Surf Forecasts:
Backdoor 4 surf forecast from 24 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 11s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 26 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 11s period, S swell with 949 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 25 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 11s period with S 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 Saturday (Jul 25) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Backdoor 4 in the next 16 days are 2.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 26) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1PM (Sat 25th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 1PM (Sat 25th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Sun 26th Jul) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Backdoor 4 over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about the surf over this window.
Honestly, the first few days are nothing to get excited about. Saturday the 25th is marginal at best with a dirty cross-onshore breeze and choppy water, not worth a paddle. Sunday the 26th is where things finally turn a corner. We’ve got a clean 7ft south swell rolling in with an 11-second period, cross-off wind, and the wave energy is solid at (955). This is the best session of the whole first week, and the standout of the entire 16-day run. The water temp is 65°, which is bang on average for this time of year.
Monday the 27th morning goes glassy with a smaller 4ft south swell (233), perfect for a fun, tidy session if the tide cooperates. After that, we hit a dry spell. Tuesday the 28th through Friday the 1st of August is mostly poor with tiny, weak swell and barely any energy (down to double digits). Saturday the 2nd sees a long period pulse from the south at 18 seconds, but it’s only 2ft and the wind is choppy – really just a tease.
Now, hold onto your board. Monday the 3rd of August delivers a solid 7ft pulse from the SSE with moderate energy (822). But here’s the deal: Backdoor 4 is a reef setup, exposed to the south, and this swell at 7ft is getting too big for it – the report flags it as too big for the break. This is expert territory only. If you’re an experienced crew, this could be a heavy session, but it’s a caution call. The wind is light and cross, so it’s not a total write-off.
The rest of the first week of August is a mix of onshore winds and smaller swells. By Wednesday the 5th, we get a clean 5ft from ESE in the afternoon with cross-off wind (492) – a good solid session for intermediate surfers, clean and punchy. After that, it’s mostly onshore junk through to the end of the forecast. The 9th of August has a 25 mph cross-onshore gale with only 2ft – stay ashore.
For the standout: That Sunday the 26th morning session is the one. Clean 7ft south swell, light cross-off breeze, solid energy (955). That’s as good as it gets in this run. Everything else is either too small, too big, or blown out.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat afternoon, min 11°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 7 | S 9 | S 9 | SE 13 | S 9 | S 8 | S 7 | S 7 | S 8 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 920 | 496 | 476 | 949 | 714 | 363 | 225 | 154 | 63 | 53 | 39 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 382 | 217 | 135 | 111 | 153 | 162 | 147 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:27PM1.40m | 6:08AM0.93m | 6:12PM1.46m | 6:53AM0.97m | 6:54PM1.52m | 7:33AM1.02m | 7:32PM1.57m | 8:10AM1.07m | 8:08PM1.60m | 8:46AM1.11m | 8:43PM1.60m | 9:22AM1.16m | 9:17PM1.58m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:34AM0.49m | 00:26AM0.38m | 11:27AM0.47m | 1:07AM0.32m | 12:15PM0.43m | 1:44AM0.26m | 12:57PM0.39m | 2:19AM0.21m | 1:38PM0.36m | 2:52AM0.17m | 2:16PM0.34m | 3:24AM0.14m | 2:56PM0.34m | 3:55AM0.13m | |||||||
 |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — |
 | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:14 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 |
Feels °C | 15 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 7 | S 9 | S 9 | S 6 | S 9 | E 13 | NE 12 | S 7 | S 8 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 |
| kJ | 920 | 496 | 476 | 949 | 714 | 363 | 225 | 154 | 63 | 53 | 39 | 13 | 18 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 135 | 111 | 153 | 162 | 147 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | S 10 | SE 8 | SE 14 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 13 | SE 13 | S 15 | S 16 | NE 6 | E 14 | E 5 | SSE 12 | S 14 |
| kJ | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 33 | 32 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 16 | 14 | 16 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | — | — | — | S 17 | NE 8 | NNE 3 | E 8 | SE 15 | SE 14 | SE 6 | SE 6 | S 13 | E 13 | E 6 | E 10 | SSE 13 | E 13 | E 13 |
| kJ | 6 | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 3 | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SW 4 | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 2 | WSW 3 | — | WSW 3 | W 2 | SSW 6 | S 8 | S 7 | — | E 5 | — | E 6 | ENE 4 |
| kJ | — | — | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | — | 7 | 1 | 34 | 382 | 217 | — | 23 | — | 15 | 8 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 72 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 117 | 223 | 787 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Newcastle | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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