Cardwell tides today
- Tide now 9.2 ft ↑ rising · high 11:34 am (10.6 ft)
- Best time to fish 5:50–6:40 pm average day · 5/10
- Beach day 2:00–6:00 pm Perfect beach day · 9/10
- Waves · water 0.6 ft · 85 °F smooth · 4.7 s from the east-northeast
- Wind · air 4 mph · 83 °F from the NE, gusts 14 · light drizzle
- Sun 5:38 am–6:21 pm 12 h 43 min of daylight
- Moon 88% · 9:46 pm waning gibbous · rises at 9:46 pm
- Best time to dive 10:30 am–12:30 pm great day · 10/10
Today in Cardwell there are high tides at 11:34 am (10.6 ft) and 11:17 pm (7.2 ft) and low tides at 4:07 am and 5:52 pm. Tide coefficient 68. Right now the tide is rising toward the high tide at 11:34 am. The sun rises at 5:38 am and sets at 6:21 pm: 12 h 43 min of daylight. The moon is 88% illuminated (waning gibbous) and rises at 9:46 pm. Major solunar periods run from 1:15 am to 3:15 am and from 1:47 pm to 3:47 pm. The next spring tides arrive from October 27 to 29. The sea is smooth, with 0.6 ft waves. There's a light breeze from the northeast (4 mph). Light drizzle, 83 °F.
Fishing in Cardwell today
Best time to fish
Solunar activity today: medium- Low tide at 5:52 pm
- Sunset at 6:21 pm, golden hour from 5:52 pm
- Steady pressure (30.03 inHg), almost no wind and calm sea (0.7 ft waves)
- Waning gibbous: a bit more activity than at the quarters
- Highest tide coefficient today: 68 (small tides)
Your day at a glance
The best window, 5:50 pm to 6:40 pm, combines the 5:52 pm low tide and sunset. Also good from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, with the 11:34 am high tide and a light onshore breeze. Also good from 1:50 pm to 3:50 pm, with a major period and a light onshore breeze.
Species with the most records nearby: leopard coral grouper, cobia, orange-spotted grouper and giant trevally. October is one of the months when these are seen most: cobia. What you can catch
Beach day in Cardwell
Is it a beach day?
8 good hours- Sunny
- Feels like 94 °F: hot
- Onshore breeze (6 mph)
- Calm for swimming: 0.6 ft waves
- Water at 86 °F (very warm)
- Low tide at 5:52 pm: more sand
Today, hour by hour
- Swimming Calm · 0.6 ft
0.6 ft waves: calm for swimming. Low rip current risk. Always follow the lifeguard's flags.
- Water 85 °F
Very warm: barely refreshing.
- Sun & sunscreen UV 12 · SPF 50
Max UV 12 (extreme): SPF 50 sunscreen, reapplied every 2 hours. Seek shade 10:00 am–3:00 pm (very high UV).
- Wind 6 mph
Onshore breeze (6 mph).
- Tide & sand 5:52 pm
Low tide at 4:07 am and 5:52 pm: that's when there's the most sand. High tide at 11:34 am and 11:17 pm.
The best window, 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm, brings sunshine, beach weather, little wind, a calm sea, water at 86 °F and low tide at 5:52 pm, though with very high UV.
We don't have data on jellyfish, sargassum or beach closures: ask the lifeguard or check with the local beach authority. How it works · The next 7 days
Beaches near Cardwell
We don't know of any named beaches within 6.2 mi of Cardwell.
Missing one? Beaches come from OpenStreetMap: you can add it there. Add or fix on OpenStreetMap
Beaches and amenities: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Webcams near Cardwell
Webcams provided by windy.com — add a webcam
Tides in Cardwell
Today's high and low tides
- ▼ Low tide 4:07 am 2.1 ft
- ▲ Next high tide 11:34 am 10.6 ft · coef. 68
- ▼ Low tide 5:52 pm 5.0 ft
- ▲ High tide 11:17 pm 7.2 ft · coef. 60
↑ Rising The tide is rising. 1 h 50 min to high tide at 11:34 am.
Tide coefficient 68 for the 11:34 am high tide and 60 for the 11:17 pm high tide. Low coefficient. The water rises and falls 8.5 ft between the highest high and the lowest low: a large range for this place. 70 is an average tide here; 90 and above means spring tides; below 45, neap tides. What is the tide coefficient?
2026 extremes: the highest tide of the year is on February 1 (13.6 ft) and the lowest, on August 12 (0.5 ft).
Mixed: two high and two low tides a day, but of quite different heights.
Heights above chart datum (CD), the zero of that port's nautical charts. Astronomical prediction: wind and air pressure can raise or lower the water by a few inches, and more in a storm. Not for navigation. chart datum (CD)
Tide coefficient and range in October
The biggest tides of the month came from October 7 to 9 (coefficient 103, 9.9 ft range). The smallest, on October 16 (coefficient 20, 3.5 ft).
Tide and solunar table · this week
| Day | Sun | Tide 1 | Tide 2 | Tide 3 | Tide 4 | Coef. | Moon | Major periods | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today, Thu 29 | 5:38 am · 6:21 pm | Low tide 4:07 am · 2.1 ft | High tide 11:34 am · 10.6 ft | Low tide 5:52 pm · 5.0 ft | High tide 11:17 pm · 7.2 ft | Coef. 68 | 88% | Major periods 1:15 am · 1:47 pm | Medium |
| Fri 30 | 5:38 am · 6:22 pm | Low tide 5:05 am · 2.9 ft | High tide 12:44 pm · 10.1 ft | Low tide 7:42 pm · 5.3 ft | — | Coef. 52 | 80% | Major periods 2:20 am · 2:52 pm | Medium |
| Sat 31 | 5:37 am · 6:22 pm | High tide 12:42 am · 6.4 ft | Low tide 6:53 am · 3.8 ft | High tide 2:15 pm · 9.9 ft | Low tide 10:20 pm · 4.7 ft | Coef. 48 | 70% | Major periods 3:24 am · 3:55 pm | Medium |
| Sun 1 | 5:37 am · 6:23 pm | High tide 2:41 am · 6.3 ft | Low tide 8:56 am · 4.0 ft | High tide 3:55 pm · 10.2 ft | Low tide 11:15 pm · 4.0 ft | Coef. 56 | 59% | Major periods 4:24 am · 4:53 pm | Medium |
| Mon 2 | 5:36 am · 6:23 pm | High tide 4:38 am · 7.1 ft | Low tide 10:23 am · 3.7 ft | High tide 5:00 pm · 10.7 ft | Low tide 11:53 pm · 3.3 ft | Coef. 70 | Last quarter | Major periods 5:20 am · 5:46 pm | Medium |
| Tue 3 | 5:36 am · 6:24 pm | High tide 5:36 am · 8.1 ft | Low tide 11:24 am · 3.4 ft | High tide 5:47 pm · 11.0 ft | — | Coef. 80 | 37% | Major periods 6:11 am · 6:36 pm | Medium |
| Wed 4 | 5:35 am · 6:24 pm | Low tide 12:26 am · 2.8 ft | High tide 6:21 am · 9.0 ft | Low tide 12:12 pm · 3.2 ft | High tide 6:25 pm · 11.0 ft | Coef. 87 | 27% | Major periods 6:59 am · 7:22 pm | Low |
▲ high tide · ▼ low tide · heights above chart datum (CD). Major periods: start time; they last 2 hours. Activity: based on the moon phase and the solunar periods.
Where this tide comes from
Tides from the Cardwell station (Maritime Safety Queensland), 0.3 mi from Cardwell. Times and heights are its predictions.
Station data attribution: © State of Queensland (Department of Transport and Main Roads), Maritime Safety Queensland: Cardwell tide gauge, archived interval recordings (2025), https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/cardwell-tide-gauge-archived-interval-recordings. Licensed CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Modified: harmonic constants fitted by TidePlanet from the measured sea levels of 2025.
The sea at Cardwell
Sea stateSea state: smooth
The waves you may find
- Most commonMost common0.3 ft
- Significant0.6 ft
- Highest expectedHighest1.2 ft
One wave in seven is higher than the significant height, and about 3 times a day one reaches 1.2 ft. Before heading out, expect waves of up to 1.2 ft.
Wind on the coast and offshore
Onshore wind. The coast faces northeast and the wind blows straight in from the sea: more surf and backwash at the shore, and bait and boats drift toward land.
Wave height, next 7 daysWaves, next 7 days
Waves stay much the same all week. The biggest waves arrive on Friday 30: 1.1 ft with a period of 4 s, from the east-northeast (smooth).
Water temperature
Water temperature →The satellite measured 4.0 °F less 2 days ago than the model gives now: the water is probably colder than the forecast says.
Water temperature changes how fish behave: in very cold or very warm water they feed less. The water warms over the next few days: about 86.8 °F by Wednesday 4.
Water warmer than normal for late October (+3.9 °F).
Satellite: NASA MUR (JPL MUR MEaSUREs, PO.DAAC), doi:10.5067/GHGMR-4FJ04. Sources and licenses
Water temperature →Forecast from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) with models from ECMWF, NOAA, Météo-France, DWD, Copernicus Marine and CAMS. Updated at 9:44 am (local time).
Nearest buoy
This is a real measurement of the sea, not a forecast. Data from Australian Ocean Data Network, via the E.U. Copernicus Marine Service. Generated using E.U. Copernicus Marine Service Information (doi:10.48670/moi-00036).
Surf in Cardwell today
Surf today
Flat- Barely any waves (0.8 ft sets): flat
- Almost no wind (1 mph): glassy water
- First or last light of the day
- Rising tide (high tide at 11:34 am)
It’s flat today: almost no waves reach this coast.
- Light: First light 5:16 am · sunrise 5:38 am · sunset 6:21 pm · last light 6:44 pm
- Tide: low 4:07 am (2.1 ft), high 11:34 am (10.6 ft), low 5:52 pm (5.0 ft) and high 11:17 pm (7.2 ft). Every break has its own tide: some work at low tide and others at high tide. The tide doesn’t change the score here.
- Water at 84.7 °F–85.8 °F: boardshorts or a swimsuit and a rash guard.
- Energy: 1 kJ · Low power
Today’s surf at a glance
The best window, 5:16 am to 9:00 am, has glassy water, though with barely any waves.
An estimate for this stretch of coast, not for a specific break: every beach or reef works its own way (its tide, bottom and angle). Check it when you get there.
Follow the flags and the lifeguards, and don’t paddle out if the surf is above your level: this score is a guide, not a substitute for what you see when you get there.
Diving in Cardwell today
Diving and snorkeling today
Likely visibility: good- Slack water around high tide (11:34 am): little current from 11:10 am to 11:50 am
- 0.5 ft swell at 4 s from the east-northeast: barely any surge
- Light onshore wind (5 mph)
- 0.1 mph current toward the south, weak (model)
- Sun high: more light underwater
- Slack water today: low tide 4:07 am (3:30–4:40 am), high tide 11:34 am (11:10–11:50 am), low tide 5:52 pm (5:10–6:40 pm) and high tide 11:17 pm (9:50–11:50 pm)
- Likely visibility: good. The sea has been calm and there's been little rain. Based on the last 24 hours of data.
- Water at 84.7–85.8 °F: a shorty or a rash guard.
- Snorkeling: good, calm sea and light wind.
- Night dive: dark from 6:44 pm. Waning gibbous (88%), rising at 9:46 pm: a bright night.
Your diving day at a glance
The best window, 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, combines slack water at high tide, little swell, light wind, weak current and the sun high. Also good from 4:40 pm to 6:20 pm, with slack water at low tide, little swell, light wind and weak current.
Slack water comes from the tide: in inlets, channels and between islands the water can keep running for an hour or two after. Ask the local dive shop.
Never dive alone and check with the local dive shop: this rating is a guide, not a substitute for a professional.
Dive sites, wrecks and dive shops nearby
We have no dive sites, dive shops or wrecks on record within 12 mi of Cardwell.
If you know one, you can add it to OpenStreetMap and it will show up here after the next update. Missing one? Add it to OpenStreetMap
Sites: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Weather in Cardwell
Now in Cardwell
- Low / high
- 75 / 85 °F
- Rain
- 0.03 in · 47%
- Clouds
- 45%
- Humidity
- 71%
- Dew pointDew point
- 72 °F
- Visibility
- 15 mi
- UV indexUV
- 8 · high
- Air qualityAir
- Good · 19
- Saharan dust
- No
Pressure and fishing
- ↗ RisingRising · now Anglers say fish bite less for a while
- → SteadySteady Anglers expect normal activity
- ↘ FallingFalling Anglers say fish feed more before the change
Rising now (+0.03 inHg in 3 hours). Over the next 48 hours: −0.03 inHg. Rising pressure: anglers say fish bite less for a while. Fast changes, either way, tend to affect fishing.
Today, hour by hourHour by hour
Bars: mean wind. Dashed line: gusts. Arrows point where the wind blows to.
| Time | 12:00 am | 3:00 am | 6:00 am | 9:00 am | 12:00 pm | 3:00 pm | 6:00 pm | 9:00 pm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sky | Mainly clear | Mainly clear | Mainly clear | Light drizzle | Clear sky | Clear sky | Clear sky | Partly cloudy |
| Temperature | 77° | 76° | 77° | 82° | 85° | 84° | 78° | 76° |
| Wind (mph) | 2 NNE | 1 NNW | 1 NNW | 4 NE | 5 ENE | 5 NE | 3 ENE | 1 E |
| Gusts | 7 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 17 | 11 | 6 |
| Waves | 0.7 ft | 0.7 ft | 0.6 ft | 0.6 ft | 0.6 ft | 0.6 ft | 0.7 ft | 0.7 ft |
| Rain | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.01 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in |
- 9:00 am 82° 4 NE 0.6 ft
- 12:00 pm 85° 5 ENE 0.6 ft
- 3:00 pm 84° 5 NE 0.6 ft
- 6:00 pm 78° 3 ENE 0.7 ft
- 9:00 pm 76° 1 E 0.7 ft
- 12:00 am 75° 3 E 0.7 ft
- 3:00 am 75° 3 ESE 0.7 ft
- 6:00 am 75° 3 E 0.9 ft
Next 14 daysComing days
| Day | Sky | Low / high | Max wind | Max wave | High tides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today · 29 | 75 / 85 °F | 6 mph NE | 0.7 ft | 11:34 am · 11:17 pm | |
| Fri 30 | 75 / 84 °F | 6 mph ENE | 1.1 ft | 12:44 pm | |
| Sat 31 | 75 / 83 °F | 5 mph NE | 1.0 ft | 12:42 am · 2:15 pm | |
| Sun 1 | 76 / 83 °F | 7 mph ENE | 1.0 ft | 2:41 am · 3:55 pm | |
| Mon 2 | 75 / 84 °F | 7 mph NE | 1.0 ft | 4:38 am · 5:00 pm | |
| Tue 3 | 75 / 83 °F | 6 mph NE | 0.5 ft | 5:36 am · 5:47 pm | |
| Wed 4 | 73 / 83 °F | 6 mph NNE | 0.5 ft | 6:21 am · 6:25 pm | |
| Thu 5 | 71 / 84 °F | 7 mph NNE | 0.7 ft | 7:01 am · 7:00 pm | |
| Fri 6 | 73 / 84 °F | 6 mph NE | 0.5 ft | 7:39 am · 7:33 pm | |
| Sat 7 | 73 / 84 °F | 6 mph NE | 1.1 ft | 8:16 am · 8:05 pm | |
| Sun 8 | 73 / 85 °F | 5 mph NE | 1.2 ft | 8:52 am · 8:36 pm | |
| Mon 9 | 74 / 84 °F | 8 mph E | 2.3 ft | 9:26 am · 9:06 pm | |
| Tue 10 | 72 / 83 °F | 8 mph ESE | 3.1 ft | 9:59 am · 9:35 pm | |
| Wed 11 | 72 / 80 °F | 8 mph E | 3.3 ft | 10:33 am · 10:04 pm |
- Fri 30 Light drizzle 75° / 84° 1.1 ft
- Sat 31 Light drizzle 75° / 83° 1.0 ft
- Sun 1 Drizzle 76° / 83° 1.0 ft
- Mon 2 Drizzle 75° / 84° 1.0 ft
- Tue 3 Light drizzle 75° / 83° 0.5 ft
- Wed 4 Light drizzle 73° / 83° 0.5 ft
- Thu 5 Overcast 71° / 84° 0.7 ft
Each day comes from the best model covering this spot: regional ones first (HRRR and NBM in the U.S., AROME, ICON-EU), then ECMWF; day 16, NOAA GFS. Waves: Météo-France up to day 10, then ECMWF WAM, coarser and further offshore. High tides: our own tide calculation.
- The models Partly agree · medium confidence: unsure about rain tomorrow. See the models →
- Outlook Next few weeks, compared with normal: a bit warmer, normal rain and a slightly warmer sea. See the outlook →
- Normal Today, normal highs for late October (85 °F). Climate by month →
Forecast from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) with models from ECMWF, NOAA, Météo-France, DWD, Copernicus Marine and CAMS. Updated at 9:44 am (local time).
The sun in Cardwell
Sunrise and sunset
- First light 4:49 am
- Full dark 7:11 pm
- Civil dawn 5:16 am
- Civil dusk 6:44 pm
- Solar noon 12:00 pm (85° high)
- Daylight 12 h 43 min (+1 min)
- Evening golden hour 5:52 pm
- Full dark 7:11 pm
Golden hour and the day-night map
Today the sun is 92,345,377 mi away and looks 32′ 11″ across.
The moon in Cardwell
Moon phase and position
Today the moon is 226,469 mi away and looks 32′ 47″ across.
Solunar periods
Today's activity: medium- 1:15–3:15 am Major · the moon passes overhead · high activity
- 1:47–3:47 pm Major · the moon passes underfoot · high activity
- 7:20–8:20 am Minor · moonset · medium activity
- 9:16–10:16 pm Minor · moonrise · medium activity
According to solunar theory, fish feed more when the moon passes overhead or underfoot (major periods, about 2 h) and when it rises or sets (minor periods, 1 h). It works best around new and full moon.
Upcoming moon phases
2026 moon calendar →- Last quarter Mon, Nov 2 · 6:29 amNov 2 in 4 days
- New moon Mon, Nov 9 · 5:03 pmNov 9 in 11 days
- First quarter Tue, Nov 17 · 9:48 pmNov 17 in 19 days
- Full moon Wed, Nov 25 · 12:54 amNov 25 in 27 days
Perigee on October 29, 226,426 mi away, coinciding with the spring tides from October 27 to 29: they will be stronger than usual.
Where to fish in Cardwell
Piers, ramps and tackle shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Cardwell Jetty 0.3 mi
- Jetty 1.6 mi
- Boat ramp 0.8 mi
- Hinchinbrook Harbour Public Boat Ramp 1.5 mi
- Hinchinbrook Harbour 1.5 mi
- Master Bait and Tackle 0.3 mi
Within 9.3 mi. A spot may be missing or closed. Open the map on OpenStreetMap · Missing one? Add it to OpenStreetMap
Spots: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps.
Water depth
Shallow, gradualShallow, gradual bottom: you need to go 2.6 mi out for 33 ft of water.
From the shoreline out to sea, heading northeast.
How far from shore
- 16 ft deep1.6 mi
- 33 ft deep2.6 mi
- 66 ft deepnot within 3.1 mi
- 164 ft deepnot within 3.1 mi
For fishing, swimming and diving
- Shore fishing. Shallow, gradual bottom (16 ft at 1.6 mi): cast far from the beach and fish the high tide, when there is more water close in.
- Swimming. A very gentle way in with plenty of shallow water, good for kids. At low tide the water can be far out.
- Diving. Shallow near shore: you only reach 33 ft at 2.6 mi. For dives deeper than 33 ft, go by boat.
Rough estimate: here the data comes in cells of about 0.3 mi and misses details near shore (rocks, sandbars, small coves).
Source: NOAA ETOPO 2022 (CC0), cells of about 0.3 mi; depth below mean sea level. For reference only: not for navigation or anchoring.
Tides near CardwellTides nearby
- South Mission Beach22 mi
- Bemerside25 mi
- Wongaling Beach25 mi
- Lucinda27 mi
- Mission Beach28 mi
- Bingil Bay31 mi
- Garners Beach31 mi
- Taylors Beach32 mi
- Kurrimine Beach34 mi
Cardwell at a glance
- Town or city of about 1,606 people. Coordinates: 18.267° S, 146.028° E.
- It is 776 mi northwest of Brisbane, the main place in Queensland. The sun rises 39 min later and sets 17 min later than in Brisbane.
- The nearest tide station, Cardwell, is 0.3 mi to the northwest.
- Its coast faces northeast.
Questions about CardwellQuestions
What time is high tide today in Cardwell?
Today in Cardwell there are high tides at 11:34 am (10.6 ft) and 11:17 pm (7.2 ft) and low tides at 4:07 am and 5:52 pm. Tide coefficient 68.
What time is sunset today in Cardwell?
At 6:21 pm. There is light until the end of civil twilight, at 6:44 pm.
What time is sunrise tomorrow in Cardwell?
At 5:38 am. First light comes at 4:48 am.
What phase is the moon today?
Waning gibbous, 88% illuminated. New moon on Mon, Nov 9 · 5:03 pm.
When are the next spring tides?
From October 27 to 29, together with the lunar perigee: they will be stronger than usual.
What are today's solunar periods?
Major 1:15–3:15 am, Minor 7:20–8:20 am, Major 1:47–3:47 pm, Minor 9:16–10:16 pm. Today's activity is medium.
What's the weather like today in Cardwell?
Light drizzle, from 75 °F to 85 °F, with a light breeze from the northeast (4 mph) and a 47% chance of rain.
How is the sea today in Cardwell?
Smooth (Douglas 2): 0.6 ft waves with a period of 4.7 s from the east-northeast. The water is 84.9 °F.
When is the best time to visit Cardwell?
The best time to visit Cardwell is from July to October: highs of 76 °F to 83 °F, about 3 rainy days a month and 9 hours of sunshine a day.
Can I use this data for navigation?
No. These are predictions for fishing and leisure; for navigation, use the official publications.
Where this data comes from
Tide: Cardwell tide gauge of Maritime Safety Queensland (Queensland). © State of Queensland (Department of Transport and Main Roads), licensed CC BY 4.0; constants fitted by TidePlanet from its readings. Sun and moon: our own calculation with astronomy-engine. Places: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Coastline: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).