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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 97% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Wave Height0.1m
Swell Height0.1m
Wind Speed3.2m/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, Mar 11
18:0012%0.1m24135m4.8m/s0%
19:0011%0.08m24134m3.7m/s0%
20:005.5%0.06m24134m3.6m/s0%
21:003.7%0.07m24135m5m/s0%
22:003.7%0.09m24135m4.7m/s0%
23:003.4%0.08m24135m3.4m/s0%
Thu, Mar 12
24:003.4%0.08m24135m2.1m/s0%
01:003.4%0.08m24135m2.4m/s0%
02:003.2%0.08m24134m2.4m/s0%
03:003.2%0.09m24135m2.4m/s0%
04:003.4%0.09m24134m2m/s0%
05:003.6%0.15m24135m1.1m/s0%
06:008.9%0.16m24135m1.2m/s0%
07:0010%0.16m24135m1.2m/s0%
08:007.7%0.17m24134m1.2m/s0%
09:008.9%0.1m24135m1.8m/s0%
10:008.3%0.11m24134m2.2m/s0%
11:006.9%0.07m24134m2m/s0%
12:004.5%0.13m24134m1.8m/s0%
13:005.2%0.06m24135m2.4m/s0%
14:005.2%0.05m24134m2.8m/s0%
15:005.2%0.13m24135m2.6m/s0%
16:005.6%0.12m24134m1.9m/s0%
17:006.6%0.11m24135m4m/s0%
18:009.7%0.1m24134m7.8m/s33%
19:0013%0.09m24134m8.5m/s67%
20:004.1%0.08m24134m7.5m/s100%
21:004.8%0.08m24134m4.3m/s75%
22:003.4%0.07m24134m0.9m/s51%
23:003.9%0.07m24135m2m/s26%
Fri, Mar 13
24:003.7%0.07m24135m5.4m/s38%
01:004.7%0.06m24135m6m/s51%
02:003.2%0.06m24134m5.3m/s63%
03:003.9%0.06m21706m6.9m/s70%
04:004.7%0.05m23892m6.9m/s77%
05:003.2%0.05m21702m6.4m/s84%
06:0018%0.05m21085m4.2m/s86%
07:0021%0.04m23868m4.3m/s88%
08:009.6%0.04m23931m2.7m/s90%
09:0015%0.04m24134m3.6m/s91%
10:008%0.04m24135m3.5m/s92%
11:006%0.04m21608m3.8m/s94%
12:005.8%0.04m22411m4m/s89%
13:007%0.04m5677m5.6m/s84%
14:005.2%0.04m4935m6.1m/s79%
15:003.1%0.05m4665m6.8m/s83%
16:008.3%0.05m22434m7.4m/s86%
17:009.5%0.06m17598m7.8m/s90%
18:008.6%0.09m21078m9m/s93%
19:007.7%0.13m23708m8.8m/s96%
20:002.4%0.16m21809m8.8m/s98%
21:002.3%0.19m11323m9.8m/s99%
22:001.7%0.23m12547m10m/s99%
23:001.7%0.26m10992m10m/s99%
Sat, Mar 14
24:001.5%0.26m6666m11m/s96%
01:002%0.25m12488m11m/s93%
02:002%0.25m10452m11m/s90%
03:002%0.23m13293m11m/s91%
04:002.6%0.2m22104m11m/s92%
05:002.5%0.18m24132m11m/s93%
06:007.1%0.17m22493m10m/s81%
07:008.1%0.15m24135m11m/s68%
08:006.3%0.14m24135m9.3m/s56%
09:005.6%0.15m24135m8.3m/s59%
10:008.4%0.15m24135m7.6m/s61%
11:004.6%0.16m24135m7.3m/s64%
12:004.6%0.16m24135m7.2m/s62%
13:006.9%0.16m24135m6.7m/s60%
14:006.9%0.16m24134m6.5m/s58%
15:005.5%0.16m24134m6.5m/s66%
16:009.6%0.15m24135m6.5m/s74%
17:0012%0.15m24134m6.7m/s82%
18:0014%0.15m24134m7.1m/s80%
19:0015%0.15m24135m7.8m/s77%
20:005%0.15m24135m7.8m/s75%
21:004.6%0.15m24134m7.4m/s82%
22:004.6%0.14m24135m7.3m/s88%
23:005%0.14m24135m6.5m/s95%
Sun, Mar 15
24:005%0.15m24135m6.3m/s81%
01:005%0.15m24135m6.6m/s67%
02:005%0.16m24135m6.2m/s53%
03:005%0.16m24134m5.4m/s63%
04:005%0.15m24134m4.9m/s72%
05:005%0.15m24135m4.7m/s82%
06:0013%0.15m24135m4.3m/s69%
07:0017%0.14m24135m4m/s56%
08:0015%0.14m24135m3.6m/s43%
09:0015%0.17m24135m3.6m/s51%
10:006%0.2m24135m3.6m/s60%
11:004.6%0.23m24135m3.5m/s69%
12:005.2%0.26m24135m3.5m/s57%
13:006%0.28m24135m3.4m/s45%
14:006.8%0.31m24135m3.3m/s33%
15:006.2%0.31m24135m3.4m/s35%
16:008.3%0.31m24135m3.5m/s37%
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, Mar 12 Sunrise 06:44 Sunset 19:06
18:00
0% 0% 0% 0.11m 55° 0.01 14° 0% 25° 3.2m/s 0.1m 3s
19:00
0% 10% 10% 0.09m 74° 0.01 0.95° 13% 16° 2.6m/s 0.1m 3.5s
20:00
0% 22% 83% 0.08m 93° 0.01 -13° 83% 2.3m/s 0.1m 4s
21:00
0% 37% 44% 0.07m 98° 0.01 -25° 44% 18° 1.6m/s 0.1m 4.1s
22:00
0% 100% 100% 0.07m 103° 0.01 -37° 100% 341° 0.64m/s 0.09m 4.2s
23:00
0% 99% 100% 0.06m 108° 0.02 -48° 100% 285° 1.3m/s 0.09m 4.3s
Fri, Mar 13 Sunrise 06:44 Sunset 19:06
24:00
0% 99% 100% 0.06m 109° 0.02 -56° 100% 250° 1.9m/s 0.08m 4.3s
01:00
0% 53% 74% 0.05m 110° 0.02 -58° 75% 239° 2.1m/s 0.06m 4.3s
02:00
0% 3% 3% 0.05m 111° 0.02 -55° 4% 222° 1.6m/s 0.05m 4.4s
03:00
0% 9% 23% 0.05m 118° 0.04 -46° 25% 202° 2.3m/s 0.06m 6.1s
04:00
0% 28% 52% 0.06m 125° 0.05 -35° 54% 185° 1.9m/s 0.07m 7.9s
05:00
0% 49% 95% 0.06m 132° 0.06 -23° 95% 177° 2m/s 0.08m 9.7s
06:00
0% 87% 92% 0.06m 132° 0.07 -11° 92% 166° 1.1m/s 0.07m 9.7s
07:00
0% 56% 80% 0.06m 132° 0.08 2.8° 80% 200° 1.7m/s 0.06m 9.7s
08:00
0% 18% 7% 0.06m 133° 0.08 16° 20% 222° 1.2m/s 0.05m 9.7s
09:00
0% 10% 2% 0.06m 133° 0.08 29° 10% 203° 1.5m/s 0.06m 9.7s
10:00
0% 23% 0% 0.05m 133° 0.07 41° 23% 176° 2.1m/s 0.06m 9.7s
11:00
0% 26% 0% 0.05m 133° 0.06 53° 26% 162° 2.9m/s 0.07m 9.7s
12:00
0% 32% 7% 0.05m 133° 0.08 61° 32% 154° 3m/s 0.08m 9.8s
13:00
0% 18% 15% 0.06m 133° 0.07 64° 20% 141° 3.2m/s 0.08m 9.8s
14:00
0% 60% 30% 0.06m 133° 0.07 60° 66% 141° 3.3m/s 0.09m 9.9s
15:00
0% 79% 25% 0.06m 134° 0.09 51° 79% 144° 3.5m/s 0.1m 7.3s
16:00
0% 45% 8% 0.06m 134° 0.08 39° 45% 145° 3.3m/s 0.1m 4.6s
17:00
0% 59% 29% 0.06m 135° 0.07 27° 59% 141° 3.9m/s 0.11m 2s
18:00
5% 96% 33% 0.08m 141° 0.08 14° 96% 147° 3.8m/s 0.13m 1.9s
19:00
5% 100% 0% 0.11m 147° 0.09 0.73° 100% 141° 3.4m/s 0.14m 1.8s
20:00
5% 100% 0% 0.13m 153° 0.09 -13° 100% 137° 3.2m/s 0.16m 1.8s
21:00
0% 81% 30% 0.11m 155° 0.09 -26° 81% 141° 3.9m/s 0.19m 1.9s
22:00
0% 98% 7% 0.09m 157° 0.1 -38° 98% 145° 3.8m/s 0.23m 2.1s
23:00
0% 100% 2% 0.07m 159° 0.1 -48° 100% 148° 3.7m/s 0.26m 2.3s
Sat, Mar 14 Sunrise 06:45 Sunset 19:04
24:00
0% 97% 0% 0.07m 160° - -56° 97% 148° 4.3m/s 0.26m 2.3s
01:00
0% 100% 0% 0.08m 161° - -59° 100% 149° 3.9m/s 0.25m 2.3s
02:00
0% 98% 0% 0.08m 162° - -55° 98% 151° 4.1m/s 0.25m 2.4s
03:00
0% 100% 0% 0.09m 161° - -47° 100% 151° 4m/s 0.24m 2.4s
04:00
0% 100% 0% 0.09m 159° - -36° 100% 151° 4m/s 0.22m 2.4s
05:00
0% 100% 0% 0.1m 158° - -23° 100% 154° 3.9m/s 0.21m 2.4s
06:00
0% 100% 0% 0.11m 153° - -11° 100% 156° 3.7m/s 0.17m 2.9s
07:00
0% 100% 0% 0.11m 148° - 2.7° 100% 153° 3.9m/s 0.12m 3.4s
08:00
0% 96% 0% 0.12m 144° - 16° 96% 156° 3.9m/s 0.08m 3.9s
09:00
0% 100% 0% 0.12m 167° - 29° 100% 156° 4m/s 0.09m 3.5s
10:00
0% 43% 0% 0.13m 191° - 41° 43% 153° 4.1m/s 0.09m 3s
11:00
0% 98% 0% 0.13m 215° - 52° 98% 153° 4.7m/s 0.1m 2.6s
12:00
0% 99% 0% 0.12m 213° - 61° 99% 157° 4m/s 0.1m 2.6s
13:00
0% 65% 0% 0.12m 211° - 64° 65% 150° 4.3m/s 0.1m 2.6s
14:00
0% 33% 0% 0.11m 209° - 60° 33% 148° 4.3m/s 0.1m 2.6s
15:00
0% 94% 0% 0.12m 184° - 50° 94% 142° 4.4m/s 0.1m 5.4s
16:00
0% 100% 0% 0.14m 158° - 39° 100% 145° 3.7m/s 0.09m 8.3s
17:00
0% 100% 0% 0.15m 133° - 26° 100% 151° 3.5m/s 0.09m 11s
18:00
0% 100% 0% 0.15m 133° - 13° 100% 154° 3.2m/s 0.09m 11s
19:00
0% 100% 0% 0.16m 132° - 0.52° 100% 155° 3m/s 0.1m 11s
20:00
0% 100% 0% 0.16m 132° - -13° 100% 155° 2.6m/s 0.1m 11s
21:00
0% 100% 0% 0.16m 132° - -26° 100% 151° 2.4m/s 0.11m 12s
22:00
0% 100% 0% 0.17m 132° - -38° 100% 145° 2.5m/s 0.12m 12s
23:00
0% 100% 0% 0.17m 131° - -49° 100% 140° 2.1m/s 0.13m 12s
Sun, Mar 15 Sunrise 06:46 Sunset 19:03
24:00
0% 100% 0% 0.17m 131° - -56° 100% 141° 2m/s 0.15m 12s
01:00
0% 100% 0% 0.18m 132° - -59° 100% 141° 2m/s 0.17m 12s
02:00
0% 100% 0% 0.18m 132° - -55° 100% 130° 1.9m/s 0.19m 12s
03:00
0% 100% 0% 0.18m 132° - -47° 100% 132° 1.7m/s 0.16m 12s
04:00
0% 100% 0% 0.18m 132° - -36° 100% 139° 1.6m/s 0.12m 12s
05:00
0% 100% 0% 0.18m 132° - -24° 100% 144° 1.4m/s 0.09m 12s
06:00
0% 98% 0% 0.18m 131° - -11° 98% 159° 1.3m/s 0.09m 12s
07:00
0% 95% 0% 0.18m 131° - 2.5° 95% 175° 1.2m/s 0.09m 12s
08:00
0% 93% 0% 0.18m 131° - 15° 93% 190° 1.1m/s 0.09m 12s
09:00
33% 81% 0% 0.18m 105° - 28° 95% 184° 1.2m/s 0.12m 8.9s
10:00
67% 68% 0% 0.17m 79° - 41° 98% 178° 1.4m/s 0.15m 6s
11:00
100% 56% 0% 0.17m 53° - 52° 100% 172° 1.5m/s 0.18m 3.1s
12:00
89% 49% 0% 0.17m 49° - 61° 90% 153° 1.9m/s 0.21m 3.2s
13:00
79% 42% 0% 0.18m 45° - 64° 79% 134° 2.4m/s 0.25m 3.4s
14:00
68% 34% 0% 0.18m 41° - 59° 69% 116° 2.9m/s 0.28m 3.5s
15:00
50% 50% 0% 0.18m 100° - 50° 73% 115° 2.7m/s 0.28m 3.5s
16:00
31% 66% 0% 0.18m 159° - 39° 78% 114° 2.4m/s 0.29m 3.6s
17:00
13% 82% 0% 0.18m 219° - 26° 82% 113° 2.2m/s 0.29m 3.6s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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