Backdoor 4 Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.28° S 151.57° E

Backdoor 4 Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 pm 23 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Backdoor 4 sea temperature is
17.5°C
0.7° 

Backdoor 4 surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Backdoor 4 surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 26 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s period, ENE swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 11s period, S swell with 332 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 26 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 8s period with ENE swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Backdoor 4 this week:

The surf forecast for Backdoor 4 over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 16s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 2s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Backdoor 4 in the next 16 days are 1.2m 11s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 7PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10AM (Wed 26th Aug)3.5ft (1.1m) 8s
Best Surf10PM (Wed 26th Aug)3ft (0.9m) 8s
Most Powerful 7PM (Fri 28th Aug)4ft (1.2m) 11s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Backdoor 4 over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, let’s get into it. This is Rusty, your local surf reporter, and I’m looking at the next 16 days for Backdoor 4. It’s a reef break, very consistent, exposed to the east swell, and it’s an intermediate-level wave. The water temp is sitting at 64°F, which is about 1°F cooler than normal for this time of year – nothing crazy, just a touch on the fresh side.

The outlook starts slow. There’s no real surf on offer for the first few days. Sunday afternoon (23rd August) through to Wednesday afternoon (26th August) are a write-off. The swell is small, the wind is cross-on or onshore, and the conditions are choppy or lumpy. The combined energy is moderate at best (423 on Sunday dropping to 137 on Wednesday), but the quality is poor. You’d be wasting your time.

Then we get a little glimmer. Thursday morning (27th August) is the first real standout. The swell comes in at 5ft from the south, with a period of 8 seconds. The wind goes glassy – that’s proper clean. The combined energy is 399, so moderate, but the glassy conditions will make it feel much better. The score for that session is good, and it’s the best looking window in the first week. Thursday afternoon drops off a bit with a cross-shore breeze, but the morning is worth an early paddle.

Friday morning (28th August) is another glassy session, with 3ft south swell at 9 seconds. The energy is 290, so not huge, but clean. It’s a fun, small-wave morning. Saturday (29th August) has a consistent 3ft to 4ft south-southeast swell, with light offshore winds. The combined energy is 239 to 292, and the conditions are clean. It’s not a standout, but it’s a solid, surfable day.

Sunday morning (30th August) is tiny – 2ft, glassy, but the energy is down to 146. It’s only ordinary. Then Monday (31st August) brings a weird one: the swell period jumps to 19 seconds, with a south swell of only 2ft, but the combined energy is 472. That’s a long-period groundswell, but it’s small and the wind is onshore or cross-on, so it’s messy. Not worth it.

Now, the real standout is Tuesday morning (1st September). That’s the one. The swell is 3ft from the south, with a period of 14 seconds – that’s solid groundswell energy. The wind is glassy, and the combined energy is 454. Clean, lined-up waves. This is the best session of the entire forecast. After that, things fall apart again. From Tuesday afternoon (1st September) through to the end of the period (7th September), the swell drops, the wind turns cross-on or onshore, and the conditions are poor. The combined energy dips below 100 by the 3rd and 4th of September, and the last few days are just choppy and ugly.

So, to sum it up: the first week is mostly a bust, with a few good windows on Thursday and Friday mornings (27th and 28th August). The best session is Tuesday morning (1st September) – that’s the one to circle. After that, it’s a long stretch of nothing. The reef is consistent, so it’s not a total blank, but the quality is not there for most of the run.

This is Rusty, signing off.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 23°C on Tue morning, min 14°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNE on Mon afternoon, light winds from the N by Tue afternoon).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Fri night. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed afternoon, min 14°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Wed afternoon, calm by Thu morning).

Sun
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
Friday
28
Saturday
29
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
2
2
1
2
2
1
1
2
2
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
S
14
1.1
S
11
0.9
S
10
0.8
S
10
0.6
S
10
1
ENE
7
1.3
ENE
7
1.2
ENE
8
1.1
ENE
8
1
ENE
8
1.2
S
7
1.5
S
8
1.3
S
8
0.8
S
11
1
S
9
1
S
11
1.1
S
10
0.9
SSE
9
1.1
SSE
9
0.9
SSE
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
207
267
159
125
75
96
160
158
149
116
134
313
234
149
159
238
250
156
225
121
Wind (km/h)
15
ENE
20
NNE
15
NNE
30
NE
20
NNE
15
N
10
N
10
NNW
10
SSW
30
S
15
S
5
S
10
E
5
NNE
5
NNE
15
E
5
E
10
SSE
10
E
5
W
Wind State
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
on
on
on
cross-on
cross-off
off
off
glassy
cross
glassy
glassy
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
High Tide
4:58PM1.35m
5:47AM0.94m
5:46PM1.42m
6:29AM1.01m
6:27PM1.49m
7:06AM1.09m
7:05PM1.54m
7:41AM1.17m
7:40PM1.57m
8:15AM1.25m
8:15PM1.57m
8:49AM1.32m
8:50PM1.54m
Low Tide
11:58PM0.39m
11:07AM0.50m
00:37AM0.32m
11:56AM0.43m
1:12AM0.24m
12:39PM0.37m
1:43AM0.18m
1:19PM0.32m
2:14AM0.13m
1:59PM0.28m
2:44AM0.10m
2:39PM0.26m
3:14AM0.10m
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:22
6:20
6:20
6:18
6:16
6:16
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:29
5:30
5:30
5:30
5:31
5:32
5:32
 mm
3
5
1
1
Temp °C
17
17
19
19
18
23
21
17
17
16
16
16
15
15
16
16
16
15
16
15
Feels °C
14
13
15
14
15
19
20
16
15
13
14
15
13
13
14
14
15
14
15
15
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Backdoor 4 Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Backdoor 4 provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Backdoor 4 can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Backdoor 4 surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Backdoor 4) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).

Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Backdoor 4 may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.

Backdoor 4 is 14 km (9 miles) from the city of Catherine Hill Bay. If you plan a holiday in Newcastle, look for hotels and other accommodation in Catherine Hill Bay. Catherine Hill Bay has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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