New South Wales Coastal Weather Station Details

About coastal observations | NSW coastal observations | Map of NSW coastal stations
When using wind data, it is important to remember most coastal stations are located on land so wind speeds may be unrepresentative of the actual wind conditions further out to sea. The reasons for this include:

  • the decrease in wind speed over the land due to the generally rougher land surface.
  • the effects of local topography, especially funnelling near and around headlands.
  • the effects of inshore sea and land breezes.

Some stations are a good distance away from the coast but have been included as they provide some helpful information in areas where there are no other weather stations.
Note: Values for the distance in kilometres from the coast have been rounded up to one decimal place. Values of less than 0.2 km (200 metres) are identified as 'on the coast'.

Station name Station Height (Metres above sea level) Kilometres from coast Site of anemometer
BYRON COAST
Cape Byron 95 m On the coast On cliff top
Ballina 1 m 4 km Airport
Evans Head 63 m 1 km On sand hill
Yamba 29 m On the coast On headland
COFFS COAST
Coffs Harbour 5 m 1 km Airport
Smoky Cape 117 m On the coast On high headland
MACQUARIE COAST
Port Macquarie Airport 4 m 5 km Airport
Taree Airport 8 m 7 km Airport
HUNTER
Williamtown 9 m 4 km Airport
Newcastle Nobbys 33 m On the coast On sand spit
Lake Macquarie 6 m 17 km, 5 km west of Lake Macquarie On farmland near Cooranbong
Norah Head 19 m On the coast Back from cliff top
SYDNEY
North Head 90 m 0.2 km On cliff top
Sydney Harbour 5 m In Port Jackson West Channel Beacon
[Wedding Cake West]
Fort Denison 2 m In Port Jackson Fort Denison mast
Sydney Airport 6 m In Botany Bay On runway
Little Bay 22 m 0.5 km On golf course
Kurnell 4 m In Botany Bay On pier
ILLAWARRA
Bellambi 10 m On the coast On low headland
Port Kembla Harbour 1 m On the coast On jetty
Kiama 16 m On the coast On headland
Point Perpendicular 85 m On the coast On cliff top - poor exposure in onshore flow
Wattamolla 44 m On the coast On cliff top
Port Kembla 3.0 m On the coast On a Jetty in Harbour
BATEMANS COAST
Ulladulla 36 m 0.5 km On sports oval
Moruya Airport 4 m 0.5 km Airport
Moruya Heads 17 m On the coast On small headland
Narooma 25 m On the coast On small headland
EDEN COAST
Montague Island 52 m On the coast East side of rounded island
Merimbula 2 m 1 km Airport
Green Cape 19 m On the coast On a narrow promontory
ISLANDS
Lord Howe Island 5 m On the coast Airport, mountain nearby
Norfolk Island 112 m 1.5 km On plateau