Backdoor 4 Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.28° S 151.57° E

Backdoor 4 Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 pm 28 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Backdoor 4 sea temperature is
17.9°C
0.3° 

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 28 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 9s period, SSE swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 9s period, SSE swell with 336 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 29 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 9s period with SSE 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 (Aug 29) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Backdoor 4 in the next 16 days are 1.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 6s period and expected on Friday (Sep 04) at 4AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4AM (Sat 29th Aug)4ft (1.2m) 9s
Best Surf 4AM (Sat 29th Aug)4ft (1.2m) 9s
Most Powerful 4PM (Sat 29th Aug)5ft (1.5m) 9s

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


The Lowdown

Right, grab a coffee and settle in. Rusty here, with a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks. We’ve only got the one spot lighting up the charts, Backdoor 4, and it’s a bit of a mixed bag.

We kick off straight away. Saturday morning, the 29th of August, we’re looking at a clean 4 ft swell from the SSE with a light offshore breeze. The energy is moderate at 297. It’s not massive, but it’s clean and rideable. The water temp is about average for this time of year at Backdoor 4. The swell ticks up a touch Saturday afternoon to 5 ft, still clean, with a light cross-offshore breeze. Good fun for an intermediate surfer.

Now, Sunday the 30th is where it gets tasty. A drop in height to 3 ft, but the wind goes glassy in the morning from the north. The swell period is 9 seconds, so a decent little wave. The energy is still moderate at 241. That glassy morning window is the standout for the whole forecast. Clean, approachable, and you’ll have a smile on your face. It stays clean through the afternoon with a light cross-off.

Monday the 31st starts glassy again with a tiny 2 ft swell, but look at the period – 16 seconds! That’s a proper groundswell, and the energy is moderate (330). That long period means it’s going to be a bit fat and walled up, but it’ll offer some nice lined-up runners. The morning is the pick; by afternoon a strong cross-on wind chops it right up.

Then we hit a dry spell. Tuesday through to Saturday, the 5th of September, is a write-off. The swell drops below 2 ft or the wind is just plain mean. It’s a real gap in the action for nearly a week.

That Saturday afternoon, the 5th, we see a tiny blip – flat calm, glassy conditions, with a weak 2 ft swell (energy just 137). It’s surfable but very ordinary. Sunday the 6th is a washout with fresh cross-onshore winds.

Monday the 7th of September brings some hope back: a clean 3 ft from the NE with a 8-second period and a light breeze. It’s ordinary, but rideable.

Now, hold on. Tuesday the 8th of September. This is the big one, but it’s a big "but." We get a massive 10 ft swell from the south. The energy is strong at 917. The next days follow with even bigger surf – 13 ft on Tuesday afternoon (energy 3405!) and 10 ft on Wednesday. The wind is clean, but the call is that it's simply too big for Backdoor 4. This is for experts only, and even then, it might just be a washing machine. If you’re a seasoned charger, you might want a look, but it’s a serious size. The swell direction from the SSE isn’t hitting the optimum E direction perfectly for this reef.

The surf then drops back through to the end of the window. Thursday the 10th is still pushing 8 ft with a clean offshore breeze, still big but dropping. By Friday the 11th we’re back to clean but ordinary 6 ft surf with a cross-shore wind, and things just taper off into the following week.

So, the standout is hands-down Sunday morning, the 30th of August. It’s not the biggest, but the glassy conditions and clean 3 ft swell make it the best for a relaxed, fun session. For the experts, that massive pulse from Tuesday the 8th is on the radar, but you’d have to be a local and know the spot inside out to handle it. Otherwise, it's a lean run.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat morning, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Thu morning, min 14°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
SSE
9
1.2
SSE
10
1.5
SSE
9
0.9
SSE
9
0.9
S
9
0.9
S
9
1.2
S
9
0.6
S
16
0.6
S
15
1
S
9
1
S
11
1
S
11
0.9
S
11
0.7
S
10
0.6
S
10
0.6
S
10
0.5
S
10
0.5
S
10
0.4
SSE
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
293
269
336
154
122
127
230
178
153
173
224
237
185
98
69
71
49
47
29
Wind (km/h)
10
S
10
SSE
10
SE
10
WSW
5
N
10
ESE
5
WSW
5
NNE
20
ENE
10
N
10
N
20
N
15
NW
15
NW
15
WNW
15
NW
25
NNW
20
WNW
25
W
Wind State
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
High Tide
8:49AM1.32m
8:50PM1.54m
9:24AM1.38m
9:27PM1.47m
10:01AM1.42m
10:07PM1.38m
10:41AM1.45m
10:52PM1.27m
11:26AM1.45m
11:44PM1.14m
12:20PM1.44m
00:50AM1.03m
Low Tide
2:44AM0.10m
2:39PM0.26m
3:14AM0.10m
3:21PM0.25m
3:46AM0.12m
4:05PM0.26m
4:20AM0.17m
4:55PM0.29m
4:57AM0.24m
5:52PM0.33m
5:42AM0.32m
7:00PM0.37m
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:16
6:15
6:13
6:11
6:11
6:09
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:32
5:34
5:34
5:35
5:36
5:36
 mm
Temp °C
15
16
15
15
16
15
15
16
16
16
23
25
20
26
26
23
28
28
21
Feels °C
13
14
13
15
14
14
15
13
13
14
18
20
16
23
22
20
23
24
16
  • 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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