Surf Forecasts:
Sawtell-The Island surf forecast from 23 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 10s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 15s period, SSE swell with 1,271 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 24 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 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 Friday (Jul 24) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s 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 1.7m 15s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 30) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Fri 24th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Fri 24th Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sawtell-The Island over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s switch it up for the imperial crew. Rusty here talking about Sawtell-The Island.
Water temp is about 67°, which is normal for the season.
It’s a quiet start. Friday the 24th is a dud—small, weak, short-period swell and a messy cross-breeze. Hold out. Saturday morning the 25th is the real deal. Swell is a clean 5ft from the SSE with a super long period of 14 seconds, and the wind is glassy out of the north at 5 km/h. That’s a proper groundswell with a ton of energy, and it’s going to be gorgeous. The Island will be stacking up nicely. Watch for a crowd. Sunday morning the 26th is still clean but much smaller at 3ft, and the energy drops off.
After that, it’s a long dry spell. From Sunday afternoon right through the end of the month, it’s small, weak, and messy. Not worth it.
Then on Sunday, August 2nd, the swell comes back. The morning is a solid 7ft from the south with a period of 8 seconds and clean cross-off wind. That’s a lot of power (928) and it’s for the advanced surfers only.
Monday the 3rd of August goes big. 10ft from the SSE, clean wind, and the energy is huge (1393). That’s expert territory. The Island can handle it, but don’t paddle out unless you know what you’re doing. The same size keeps up through Tuesday and Wednesday the 4th and 5th, with some rain. Thursday the 6th and Friday the 7th still have plenty of size (8ft to 8ft) and long periods (11-14 seconds), so it stays heavy. This whole run is for the hardcore crew.
We drop back to 5ft by Saturday the 8th.
Best bet: Saturday morning July 25th for the glassy, long-period standouts. The big stuff from August 2nd onward is for the experts.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri morning, min 9°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue afternoon, min 12°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 7 | S 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 14 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | SSE 15 | SSE 6 | SSE 5 | S 6 | SSE 7 | S 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 191 | 354 | 425 | 1047 | 469 | 256 | 234 | 328 | 240 | 187 | 159 | 119 | 101 | 58 | 31 | 22 | 103 | 45 | 126 | 227 | 171 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | off | glassy | on | off | glassy | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross | off | glassy | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:41PM1.32m | 4:51AM0.85m | 5:31PM1.37m | 5:48AM0.88m | 6:17PM1.44m | 6:35AM0.92m | 6:57PM1.51m | 7:16AM0.97m | 7:35PM1.56m | 7:54AM1.01m | 8:10PM1.60m | 8:30AM1.06m | 8:44PM1.62m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:34PM0.46m | 10:31AM0.36m | 00:24AM0.39m | 11:24AM0.33m | 1:05AM0.32m | 12:11PM0.28m | 1:42AM0.26m | 12:53PM0.23m | 2:16AM0.20m | 1:33PM0.19m | 2:49AM0.15m | 2:10PM0.17m | 3:21AM0.12m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | |  | | | |
 | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — |
 | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:12 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 15 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 |
Feels °C | 11 | 10 | 8 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 14 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | ENE 4 | S 16 | SSE 5 | SSE 11 | S 17 | SSE 6 |
| kJ | 63 | 215 | 425 | 1047 | 469 | 256 | 234 | 328 | 240 | 187 | 159 | 119 | 101 | 58 | 31 | 2 | 5 | 45 | 22 | 23 | 123 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 14 | E 8 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 7 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | ENE 4 | SSE 15 | E 12 | S 18 | E 12 | NE 7 | SSE 15 |
| kJ | 4 | 45 | 53 | 34 | 21 | 20 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 22 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 47 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 7 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | — | E 14 | E 13 | E 12 | ENE 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | S 9 | NE 7 | E 12 | S 17 | E 13 | S 10 |
| kJ | — | 2 | 28 | 25 | 13 | 5 | — | 4 | 3 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 8 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 7 | S 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 4 | — | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | S 5 | S 6 | SSE 7 | S 6 |
| kJ | 191 | 354 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 28 | 103 | 73 | 126 | 227 | 171 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 16 | 108 | 0 | 0 | 143 | 0 | 0 | 108 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 30 | 26 | 108 | 0 | 16 | 16 | 2 |
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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