Sustained, near real-time observations of waves in coastal regions are a fundamental pre-requisite to monitor, predict, and forecast coastal hazards that threaten coastal populations, infrastructure and marine operations. Additionally, near real-time temperature observations in coastal regions are required to understand the impacts of environmental disturbances (both extreme events and long-term changes) to coastal ecosystems. Thus, the establishment of a nationally coordinated network of surface wave and temperature observations is required to support a wide range of end user needs, including research, coastal managers, and diverse marine industries. In 2024, IMOS established the Coastal Wave Buoy facility, which consists of 23 sites spread around Australia’s nearshore region that are collecting near real-time surface wave and temperature observations. The spectral wave and surface temperature data are publicly available via the Australian Ocean Data Network. Deployments commenced late 2024, and within the first few months of operation, the buoy network has already captured data from multiple tropical cyclones and a significant marine heatwave. The facility is also conducting on-going testing of new sensing platforms that can provide new opportunities for integrated marine observing in the coastal zone into the future.