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Rule Dramatic Seascapes

Wollongong - Dramatic Seascapes - Australian Coast

Wollongong, 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 4% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Wave Height0.2m
Swell Height0.1m
Wind Speed7.7m/s (moderate winds)
Cloud Cover81%

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%
Fri, Mar 13
24:001.9%0.07m24135m6.8m/s87%
01:002.5%0.08m24122m6.8m/s84%
02:002.9%0.1m24103m6.6m/s82%
03:002.5%0.1m18790m6.5m/s82%
04:004.2%0.11m24115m6.2m/s82%
05:003.8%0.11m20540m6.5m/s82%
06:0012%0.12m24134m7.1m/s54%
07:0013%0.09m24135m7.3m/s27%
08:0011%0.08m24135m7.4m/s0%
09:008.9%0.09m24134m8.1m/s0%
10:006.8%0.1m24135m9.2m/s0%
11:009.1%0.14m24135m10m/s0%
12:008.1%0.13m24135m11m/s0%
13:008.5%0.16m24134m12m/s0%
14:007.3%0.13m24135m12m/s0%
15:0011%0.12m24135m11m/s13%
16:008.9%0.1m24135m11m/s26%
17:008%0.1m24135m11m/s39%
18:008%0.11m24134m12m/s33%
19:009.2%0.11m24135m12m/s28%
20:008.1%0.12m24134m11m/s22%
21:003.2%0.14m24135m10m/s33%
22:004.3%0.15m24135m9.1m/s45%
23:003.9%0.16m24135m8.6m/s56%
Sat, Mar 14
24:003.2%0.18m24135m7.7m/s37%
01:004.1%0.2m24134m7.1m/s19%
02:004.1%0.22m24135m6.2m/s0%
03:004.1%0.28m24135m5.6m/s13%
04:004.1%0.33m24134m4.6m/s26%
05:003.7%0.39m24134m3.7m/s39%
06:0013%0.43m24135m3.1m/s26%
07:0015%0.46m24134m2.9m/s13%
08:0013%0.5m24135m2.6m/s0%
09:0010%0.49m24135m2.3m/s0%
10:007.8%0.48m24134m2.4m/s0%
11:008.8%0.47m24135m2.7m/s0%
12:005.6%0.41m24134m2.9m/s0%
13:004.9%0.35m24134m3.4m/s0%
14:004.9%0.29m24134m4.2m/s0%
15:006%0.28m24134m4.9m/s0%
16:007.5%0.28m24135m5.9m/s0%
17:008.8%0.27m24134m6.7m/s0%
18:0011%0.29m24134m7.2m/s0%
19:0012%0.3m24134m7.7m/s0%
20:0011%0.32m24135m8m/s0%
21:003.5%0.34m24134m7.9m/s0%
22:003.5%0.35m24135m7.4m/s0%
23:003.1%0.37m24135m7.3m/s0%
Sun, Mar 15
24:002.8%0.36m24135m6.1m/s0%
01:002.8%0.34m24134m6.9m/s0%
02:004.4%0.33m24135m6m/s0%
03:005.1%0.31m24134m6.1m/s0%
04:003.1%0.3m24135m5.9m/s0%
05:003.1%0.28m24135m5.9m/s0%
06:003.1%0.26m24134m5.7m/s0%
07:0010%0.23m24134m5.7m/s0%
08:009.7%0.21m24135m6.6m/s0%
09:008%0.2m24135m7m/s0%
10:007.8%0.2m24135m7.4m/s0%
11:007.3%0.19m24134m6.9m/s0%
12:004.3%0.25m24134m7.1m/s0%
13:007.5%0.31m24135m7.5m/s0%
14:004.7%0.37m24134m9.8m/s0%
15:006.2%0.37m24134m12m/s0%
16:006.2%0.36m24135m14m/s0%
17:007.4%0.36m24135m13m/s0%
18:009.9%0.33m24134m13m/s0%
19:008.8%0.31m24135m11m/s0%
20:007.8%0.28m24134m9.9m/s0%
21:002.7%0.26m24134m10m/s0%
22:002.7%0.25m24135m9m/s0%
23:002.5%0.23m24135m7.2m/s0%
Mon, Mar 16
24:002.5%0.23m24135m6.1m/s0%
01:002.5%0.23m24135m6.1m/s0%
02:002.5%0.23m24135m5.2m/s0%
03:002.5%0.23m24135m4.7m/s0%
04:002.5%0.24m24134m5.1m/s0%
05:002.5%0.24m24135m4m/s0%
06:004.3%0.22m24135m4.5m/s0%
07:0014%0.21m24135m5.1m/s0%
08:008.8%0.19m24135m5.6m/s0%
09:008.2%0.18m24135m6.8m/s0%
10:009.6%0.16m24135m7.9m/s0%
11:009.6%0.15m24135m9m/s0%
12:007%0.15m24135m9.1m/s1.2%
13:005.4%0.14m24135m9.2m/s2.3%
14:004.3%0.14m24135m9.3m/s3.5%
15:006.8%0.18m24135m9.1m/s2.3%
16:005%0.21m24135m8.9m/s1.2%
17:006.8%0.25m24135m8.6m/s0%
18:007%0.25m24135m8.5m/s0%
19:008.8%0.26m24135m8.4m/s0%
20:008.5%0.26m24135m8.3m/s0%
21:002.5%0.26m24135m8.2m/s0%
22:002.1%0.26m24135m8.2m/s0%
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
Sat, Mar 14 Sunrise 06:54 Sunset 19:17
24:00
0% 81% 0% 0.05m 223° 0.04 -50° 81% 158° 7.7m/s 0.17m 1.9s
01:00
0% 62% 0% 0.06m 225° 0.04 -53° 62% 156° 6.7m/s 0.2m 2s
02:00
0% 56% 0% 0.06m 228° 0.04 -51° 56% 159° 5.6m/s 0.22m 2.2s
03:00
0% 49% 0% 0.09m 240° 0.04 -44° 49% 154° 5.3m/s 0.28m 2.4s
04:00
0% 36% 0% 0.12m 252° 0.04 -35° 36% 147° 4.5m/s 0.33m 2.6s
05:00
0% 17% 0% 0.15m 264° 0.04 -24° 17% 143° 3.4m/s 0.39m 2.8s
06:00
0% 61% 0% 0.14m 272° 0.04 -12° 61% 131° 2.8m/s 0.43m 2.9s
07:00
0% 75% 0% 0.12m 280° 0.04 0.76° 75% 113° 2.7m/s 0.46m 2.9s
08:00
0% 90% 0% 0.11m 287° 0.04 13° 90% 102° 2.2m/s 0.5m 3s
09:00
0% 94% 0% 0.09m 295° 0.04 25° 94% 88° 1.7m/s 0.49m 3s
10:00
0% 90% 0% 0.07m 303° 0.04 36° 90% 79° 2m/s 0.48m 3s
11:00
0% 52% 0% 0.05m 311° 0.04 47° 52% 68° 2.4m/s 0.47m 3s
12:00
0% 19% 0% 0.07m 312° 0.04 55° 19% 67° 2.7m/s 0.4m 2.9s
13:00
0% 0% 0% 0.1m 314° 0.04 58° 0% 68° 3.4m/s 0.33m 2.8s
14:00
0% 0% 0% 0.12m 315° 0.03 56° 0% 68° 4.6m/s 0.26m 2.7s
15:00
0% 0% 0% 0.1m 300° 0.03 48° 0% 59° 5.4m/s 0.26m 2.6s
16:00
4% 0% 0% 0.09m 286° 0.03 38° 4% 50° 6.3m/s 0.27m 2.5s
17:00
2% 0% 0% 0.07m 271° 0.03 27° 2% 41° 7.2m/s 0.27m 2.3s
18:00
5% 0% 0% 0.08m 262° 0.03 15° 5% 35° 7.9m/s 0.29m 2.4s
19:00
4% 0% 0% 0.08m 254° 0.03 2.8° 4% 34° 8.4m/s 0.3m 2.5s
20:00
5% 0% 0% 0.09m 245° 0.03 -9.7° 5% 29° 8.5m/s 0.32m 2.6s
21:00
3% 0% 5% 0.09m 240° 0.03 -22° 5% 21° 7.9m/s 0.34m 2.7s
22:00
2% 0% 5% 0.09m 236° 0.03 -33° 5% 6.6m/s 0.35m 2.8s
23:00
100% 0% 0% 0.09m 232° 0.03 -43° 100% 347° 5.7m/s 0.37m 2.8s
Sun, Mar 15 Sunrise 06:55 Sunset 19:16
24:00
100% 0% 100% 0.12m 231° 0.03 -50° 100% 330° 4.9m/s 0.36m 2.8s
01:00
3% 0% 6% 0.16m 231° 0.03 -53° 6% 331° 5.1m/s 0.34m 2.8s
02:00
67% 0% 3% 0.19m 230° 0.03 -51° 67% 320° 4.4m/s 0.33m 2.8s
03:00
43% 0% 1% 0.18m 229° 0.02 -44° 43% 323° 4.1m/s 0.31m 2.8s
04:00
0% 0% 0% 0.17m 227° 0.02 -35° 0% 324° 4.1m/s 0.3m 2.8s
05:00
0% 0% 0% 0.16m 226° 0.02 -24° 0% 324° 4.2m/s 0.28m 2.7s
06:00
0% 0% 0% 0.16m 225° 0.02 -12° 0% 324° 4.4m/s 0.26m 2.7s
07:00
0% 0% 0% 0.17m 225° 0.02 0.62° 0% 323° 4.4m/s 0.23m 2.7s
08:00
0% 0% 0% 0.17m 224° 0.02 13° 0% 321° 4.5m/s 0.21m 2.6s
09:00
0% 0% 0% 0.16m 223° 0.02 25° 0% 329° 4.3m/s 0.18m 2.6s
10:00
0% 0% 0% 0.15m 222° 0.02 36° 0% 348° 4.8m/s 0.15m 2.6s
11:00
5% 0% 0% 0.14m 220° 0.02 47° 5% 5.8m/s 0.12m 2.5s
12:00
4% 0% 0% 0.12m 261° - 54° 4% 16° 6.6m/s 0.2m 2.5s
13:00
57% 0% 0% 0.09m 302° - 58° 57% 31° 7.7m/s 0.28m 2.6s
14:00
99% 0% 0% 0.07m 343° - 55° 99% 40° 11m/s 0.36m 2.6s
15:00
5% 0% 0% 0.08m 341° - 48° 5% 39° 13m/s 0.36m 2.7s
16:00
0% 0% 0% 0.08m 340° - 38° 0% 39° 14m/s 0.36m 2.7s
17:00
5% 0% 0% 0.09m 338° - 27° 5% 37° 13m/s 0.36m 2.8s
18:00
18% 0% 0% 0.09m 331° - 15° 18% 33° 12m/s 0.33m 2.7s
19:00
0% 0% 0% 0.09m 323° - 2.5° 0% 24° 10m/s 0.31m 2.6s
20:00
2% 0% 0% 0.09m 316° - -10° 2% 17° 8.9m/s 0.28m 2.5s
21:00
0% 0% 0% 0.09m 311° - -22° 0% 8.4m/s 0.26m 2.5s
22:00
0% 0% 0% 0.08m 306° - -33° 0% 353° 6.9m/s 0.25m 2.5s
23:00
0% 0% 0% 0.08m 302° - -43° 0% 345° 5.7m/s 0.23m 2.4s
Mon, Mar 16 Sunrise 06:56 Sunset 19:14
24:00
2% 0% 0% 0.08m 298° - -50° 2% 345° 4.8m/s 0.23m 2.4s
01:00
0% 0% 0% 0.08m 295° - -54° 0% 343° 4.8m/s 0.22m 2.3s
02:00
0% 0% 0% 0.08m 292° - -51° 0% 341° 4.1m/s 0.22m 2.3s
03:00
0% 0% 0% 0.08m 290° - -45° 0% 340° 3.7m/s 0.22m 2.3s
04:00
0% 0% 0% 0.09m 288° - -35° 0% 341° 4.1m/s 0.23m 2.3s
05:00
0% 0% 0% 0.09m 286° - -24° 0% 328° 3.4m/s 0.23m 2.3s
06:00
33% 0% 2% 0.09m 284° - -12° 33% 233° 4.3m/s 0.21m 2.3s
07:00
67% 0% 3% 0.09m 281° - 0.48° 67% 138° 5.1m/s 0.2m 2.3s
08:00
100% 0% 4% 0.09m 279° - 12° 100% 42° 6m/s 0.18m 2.3s
09:00
84% 0% 4% 0.09m 277° - 25° 84% 39° 7m/s 0.17m 2.3s
10:00
67% 0% 4% 0.09m 275° - 36° 67% 36° 8m/s 0.15m 2.2s
11:00
51% 0% 4% 0.09m 273° - 46° 51% 32° 9m/s 0.14m 2.2s
12:00
67% 0% 3% 0.08m 271° - 54° 67% 27° 8.5m/s 0.14m 2.1s
13:00
84% 0% 2% 0.07m 270° - 57° 84% 21° 8.1m/s 0.13m 2s
14:00
100% 0% 0% 0.06m 269° - 55° 100% 15° 7.6m/s 0.13m 1.9s
15:00
100% 0% 31% 0.06m 262° - 48° 100% 130° 7m/s 0.17m 2s
16:00
100% 0% 63% 0.06m 256° - 38° 100% 245° 6.5m/s 0.21m 2.2s
17:00
100% 0% 94% 0.06m 250° - 26° 100% 360° 6m/s 0.25m 2.3s
18:00
100% 0% 96% 0.06m 245° - 14° 100% 241° 6.1m/s 0.25m 2.3s
19:00
100% 0% 98% 0.06m 241° - 2.3° 100% 122° 6.2m/s 0.25m 2.3s
20:00
100% 0% 100% 0.06m 237° - -10° 100% 6.3m/s 0.25m 2.4s
21:00
100% 0% 100% 0.06m 232° - -22° 100% 120° 6.4m/s 0.25m 2.4s
22:00
100% 0% 100% 0.06m 227° - -34° 100% 238° 6.5m/s 0.25m 2.4s
23:00
100% 0% 100% 0.06m 222° - -44° 100% 355° 6.5m/s 0.25m 2.4s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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