Surf Forecasts:
Sawtell-The Island surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 18 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 10s period, ESE swell with 2,787 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 18 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s 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 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 10s 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 10s 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 1.5m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 18) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 13ft (4.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sawtell-The Island over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Imperial
Alright, mate, let’s talk about what’s cooking at Sawtell-The Island. The water temp is about 67°F, which is spot on for the season.
The first few days are a total bust. Friday the 17th and Saturday the 18th are messy with cross-shore winds and junk surf. Don’t bother.
Sunday the 19th is where things get heavy, but it’s a warning, not a welcome. You’re looking at a solid 12ft SE swell, 10-second period, and a massive energy reading of 2376. That’s a lot of juice. But this break is only for advanced surfers, and with fresh cross-shore winds, it’s going to be a lumpy, angry mess. Too big for most.
The standout, the session you want to plan for, is Tuesday morning the 21st of July. The swell drops to a clean 6ft from the east, with a 10-second period. The wind goes glassy, dead flat. It’ll be clean, smooth, and just beautiful. The energy is a moderate 604, so there’s enough grunt. Crowds can pop up ‘sometimes’, but on a Tuesday morning, you’ll likely have it quiet.
After that, the swell fades fast. Wednesday the 22nd through to Monday the 27th is mostly small, with a few clean little mornings but nothing to write home about.
There’s a real dry spell from the 23rd to the 28th, with energy dropping below 100. Then, on the 29th of July, we get a pulse of 6ft SSE swell, with a long 11-second period, giving a moderate energy of 799. The morning of the 29th is glassy, though the swell is a bit more south. The 30th also has a glassy morning, with 4ft SSE swell, clean and tidy.
The first of August looks good too, with a clean 5ft SE swell and light offshore winds – a solid way to kick off the month. So, your best bet is Tuesday the 21st, and the first of August is a good backup.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 36mm), heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri morning, min 15°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Sat afternoon, light winds from the SSE by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed morning, min 13°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 621 | 444 | 444 | 460 | 960 | 2787 | 2245 | 1722 | 1194 | 959 | 861 | 776 | 557 | 424 | 287 | 234 | 194 | 160 | 127 | 101 | 101 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off |
High Tide | 10:15AM1.17m | 10:27PM1.70m | 11:05AM1.19m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:56PM0.11m | 5:05AM0.02m | 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 | ||||||||
 | |  |  |  |  | | | |  | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — |
 | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:06 | — | — | 5:06 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — |
mm | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 16 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 13 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 18 | S 18 | S 14 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | S 20 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSE 16 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 |
| kJ | 66 | 25 | 16 | 460 | 960 | 72 | 114 | 103 | 50 | 959 | 861 | 776 | 557 | 424 | 287 | 234 | 194 | 160 | 127 | 101 | 101 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 8 | S 12 | S 14 | SE 21 | S 21 | — | S 24 | S 23 | SSE 16 | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | — | — |
| kJ | 7 | 11 | 16 | 18 | 79 | — | 11 | 11 | 81 | 34 | 54 | 56 | 40 | 38 | 37 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 11 | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | NNE 8 | — | — | — | — | S 18 | S 18 | — | — | — | S 16 | S 20 | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 | S 14 | E 12 | E 12 | — | — |
| kJ | 3 | 6 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 6 | — | — | — | 5 | 7 | 20 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | S 6 | S 6 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | NE 2 | — | — | SE 3 | S 6 |
| kJ | 621 | 444 | 444 | 156 | 345 | 2787 | 2245 | 1722 | 1194 | 82 | 72 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 4 | 88 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 352 | 353 | 16 | 30 | 489 | 406 | 406 | 309 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 108 | 0 | 7 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 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
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