Sawtell-The Island Surf Break

Lat Long: 30.37° S 153.11° E

Sawtell-The Island Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 am 08 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Sawtell-The Island sea temperature is
19.6° C
0.7° 

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 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 8 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 11s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 8 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 11s period, SSE swell with 2,575 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 8 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 11s 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 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 3.0m and 11s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 15s 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 3.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 08) at 10AM. 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 2s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 12) at 4AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10AM (Wed 8th Jul)11ft (3.5m) 11s
Best Surf10AM (Wed 8th Jul)11ft (3.5m) 11s
Most Powerful10AM (Wed 8th Jul)11ft (3.5m) 11s

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


G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a pretty solid run of surf coming up for The Island at Sawtell, but it’s not all smooth sailing. The first few days are big and gnarly, then it drops right off before a second pulse of groundswell arrives in the second week.

It kicks off Wednesday the 8th of July with a solid pulse of SSE swell. Wednesday morning you’re looking at a chunky 11.5 ft from the SSE, period at 11 seconds – that’s proper groundswell. Combined wave energy is a massive 4393, which is strong to very strong, so this is serious. It’s too big for anyone but advanced surfers. Wind is a cross-off southerly at 12 mph, so it’ll be clean, but you need to know what you’re doing. Water temp is 67.3°, which is about average for the time of year – nothing weird there. By Wednesday afternoon the swell drops to 8.2 ft, still SSE, still with 11-second period, but the tide starts to mess with it and the energy is still heavy at 3815. Thursday the 9th is a step down to 6.9 ft to 7.5 ft, still SSE, period dropping to 10 seconds. Wind stays cross-off, but the surf is marginal and questionable with the tides. Not the best.

Friday the 10th of July is where it starts to look good. Morning sees 5.9 ft from the SE, period at 10 seconds, and wind is a light cross-off at 6 mph – nice and clean. Energy drops to 675, moderate now. The scores say very good surf conditions, and I’d back that. The afternoon bumps up to 6.9 ft from the SSE, 11-second period, still with light wind – that’s excellent for experienced surfers, but again, the size is on the limit. Saturday the 11th of July morning is the standout: glassy conditions, wind from the NW at just 3 mph, and 3.9 ft of SE swell with a 9-second period. Energy is 464, moderate. It’s clean, glassy, and small enough for a fun session. The Island (Sawtell) at its best. Crowds can show up sometimes, so get in early. Saturday afternoon turns messy with cross-on NE wind and poor conditions – avoid it.

Sunday the 12th through to Tuesday the 14th sees the swell fade fast. Sunday morning is 3.3 ft ESE, clean with a west wind, but the energy is low at 204. By Tuesday it’s tiny – 1.6 ft and under – and the energy is below 50. Not worth paddling out. There’s a long gap here with no decent surf for the rest of that second week, until Saturday the 18th of July when a new swell tries to build. That Saturday morning is 3.3 ft from the east, period 8 seconds, clean with a light offshore, but energy is only 153 and it’s described as ordinary – still, it’s surfable.

The real highlight in the second week lands on Sunday the 19th of July morning. Glassy, no wind, 5.2 ft of SSE swell with an 8-second period. Energy is 382, moderate. The waves will be clean and punchy for that size. Then Monday the 20th of July morning is another cracker: 3.6 ft from the east, but the period jumps to 12 seconds – that’s long-period groundswell. Energy is 617, moderate. Light offshore wind from the west at 3 mph, clean. Very good conditions, and that long period will really wrap into The Island nicely. Tuesday the 21st of July is a step up in size – 7.5 ft from the ESE with a 12-second period, so that’s big again. Energy is 1620, strong. Wind is fresh offshore from the WSW at 19 mph – that’ll be clean but strong, and the paddle-out could be a mission. This one’s for experts only, as it’s over 8.2 ft. Wednesday the 22nd still has 5.2 ft from the east, 12-second period, with a moderate offshore – very good again, but still sizeable.

Best of the lot? I’d call it Saturday the 11th of July morning and Monday the 20th of July morning. Saturday gives you glass, clean lines, and a fun size. Monday brings longer-period groundswell with offshore wind. Both are clean, both are rideable, and both have that special feel. For the second week, the Tuesday the 21st morning is a standout for the big-wave crew, but it’s not for everyone.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed morning, min 11°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sun morning, min 10°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
Friday
10
Saturday
11
Sunday
12
Monday
13
Tuesday
14
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
!
4
!
3
3
3
3
4
3
2
0
2
2
0
2
1
0
1
0
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)
3.5
SSE
11
2.5
SE
11
3
SSE
11
2.1
SSE
10
2.3
SSE
10
1.8
SE
10
1.8
SE
10
2.1
SSE
11
1.6
SE
10
0.9
ESE
12
1.2
ESE
11
1.3
ESE
10
1
ESE
10
0.8
ESE
10
1.1
S
8
0.7
S
8
0.7
SSE
9
0.5
S
9
0.5
S
9
0.4
SSE
8
0.4
SSE
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2575
1736
1913
867
981
636
602
934
475
241
337
333
204
117
138
66
82
39
38
23
18
Wind (km/h)
20
S
20
SSW
20
SSW
20
SSW
20
S
15
SW
10
SSW
10
S
10
WSW
5
NW
10
NE
15
WNW
15
W
20
SW
10
W
0
NNW
10
NE
15
SW
5
SSW
10
ENE
10
W
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
glassy
on
off
glassy
on
off
High Tide
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
8:06PM1.88m
Low Tide
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
2:53AM-0.03m
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
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
6:41
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:00
5:00
5:00
5:01
5:01
5:02
5:02
 mm
1
2
2
2
Temp °C
17
16
15
15
16
14
16
16
13
18
18
14
20
18
12
16
16
12
16
16
13
Feels °C
13
12
11
11
12
11
14
14
11
16
15
11
15
13
8
13
13
9
14
14
11
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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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