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Rule Dramatic Seascapes

Byron Bay - Dramatic Seascapes - Australian Coast

Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia

Dramatic coastal photography conditions - powerful waves combined with atmospheric drama and good visibility for seascape shots.

No opportunities right now
Here’s what usually blocks matches

No Dramatic Seascapes opportunities in the next 14 days

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Rule requirements (key thresholds)
Coastal Drama Score · ≥ 75.0% Significant Wave Height · ≥ 1.5m Visibility · ≥ 5000.0m Wind Gusts · ≤ 22.0m/s

Tip: Scroll down to the 72-hour table to see exactly which condition fails hour by hour.

Most common blockers (next 72 hours)
Coastal Drama Score 100% failing
Significant Wave Height 100% failing
Precipitation Chance 1% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Wave Height0.7m
Swell Height0.7m
Wind Speed3.8m/s (calm conditions)
Cloud Cover0%

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in Australia/Sydney

No opportunities in the next 10 days

See the blocker timeline below to understand which conditions are preventing matches.

What this forecast looks for

Plain-language explanation from the rule

This forecast tracks the conditions that bring Australia's dramatic coastline to life—from Sydney Harbour's iconic landmarks to the towering limestone stacks of the Great Ocean Road. We monitor swell patterns, wind conditions, and tidal ranges to predict when the coast will deliver spectacular photography opportunities.

Australia's eastern coastline offers extraordinary variety over thousands of kilometers. The Twelve Apostles and Great Ocean Road showcase some of Earth's most dramatic coastal erosion, where Southern Ocean swells have carved towering limestone stacks. Sydney Harbour combines natural drama with iconic architecture. Further north, Byron Bay and the Sunshine Coast offer subtropical character with dramatic headlands and powerful surf.

What makes Australian coastal photography exceptional:

  • Twelve Apostles - Massive limestone stacks rising from the Southern Ocean, constantly reshaped by powerful swells
  • Sydney Harbour icons - Opera House and Harbour Bridge frame natural harbor drama with world-famous architecture
  • Rock platforms - Wollongong, Kiama, and countless beaches offer wave-washed platforms for long exposure photography
  • Diverse conditions - From subtropical Byron Bay to temperate Melbourne coast, variety spans climate zones

Best dramatic conditions occur during and after low-pressure systems bringing large swells, typically April through September. The Southern Ocean generates powerful groundswells that create spectacular wave action on the Victorian and southern NSW coasts. Sydney Harbour catches dramatic light year-round. Always respect ocean conditions—rogue waves are deadly on exposed platforms.

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72-hour requirements breakdown

What passed or failed, hour by hour
0matching hours in the next 95 hours
AND logic: all conditions required
Meets requirement
Misses requirement
Time
Australia/Sydney
Coastal Drama Score
≥ 75.0%
Significant Wave Height
≥ 1.5m
Visibility
≥ 5000.0m
Wind Gusts
≤ 22.0m/s
Precipitation Chance
≤ 30.0%
Wed, Apr 8
17:0020%0.39m24135m8.6m/s0%
18:0019%0.4m24134m9.7m/s0%
19:006.8%0.42m24135m10m/s0%
20:006.6%0.41m24134m8.9m/s0%
21:007%0.4m24135m6.3m/s0%
22:0012%0.42m24134m3.1m/s0%
23:0012%0.43m24135m1.2m/s0%
Thu, Apr 9
24:0012%0.45m24134m1.1m/s0%
01:0010%0.46m24135m1m/s0%
02:0011%0.45m24135m1m/s0%
03:0014%0.44m24134m1m/s0%
04:004.4%0.36m24135m1.1m/s0%
05:004.9%0.38m24135m2.8m/s0%
06:0020%0.61m24134m1.9m/s0%
07:0011%0.45m24134m2.4m/s0%
08:009.2%0.32m24135m2.1m/s0%
09:0015%0.26m24135m1.5m/s0%
10:0013%0.56m24135m0.9m/s0%
11:0011%0.56m24134m1.6m/s0%
12:0011%0.55m24134m2.3m/s0%
13:0013%0.55m24135m2.5m/s0%
14:0013%0.55m24134m2.9m/s0%
15:0013%0.65m24135m3.8m/s0%
16:0015%0.32m24134m5.5m/s0%
17:0019%0.33m24135m7.6m/s0%
18:0020%0.34m24135m8.9m/s0%
19:007%0.35m24134m8.9m/s0%
20:007%0.35m24135m9.1m/s0%
21:006.6%0.35m24134m8.6m/s0%
22:006.3%0.35m24134m7.6m/s0%
23:007.2%0.34m24135m6.9m/s0%
Fri, Apr 10
24:006.9%0.32m24135m5.6m/s0%
01:008%0.31m24135m3m/s0%
02:008%0.3m24134m2.8m/s0%
03:008.8%0.3m24135m2.6m/s0%
04:008.8%0.29m24135m1.9m/s0%
05:008.8%0.28m24135m1.8m/s0%
06:0029%0.28m24135m1.8m/s0%
07:0022%0.27m24134m1.6m/s0%
08:0019%0.27m24134m3.2m/s0%
09:0014%0.26m24135m3.2m/s0%
10:0012%0.26m24134m2.4m/s0%
11:0010%0.26m24135m2.2m/s0%
12:0010%0.25m24135m2.6m/s0%
13:0012%0.25m24135m3.2m/s0%
14:0012%0.25m24134m3.9m/s0%
15:0012%0.24m24135m5.7m/s0%
16:0016%0.24m24135m8.4m/s0%
17:0020%0.25m24134m9.6m/s0%
18:0019%0.25m24134m10m/s0%
19:006.5%0.26m24135m10m/s0%
20:006.5%0.27m24135m11m/s0%
21:006.5%0.27m24135m11m/s0%
22:006.4%0.28m24135m10m/s0%
23:006.3%0.27m24135m9.3m/s0%
Sat, Apr 11
24:006.9%0.27m24134m8.5m/s0%
01:006.4%0.26m24135m8m/s0%
02:006.4%0.26m24134m7.4m/s0%
03:006%0.25m24135m6.8m/s0%
04:006%0.25m24134m6.5m/s0%
05:006%0.25m24135m5.5m/s0%
06:0021%0.24m24135m4.2m/s0%
07:0018%0.24m24134m4.9m/s0%
08:0015%0.24m24135m3.8m/s0%
09:0014%0.23m24135m2.6m/s0%
10:0014%0.23m24134m4.4m/s0%
11:0012%0.24m24135m4.5m/s0%
12:0012%0.24m24134m4.1m/s0%
13:0013%0.25m24135m4.3m/s0%
14:0010%0.25m24134m5.2m/s0%
15:0010%0.26m24135m5.6m/s0%
16:0014%0.26m24135m9.3m/s0%
17:0017%0.26m24134m7.8m/s2.3%
18:0019%0.26m24134m8.4m/s4.7%
19:005.5%0.26m24134m9.2m/s7%
20:006.3%0.26m24135m8.4m/s4.7%
21:005.6%0.25m24135m2.5m/s2.3%
22:006.4%0.25m24134m7.7m/s0%
23:005.2%0.25m24134m6.6m/s0%
Sun, Apr 12
24:005.8%0.24m24135m5.4m/s0%
01:006.6%0.24m24135m4.2m/s0%
02:005.8%0.24m24135m4m/s0%
03:005.2%0.24m24135m3.8m/s0%
04:005.2%0.24m24135m3.6m/s0%
05:006%0.24m24135m4.2m/s0%
06:0022%0.24m24135m4.8m/s0%
07:0020%0.24m24135m5.4m/s0%
08:0013%0.24m24135m4.9m/s0%
09:009.8%0.24m24135m4.4m/s0%
10:0010%0.24m24135m3.8m/s0%
11:008.4%0.24m24135m2.9m/s6.3%
12:007.4%0.24m24135m2m/s13%
13:0010%0.24m24135m1m/s19%
14:0010%0.24m24135m1.9m/s29%
15:0012%0.24m24135m2.8m/s39%
How to read: colored cells show whether each predicate requirement is met; highlighted rows mean the full rule matched (an opportunity).

What does Coastal Drama Score mean?

Inputs that drive the score

This derived score summarizes multiple raw weather signals. The table below shows the supporting inputs hour by hour, so you can see what's pushing the score up or down.

Time
Australia/Sydney
High Clouds
%
Low Clouds
%
Mid-Level Clouds
%
Primary Swell Height
m
Primary Wave Direction
°
Sea Salt AOD (550nm)
Solar Elevation
°
Total Cloud Coverage
%
Wind Direction
°
Wind Speed
m/s
Wind Wave Height
m
Wind Wave Period
s
Thu, Apr 9 Sunrise 06:00 Sunset 17:34
17:00
0% 0% 0% 0.7m 141° 0.02 6.7° 0% 46° 3.8m/s 0.27m 9.4s
18:00
0% 0% 0% 0.74m 141° 0.02 -6.4° 0% 36° 3.7m/s 0.41m 9.5s
19:00
0% 0% 0% 0.79m 141° 0.02 -20° 0% 29° 3.3m/s 0.54m 9.5s
20:00
0% 0% 0% 0.75m 141° 0.02 -33° 0% 26° 2.9m/s 0.44m 9.5s
21:00
0% 0% 0% 0.7m 141° 0.02 -45° 0% 20° 2.5m/s 0.33m 9.5s
22:00
0% 4% 0% 0.66m 141° 0.02 -57° 4% 16° 2.1m/s 0.23m 9.5s
23:00
0% 4% 0% 0.65m 141° 0.03 -66° 4% 1.8m/s 0.22m 9.5s
Fri, Apr 10 Sunrise 06:00 Sunset 17:34
24:00
2% 5% 0% 0.65m 141° 0.03 -69° 5% 356° 1.5m/s 0.21m 9.5s
01:00
5% 24% 0% 0.64m 140° 0.03 -63° 24% 346° 1.3m/s 0.2m 9.5s
02:00
5% 27% 0% 0.63m 140° 0.03 -52° 27% 346° 1.2m/s 0.18m 9.5s
03:00
0% 29% 0% 0.62m 140° 0.03 -40° 29% 324° 1.3m/s 0.16m 9.4s
04:00
0% 29% 0% 0.61m 140° 0.03 -27° 29% 332° 1.2m/s 0.14m 9.4s
05:00
0% 26% 0% 0.6m 141° 0.03 -14° 26% 334° 1.2m/s 0.14m 9.4s
06:00
0% 25% 0% 0.6m 141° 0.03 -0.55° 25% 328° 1.2m/s 0.14m 9.3s
07:00
0% 3% 0% 0.59m 141° 0.03 12° 3% 317° 0.87m/s 0.14m 9.3s
08:00
0% 0% 0% 0.58m 141° 0.02 24° 0% 321° 1.2m/s 0.16m 9.3s
09:00
1% 0% 0% 0.58m 141° 0.02 36° 1% 354° 1.7m/s 0.18m 9.3s
10:00
0% 0% 0% 0.57m 141° 0.02 45° 0% 14° 1.7m/s 0.2m 9.3s
11:00
0% 0% 0% 0.56m 141° 0.02 52° 0% 36° 2.2m/s 0.21m 9.3s
12:00
0% 0% 0% 0.56m 141° 0.02 53° 0% 45° 2.8m/s 0.23m 9.3s
13:00
0% 0% 0% 0.55m 141° 0.02 49° 0% 49° 3.4m/s 0.25m 9.3s
14:00
0% 0% 0% 0.55m 141° 0.02 41° 0% 48° 3.9m/s 0.18m 9.3s
15:00
0% 0% 0% 0.55m 140° 0.02 31° 0% 46° 4.4m/s 0.12m 9.4s
16:00
0% 0% 0% 0.55m 140° 0.02 19° 0% 38° 4.4m/s 0.05m 9.4s
17:00
0% 0% 0% 0.55m 140° 0.02 6.4° 0% 31° 4.5m/s 0.07m 9.4s
18:00
0% 0% 0% 0.56m 140° 0.02 -6.6° 0% 19° 3.8m/s 0.08m 9.4s
19:00
0% 0% 0% 0.56m 140° 0.02 -20° 0% 19° 3.5m/s 0.1m 9.4s
20:00
0% 0% 0% 0.56m 140° 0.02 -33° 0% 21° 3.6m/s 0.12m 9.4s
21:00
0% 1% 2% 0.56m 140° 0.02 -46° 2% 11° 3.5m/s 0.13m 9.4s
22:00
0% 2% 4% 0.56m 140° 0.02 -57° 4% 11° 3.1m/s 0.15m 9.4s
23:00
0% 2% 5% 0.56m 140° - -67° 5% 2.7m/s 0.18m 9.3s
Sat, Apr 11 Sunrise 06:01 Sunset 17:32
24:00
0% 16% 5% 0.55m 141° - -69° 16% 2.5m/s 0.2m 9.3s
01:00
0% 0% 5% 0.55m 141° - -63° 5% 2.4m/s 0.23m 9.3s
02:00
0% 0% 5% 0.55m 141° - -53° 5% 2.2m/s 0.19m 9.3s
03:00
0% 1% 2% 0.54m 141° - -40° 2% 2.1m/s 0.15m 9.3s
04:00
2% 1% 2% 0.54m 141° - -27° 2% 359° 2m/s 0.11m 9.2s
05:00
0% 2% 0% 0.54m 141° - -14° 2% 356° 1.7m/s 0.15m 9.2s
06:00
0% 12% 0% 0.53m 141° - -0.71° 12% 355° 1.6m/s 0.18m 9.2s
07:00
0% 0% 0% 0.53m 141° - 12° 0% 360° 1.6m/s 0.22m 9.2s
08:00
0% 0% 0% 0.53m 141° - 24° 0% 350° 1.8m/s 0.17m 9.2s
09:00
0% 0% 0% 0.53m 141° - 35° 0% 340° 1.4m/s 0.12m 9.1s
10:00
0% 0% 0% 0.53m 141° - 45° 0% 303° 1.3m/s 0.07m 9.1s
11:00
0% 0% 0% 0.53m 141° - 51° 0% 289° 1.8m/s 0.08m 9.1s
12:00
0% 0% 0% 0.54m 141° - 53° 0% 316° 1.7m/s 0.08m 9.1s
13:00
0% 0% 0% 0.54m 141° - 49° 0% 2.2m/s 0.09m 9.1s
14:00
0% 1% 0% 0.54m 140° - 41° 1% 24° 3.5m/s 0.1m 9.1s
15:00
0% 95% 95% 0.55m 140° - 31° 95% 28° 4m/s 0.12m 9.2s
16:00
0% 5% 5% 0.55m 140° - 19° 5% 26° 3.9m/s 0.13m 9.2s
17:00
0% 100% 98% 0.55m 140° - 6.2° 100% 34° 2.5m/s 0.13m 9.2s
18:00
0% 82% 75% 0.55m 140° - -6.9° 82% 27° 3.2m/s 0.14m 9.2s
19:00
0% 0% 2% 0.55m 140° - -20° 2% 18° 3.3m/s 0.14m 9.2s
20:00
0% 0% 5% 0.55m 140° - -33° 5% 2.9m/s 0.12m 9.2s
21:00
0% 0% 5% 0.54m 140° - -46° 5% 279° 1.5m/s 0.11m 9.2s
22:00
0% 5% 1% 0.54m 140° - -58° 5% 257° 1.9m/s 0.09m 9.2s
23:00
0% 10% 1% 0.54m 140° - -67° 10% 250° 1.8m/s 0.09m 9.3s
Sun, Apr 12 Sunrise 06:01 Sunset 17:31
24:00
0% 15% 0% 0.53m 140° - -70° 15% 242° 1.6m/s 0.08m 9.3s
01:00
0% 20% 0% 0.53m 140° - -63° 20% 235° 1.5m/s 0.08m 9.3s
02:00
0% 13% 0% 0.54m 140° - -53° 13% 233° 1.5m/s 0.08m 9.3s
03:00
0% 7% 0% 0.54m 139° - -40° 7% 231° 1.4m/s 0.07m 9.4s
04:00
0% 0% 0% 0.55m 139° - -27° 0% 229° 1.4m/s 0.07m 9.4s
05:00
0% 0% 0% 0.55m 139° - -14° 0% 264° 1.4m/s 0.07m 9.4s
06:00
0% 0% 0% 0.56m 139° - -0.87° 0% 300° 1.3m/s 0.07m 9.4s
07:00
0% 0% 0% 0.56m 140° - 12° 0% 335° 1.2m/s 0.08m 9.4s
08:00
0% 0% 0% 0.56m 140° - 24° 0% 233° 1.5m/s 0.08m 9.4s
09:00
0% 0% 0% 0.56m 140° - 35° 0% 131° 1.7m/s 0.08m 9.4s
10:00
0% 0% 0% 0.56m 140° - 45° 0% 30° 1.9m/s 0.08m 9.4s
11:00
0% 0% 0% 0.56m 141° - 51° 0% 94° 1.7m/s 0.08m 9.4s
12:00
0% 0% 0% 0.56m 141° - 53° 0% 158° 1.4m/s 0.08m 9.3s
13:00
0% 0% 0% 0.56m 142° - 49° 0% 222° 1.2m/s 0.09m 9.3s
14:00
0% 7% 0% 0.56m 142° - 41° 7% 227° 1.4m/s 0.09m 9.3s
15:00
0% 14% 0% 0.56m 142° - 30° 14% 232° 1.6m/s 0.09m 9.3s
16:00
0% 21% 0% 0.56m 143° - 18° 21% 237° 1.8m/s 0.09m 9.2s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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