Australian Government

Bureau of Meteorology


Coastal Waters Forecast 

Marine (lite) Home

IDN11003

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
New South Wales

Coastal Waters Forecast for New South Wales
Central Zones: Seal Rocks to Ulladulla

Issued at 6:13 pm EST on Wednesday 29 April 2026
for the period until midnight EST Saturday 2 May 2026.

Please be aware
Wind and wave forecasts are averages. Wind gusts can be 40 per cent stronger than the forecast, and stronger still in squalls and thunderstorms. Maximum waves can be twice the forecast height.

Warning Information

For latest warnings go to www.bom.gov.au, subscribe to RSS feeds, call 1300 659 210* or listen for warnings on relevant TV and radio broadcasts.

Weather Situation

A strong high-pressure system over the Tasman Sea is slowly drifting towards New Zealand while extending a ridge over New South Wales coastal waters, maintaining northeast to southeasterly winds. Very little change is expected through the weekdays, then winds will become fresh north to northeasterly during the weekend as a cold front and its associated trough approach the state.

Hunter Coast: Seal Rocks to Broken Bay

Forecast for Wednesday 29 April until midnight

Winds: Easterly 10 to 15 knots. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Easterly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Thursday 30 April

Winds: Easterly 10 to 15 knots. Seas: Below 1 metre. 1st Swell: Southerly around 1 metre. 2nd Swell: Easterly around 1 metre. Weather: Mostly sunny.

Forecast for Friday 1 May

Winds: East to northeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: Below 1 metre. 1st Swell: Easterly around 1 metre inshore, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore north of Port Stephens during the morning. 2nd Swell: Southerly around 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. 70% chance of showers.

Forecast for Saturday 2 May

Winds: Northeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres south of Port Stephens during the afternoon or evening. Swell: Easterly 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1.5 to 2 metres during the morning. Weather: Partly cloudy. 50% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the morning.

Sydney Coast: Broken Bay to Port Hacking

Forecast for Wednesday 29 April until midnight

Winds: Easterly about 10 knots increasing to 10 to 15 knots in the evening. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Southerly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Thursday 30 April

Winds: Easterly 10 to 15 knots turning northeasterly during the day. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Southerly around 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Friday 1 May

Winds: Northeasterly 10 to 15 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre. Swell: Southerly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. 60% chance of showers.

Forecast for Saturday 2 May

Winds: Northeasterly 15 to 25 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1.5 metres during the evening. Swell: Easterly around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres during the morning. Weather: Partly cloudy. 70% chance of showers.

Illawarra Coast: Port Hacking to Ulladulla

Forecast for Wednesday 29 April until midnight

Winds: East to northeasterly about 10 knots increasing to 10 to 15 knots in the evening. Seas: Below 0.5 metres, increasing to below 1 metre north of Point Perpendicular. Swell: Southerly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Thursday 30 April

Winds: East to northeasterly 10 to 15 knots becoming variable about 10 knots before dawn then becoming northeasterly 10 to 15 knots in the morning. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Southerly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Friday 1 May

Winds: Northeasterly 10 to 15 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre. Swell: Southerly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. 50% chance of showers.

Forecast for Saturday 2 May

Winds: North to northeasterly 15 to 25 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 2 metres during the afternoon or evening. Swell: Northeasterly around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 2 metres during the morning. Weather: Partly cloudy. 70% chance of showers.

The next routine forecast will be issued at 10:00 pm EST Wednesday.

* Calls to 1300 numbers cost around 27.5c incl. GST, higher from mobiles or public phones.

Check the latest Coastal Waters Forecasts for information on wind, wave and weather conditions for neighbouring coastal zones.