
Surf Forecasts:
Sawtell-The Island surf forecast from 9 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 14 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 9s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 14 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 10s period, S swell with 815 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 10 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 8s period with ENE 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 (Aug 10) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s. 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 2.1m 10s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 14) at 4AM. 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 Monday (Aug 10) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Mon 10th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Fri 14th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Fri 14th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sawtell-The Island over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – the next couple of weeks around Sawtell-The Island are looking pretty ordinary for most of the run. We’ve got a long stretch of marginal to poor conditions, but there are a couple of windows that’ll get the heart rate up if you’re patient. The main standout is coming right at the end of the period, and it’s a ripper.
We kick off Sunday the 9th of August with nothing doing – cross-on wind, small weak swell (181), and poor conditions. Monday the 10th stays messy with strong cross-breezes. It’s not until Tuesday the 11th morning that we see a clean window: light offshore wind from the WSW at 3 mph, tiny 2ft swell from the ENE at 8 seconds, and glassy conditions in the afternoon as the wind drops to glass. The energy is minimal though (75 to 70), so it’s more of a fun-paddle session than a proper surf.
Wednesday the 12th morning holds glassy, clean 2ft waves (153), but it’s still small and ordinary. Then we go quiet again until Thursday the 13th morning – that’s the first proper flicker. A 5ft SSE swell (303) with light offshore cross-off wind and clean conditions. Solid moderate energy, but it’s a short period (8 secs) so it’ll be a bit fat. The afternoon gets lumpy and messy though.
Friday the 14th morning cleans up again with a 5ft SSE swell (351) and offshore wind, but the period drops to 9 seconds – okay, but not special. After that, we’re into a long run of poor surf through the weekend and into the start of the next week. Winds are mostly cross or gusty, swells are short period and messy.
Now, hold onto your board for the real standout: Saturday the 22nd of August morning. We get a solid pulse of 8ft swell from the ESE at 10 seconds (1065 – that’s strong energy). Light cross-on breeze from the NNE at 6 mph. This is expert territory – 8ft is too much for beginners, and the period is long enough to hold shape. Only issue is the wind is slightly cross-on, so expect some texture. This is the biggest and most energetic swell of the whole outlook. If you’re an experienced surfer, this is your morning.
Sunday the 23rd morning backs off to a clean 6ft from the E (486) with cross-off wind, and the afternoon glass-off is even better – 5ft at 9 seconds, offshore wind from the W at 6 mph, and clean. That’s a solid session for intermediates. Monday the 24th morning holds a clean 6ft E swell at 11 seconds (697) – that’s a long period groundswell, which will reel nicely down the point at The Island. Wind is offshore from the SSW, 9 mph, clean. This is your best bet for quality waves in the second week: chest-to-head high, long lines, clean conditions. Crowds are sometimes an issue here, so get on it early.
Water temp is 68°F, which is 0.4°F below average – normal for August. No dramas there.
So, to sum up: the first week is mostly flat or messy. The two standout windows are Saturday the 22nd morning for big swell (experts only) and Monday the 24th morning for clean, long-period groundswell. Sunday the 23rd afternoon is a good intermediate option too. Everything else is small or blown out.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Tue morning, min 13°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the N on Sun night, calm by Tue afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu morning, min 12°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 10 | S 10 | E 9 | E 9 | S 8 | SSE 8 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 8 | S 9 | S 8 | SSE 7 | SE 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
288 | 427 | 165 | 101 | 73 | 57 | 71 | 98 | 61 | 64 | 121 | 353 | 686 | 459 | 179 | 425 | 291 | 149 | 65 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:44AM0.99m | 6:11PM1.71m | 6:42AM1.06m | 7:03PM1.79m | 7:32AM1.14m | 7:50PM1.83m | 8:19AM1.21m | 8:34PM1.80m | 9:03AM1.28m | 9:16PM1.71m | 9:47AM1.32m | 9:56PM1.57m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 2:52PM0.04m | 3:45AM-0.02m | 3:38PM0.11m | |||||||
— | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 17 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 21 | 21 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 14 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 15 |
Feels °C | 14 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 20 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 10 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 7 | E 14 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 10 | S 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | E 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | E 9 | SE 7 |
4 | 4 | 165 | 101 | 73 | 57 | 71 | 98 | 61 | 64 | 41 | 27 | 423 | 249 | 15 | 226 | 159 | 16 | 65 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 14 | E 13 | SW 5 | ENE 9 | S 12 | S 9 | SSE 9 | E 9 | S 9 | S 8 | NE 6 | N 6 | E 9 | E 9 | S 21 | E 9 | E 9 | SSE 16 | E 9 |
4 | 4 | 1 | 99 | 3 | 2 | 15 | 83 | 56 | 31 | 1 | 1 | 27 | 15 | 8 | 15 | 15 | 24 | 16 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | — | E 13 | E 13 | S 8 | SSW 9 | SSE 14 | NNE 6 | NE 3 | SSE 10 | N 11 | N 10 | N 10 | — | NE 9 | SSE 21 | SSE 19 | N 8 | S 9 |
1 | — | 4 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 20 | 16 | 2 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 3 | 44 | 36 | 1 | 7 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 8 | NE 8 | NW 4 | NNW 3 | NW 3 | — | — | — | — | W 3 | S 8 | SSE 8 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 8 | S 9 | S 8 | SSE 7 | SSW 6 |
288 | 427 | 33 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 121 | 353 | 686 | 459 | 179 | 425 | 291 | 149 | 39 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 7 | 414 | 137 | 124 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 102 | 0 | 16 | 108 | 2 | 36 | 108 |
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











