Surf Forecasts:
Sawtell-The Island surf forecast from 31 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 2 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 9s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 2 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 13s period, SE swell with 838 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 2 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 9s period with SE 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 Sunday (Aug 02) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m 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 1.6m 13s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) 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 0.4m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 01) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sawtell-The Island over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, this is Rusty. We’ve got a solid run of surf coming up for Sawtell-The Island, but it’s a window for the experienced crew only. The first real option kicks off on Friday the 31st of July, with a decent pulse of SSW swell hitting around 6ft, pushing in from the south with a 12-second period. The water temp is sitting at 67°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year – nothing weird going on there. The combined energy is pumping at 1178, so there’s serious power in the water. That’s a big, clean swell with a cross-off breeze, making for excellent conditions for advanced surfers. The Island is an exposed break, and with that size and period, it’s going to be a proper challenge. Crowds are possible, so keep your wits about you.
The good news doesn’t last long. By Friday afternoon, the wind swings onshore and the quality drops right off. Saturday the 1st of August is a mixed bag – morning is clean with a 5ft SSE swell, but the period is a short 9 seconds, so it’s not doing much. The energy is moderate at 434. The afternoon sees a bit more size at 6ft and a 10-second period, but it’s still a scrappy, marginal setup.
Sunday the 2nd of August is the real standout. The morning brings a sweet 5ft SE swell, 9-second period, but the wind is a light cross-off at just 3 mph, making it glassy and clean. The combined energy is a solid 585, and the conditions are set to be very good. This is the best on offer for the whole outlook – cruisy, clean, and punchy for the advanced crew. The afternoon turns onshore again, so get out early.
After that, the surf drops into a long, flat spell. From Monday the 3rd of August right through to Saturday the 15th of August, the swell is tiny, barely reaching 3ft, with short periods and mostly onshore or cross-onshore winds. There’s a glimmer on Wednesday the 12th of August morning with a clean 2ft ESE swell and a 10-second period, but it’s barely surfable. The combined energy is weak, under 250 for most of this stretch. There’s nothing to get excited about for nearly two weeks.
Then, on Saturday the 15th of August afternoon, the forecast throws a wild card. A massive 10ft SSE swell with an 8-second period shows up, with the combined energy roaring back to 1161. But the wind is a light cross-on, and the swell is predicted to be too big for this break. That’s expert territory only, and honestly, with that short period, it’ll be a washing machine. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.
All in all, the best call is Sunday the 2nd of August morning. It’s the cleanest, most consistent window in the whole run. After that, it’s a long wait for anything worthwhile.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun morning, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 20°C on Tue morning, min 10°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 7 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 12 | SE 10 | SE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 9 | SSE 11 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 765 | 487 | 169 | 424 | 511 | 373 | 328 | 442 | 683 | 391 | 292 | 172 | 45 | 76 | 43 | 27 | 57 | 254 | 147 | 149 | 146 |
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-off | on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | on | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:16PM1.60m | 9:44AM1.15m | 9:49PM1.56m | 10:22AM1.19m | 10:24PM1.48m | 11:04AM1.22m | 11:02PM1.38m | 11:51AM1.26m | 11:46PM1.26m | 12:45PM1.29m | 00:41AM1.13m | 1:48PM1.33m | 1:50AM1.01m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:48PM0.17m | 3:52AM0.10m | 3:27PM0.20m | 4:23AM0.09m | 4:08PM0.24m | 4:56AM0.10m | 4:54PM0.30m | 5:31AM0.12m | 5:47PM0.36m | 6:11AM0.16m | 6:53PM0.42m | 6:59AM0.20m | 8:14PM0.44m | ||||||||
 | |  | |  |  | | | | |  | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — |
 | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 20 | 19 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 13 |
Feels °C | 11 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 17 | 16 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 11 | ENE 7 | SSE 10 | ENE 6 | E 18 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 12 | SE 10 | SE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | SSE 10 | E 8 | E 7 | S 7 | SSE 11 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 |
| kJ | 401 | 10 | 169 | 4 | 6 | 373 | 328 | 442 | 683 | 391 | 292 | 172 | 45 | 9 | 43 | 27 | 32 | 254 | 147 | 149 | 146 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | E 12 | ENE 7 | E 12 | E 13 | SE 15 | SE 14 | SE 14 | E 16 | E 15 | E 15 | E 14 | SE 10 | E 13 | S 6 | S 7 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 |
| kJ | 9 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 56 | 251 | 228 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 24 | 3 | 13 | 14 | 57 | 45 | 29 | 27 | 25 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 18 | E 17 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | S 22 | S 21 | S 21 | S 20 | E 11 | S 14 | E 13 | E 10 | SSE 11 | E 18 | E 16 | E 16 | E 16 |
| kJ | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 17 | 25 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 7 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | — | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | N 4 | — | E 8 | SW 2 | S 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 765 | 487 | 152 | 424 | 511 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 11 | — | 76 | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 108 | 2 | 23 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 7 | 200 | 0 | 0 | 210 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 189 | 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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