Freshwater surf report
Small bay beside Manly, the birthplace of Australian surfing.
New region (beta): these break settings are still being checked by locals. Spot something off? Tell us.
Tomorrow at Freshwater (Sun, 4 Oct) · best 5am–3pm
Fun.
Clean offshore wind, chest-high waves. Rated for a beginner.
- Westerly wind at 5 kn. That's offshore here, so the waves will be clean.
- Waves around chest high (0.8m faces), a good size for a beginner.
- East-north-easterly swell at 6 seconds, an angle this spot likes.
- Mid tide and rising at 10am, which suits this spot.
- Wind swings south-easterly 8 kn around 3pm, so it'll get choppy.
Forecast checked Sat, 3 Oct, 9:14 pm Gold Coast time.
When is Freshwater good?
- Best wind
- Westerly (offshore) or none
- Best swell
- North-north-east to south
- Best tide
- Mid tide
- Suits
- Beginner+
Who it suits depends on the size: learners up to about 0.7m, beginners up to about 1.1m, intermediates up to about 1.7m. Bigger than 1.7m it is for advanced surfers. Long-period groundswell hits harder, so it counts as bigger.
It gets most of the open-ocean swell, so there is usually something to ride. A westerly wind blows offshore here, so mornings before the sea breeze are usually cleanest. Get Frothin’ checks the wind, swell, tide and the live wave buoys every hour and tells you, in plain English, whether it's worth paddling out at Freshwater for your level.
Watch out
Rocks at both ends.
Frequently asked
What are the best conditions for surfing Freshwater?
Freshwater is best with a westerly (offshore) wind or no wind, a north-north-east to south swell and mid tide. It gets most of the open-ocean swell, so there is usually something to ride.
What wind is offshore at Freshwater?
A westerly wind (W) blows straight offshore at Freshwater, holding the waves up and keeping them clean. Light winds are good too. Onshore winds make it choppy.
Is Freshwater good for beginners?
It can be. Freshwater suits beginners on small, clean days. On bigger days it is better left to more experienced surfers.
What should I watch out for at Freshwater?
Rocks at both ends.
Nearby breaks
- Curl Curl 1.3 km
- Manly 1.8 km
- Dee Why Point 3.0 km