16
0
7
7
7
Best forecast wave conditions in Port Macquarie
Rating
(10 max)
5
6
5
7
5
4
4
4
4
3
4
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
1
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
6
6
5
7
7
5
5
4
4
5
4
4
4
3
4
3
2
5
3
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
6
4
8
7
5
5
9
8
9
9
5
5
6
5
8
5
5
8
6
5
5
  • 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 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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