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Each location is refreshed once every three hours. The hourly view, 7-day forecast, luck factor and packing notes come from the same stored update.
We compare the 7-day forecast with the version-matched historical observations available for the same time of year at Narrabeen. The delta shows whether conditions look better, worse or about the same as a typical late July.
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
Next to nothing in the water. Check back tomorrow. Short-period wind swell: expect weak, crumbly faces. Heavy offshore making for difficult paddle-outs but textbook faces. Not enough swell to get this spot firing properly.
PeakWave scores are planning signals, not safety clearance. Check local authorities, official bulletins and on-site conditions before you go. Read our editorial policy.
Narrabeen is a highly celebrated, powerful beach break located on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, Australia. The bathymetry relies on mobile silica sandbanks, which are strongly influenced by the tidal outflow of Narrabeen Lagoon. This fluvial current actively shapes the sand, creating pronounced, highly structured banks that offer steep, high-quality A-frame peaks, with North Narrabeen famous for its grinding left-handers. The break operates optimally on medium to large south-easterly groundswells pushing up the Tasman Sea. A westerly offshore wind is crucial to groom the wave faces and hold up the peaking sections. The interaction between the incoming oceanic swell and the structured sandbars frequently causes the waves to jack up abruptly, providing fast, hollow drops followed by workable walls. Due to the steepness of the take-off, the heavy local line-up, and the presence of strong rip currents, Narrabeen is primarily suited for intermediate to advanced surfers requiring technical proficiency.
Heads up: cold-shock risk.
Indicators derived from forecast data, not official warnings. Always check local lifeguard or official advice.
The air here is 37% cleaner than the average comparison city right now.
Somewhat cleaner than a typical city. Air quality is unlikely to affect most people.
Not a pollutant. Ozone is naturally higher at altitude and near the coast, and lower in cities where traffic exhaust breaks it down. High readings here typically indicate clean air. Can cause short-term airway irritation during intense exercise but is not linked to the long-term health risks of particulate pollution.
Additive health score: each pollutant contributes points relative to its WHO 2021 guideline and long-term health impact (PM2.5 9, NOโ 5, Oโ 3, PM10 2, SOโ 1 at WHO limits). Data via Open-Meteo. City markers show live readings. Red line marks the WHO guideline. Updated 15:00
Crystal clear water: ~20m visibility
Daily scores over the last 12 months at Narrabeen
Historical quality only. Safety is not reconstructed for this view.
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Create Profile โPartly. The model uses stored spot geometry, swell ranges and tide preferences where configured. It cannot see changing banks, crowds, access, closures or everything visible on a local cam, so treat it as a starting point.
The best week for surf at Narrabeen is the week of 2 November (score 3/5) with low crowds.
This guide was generated from conditions data. Know this spot? Submit your own tips below.
Narrabeen is one of Sydney's most consistent and high-quality beach breaks, on the Northern Beaches. A long beach with well-defined banks that have hosted WSL Championship Tour events. The waves are powerful for a beach break, with defined peaks and genuine barrel sections when conditions align. The lagoon behind influences the sand movement, creating structure. A serious high-performance wave.
Picks up east, south-east, and north-east swells. Works on all tides. A westerly or south-westerly wind is offshore. Consistent year-round. The 3-6ft range produces quality peaks. The banks respond well to moderate swells, producing waves well above the average beach break standard.
Multiple peaks along the beach. North Narrabeen is often the best section with more defined banks influenced by the lagoon. The middle and south have different characteristics. Walk the beach to find the best section.
Powerful waves for a beach break. Rip currents, particularly near the lagoon mouth. Blue bottles seasonally. The wave can be genuinely heavy on solid days. Sandy bottom keeps consequences manageable.
Car parks along Pittwater Road. Direct beach access from multiple points. Full suburban facilities. Part of Sydney's Northern Beaches.
Very busy. Narrabeen's quality attracts Sydney's best surfers. Good days see 30-50 people. Competition for waves is real. The local crew includes former and current professionals. Dawn patrol is essential for manageable numbers.
North Narrabeen is the premium section but also the most crowded. The banks shift significantly after storms, so check before committing to a section. The lagoon mouth area often has the most defined channel for paddling out. Collaroy (next beach south) can be less crowded with similar quality.
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Combining historical conditions with school holiday crowd pressure to find the sweet spot.
The timing score combines two signals: historical conditions quality (how good the skiing or surfing typically is in a given week, based on 5 years of weather data) and crowd pressure (how many of this destination's feeder markets have school holidays that week).
Crowd pressure is weighted by each feeder country's share of visitors. If 40% of a resort's visitors come from France and France is on holiday, that contributes 0.40 to the crowd pressure score. Crowds can reduce the timing score by up to 35%, ensuring conditions still matter most.
Scores: 5 = great conditions with low crowds (the sweet spot). 4 = great conditions with moderate crowds, or good conditions with low crowds. 3 = average. 2 = below average conditions or very crowded. 1 = poor conditions or peak holiday chaos.
Last 30 days of logged conditions.
Based on historical weekly averages
Conditions at Narrabeen tend to be best between 07:00 to 10:00 in July.
Average score during this window: 40/100
See timing scores, school holiday busyness, and lift pass pricing to find the best time to book.
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