Backdoor 4 Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.28° S 151.57° E

Backdoor 4 Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 pm 11 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Backdoor 4 sea temperature is
17.7° 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 11 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 17 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 7s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 9s period, S swell with 450 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 13 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 8s 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 Thursday (Aug 13) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s. 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 1.7m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) 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 1.5m 10s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 4AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1PM (Thu 13th Aug)4ft (1.2m) 8s
Best Surf 1AM (Mon 17th Aug)7ft (2.1m) 7s
Most Powerful 4PM (Thu 13th Aug)5.5ft (1.7m) 9s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s on offer for Backdoor 4. This is a consistent reef break, so it rarely goes completely flat, but the next couple of weeks are a mixed bag. We’ve got some clean windows, some dodgy wind, and a real monster swell lurking out in the second week.

Right now, the water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing wild to report there.

The first real opportunity to get a wave worth talking about kicks off on Thursday, August 13th in the afternoon. We’re looking at a 6 ft S swell with a 9-second period, and the energy is solid (829). The wind is clean and cross-off, so the surface will be nice. It’s a marginal call with the tide, but it’s a definite step up from the choppy stuff earlier in the week.

Friday, August 14th, is where it gets good. The morning is glassy, absolute perfection, with a 4 ft S swell (269 energy). The afternoon stays clean with a cross-off breeze and a touch more size at 4 ft. This is your all-day session window.

Saturday, August 15th afternoon gets a bit of a boost. The swell jumps to 6 ft from the S with an 8-second period, and the wind goes offshore. That’s 452 combined energy, and it’s clean. A bit more punch, but still manageable.

We hit a bit of a lull from Sunday, August 17th, through to the end of the next week. The wind is often cross or cross-on, the swell is messy with short periods (6-8 seconds), and the energy is moderate. It’s surfable, but nothing to get excited about. There are a few glassy mornings (Wednesday, August 19th and Thursday, August 20th) with 5-5 ft ESE swell (342-418 energy), and those are your best bets for a clean, if not powerful, wave.

Now, hold on to your board. The standout is Wednesday, August 26th. The morning is dead flat calm, glassy, with a 10 ft S swell on an 8-second period. The energy is massive (1080). This is a big, powerful swell. The afternoon is even bigger: 12 ft from the S, 10-second period, and a whopping 2839 energy. This is not for the faint-hearted. This is expert zone territory. The swell direction is south, which is a good angle for this exposed reef, but with that size and period, it’s going to be a heavy, serious day. The wind is cross in the afternoon, which will put some texture on it. If you’re a confident charger, Thursday, August 27th also holds a 8 ft S swell (1307 energy) in the morning, but the wind is onshore, so it’s going to be lumpy.

Bottom line: The best all-rounder is Friday, August 14th. Glassy, clean, waist-to-chest high. For the thrill-seekers, mark August 26th in your calendar. That’s a big, gnarly south swell hitting the reef. It’s a long way out, so keep an eye on it, but it has the potential to be the session of the month.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds.

Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Friday
14
Saturday
15
Sunday
16
Monday
17
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
0
0
0
2
2
2
2
2
1
2
2
0
1
!
1
1
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.6
S
11
1.3
S
10
1
S
9
0.9
S
8
0.5
ENE
10
1.7
S
9
1.4
S
8
1.1
S
9
1.2
S
9
1.2
S
8
1.4
SSE
9
1.8
S
8
1.4
S
7
1.5
SSE
6
1.5
SSE
7
2.1
SE
7
1.7
ESE
7
1.7
ESE
7
1.9
ESE
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
606
327
164
111
52
450
265
211
210
172
297
401
198
183
210
445
294
301
366
Wind (km/h)
20
WNW
20
W
15
WNW
20
W
20
SW
15
SE
15
WSW
5
SW
15
SE
15
SSE
20
SSE
25
S
10
SSW
30
SSE
25
SE
25
ESE
20
E
20
ESE
20
E
Wind State
cross
cross
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
7:49AM1.20m
7:50PM1.80m
8:34AM1.27m
8:36PM1.77m
9:17AM1.32m
9:19PM1.68m
9:58AM1.36m
10:01PM1.55m
10:39AM1.38m
10:43PM1.39m
11:21AM1.37m
11:25PM1.23m
Low Tide
1:50AM-0.00m
1:22PM0.22m
2:33AM-0.03m
2:12PM0.19m
3:13AM-0.02m
3:01PM0.20m
3:50AM0.03m
3:50PM0.23m
4:26AM0.10m
4:39PM0.29m
5:00AM0.19m
5:30PM0.36m
part cloud
part cloud
thunderstorm
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:35
6:33
6:33
6:31
6:31
6:30
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:22
5:22
5:22
5:23
5:23
5:24
 mm
1
3
4
1
6
1
1
3
1
1
5
Temp °C
15
17
18
14
16
15
14
14
15
15
15
15
14
15
16
16
16
16
15
Feels °C
10
14
14
9
12
11
10
11
11
12
11
10
12
9
11
11
12
12
10
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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