Surf Forecasts:
Backdoor 4 surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 10s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 10s period, SSE swell with 346 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 29 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 10s 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 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 10s period. 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 1.3m 10s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 1PM. 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 5s period and expected on Friday (Sep 04) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 1PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Backdoor 4 over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, it’s Rusty here, and I’m looking at the next 16 days for the North Shore. We’ve got a bit of a mixed bag coming our way, so let's break it down.
The first real window of clean surf kicks off this Saturday, the 29th of August, and runs through Monday morning, the 31st. That’s a solid little stretch to start. The standout of this whole period is without a doubt Sunday morning, the 30th of August. That morning we’ve got glassy conditions with a light Northerly wind and solid chest-high swell coming from the South. The energy’s moderate (240), and the sets will be clean and fun. The water is sitting just about average for this time of year, a touch cool but nothing unusual.
After Monday afternoon, things get messy for a long stretch. From Monday the 31st afternoon all the way through to Saturday the 6th of September, the wind turns onshore or cross-on and the surf quality tanks. There are days with weak energy and choppy conditions, so paddling out is just a grind. That’s a solid six-day gap of poor to marginal surf.
Now, the next real standout is way out on Wednesday, the 9th of September. That afternoon we’re looking at a chunky 7ft South swell with a clean offshore wind out of the South. The energy is strong (715), and the wind will have those waves peeling nicely. But listen – that size is over 5ft, so it’s not for beginners. You need to have some experience under your belt for this one. The morning of the 9th is actually too big for Backdoor 4, with the swell pushing 7ft, so that’s expert-only territory. The afternoon session is the sweet spot.
Beyond that, the following Friday and Saturday mornings (11th and 12th September) have some swell from the South but the wind is cross-on, so the conditions are just marginal. Not worth getting excited about.
So to sum it up: your best bet is Sunday morning, the 30th of August, for clean, glassy chest-high peelers. And if you’re experienced, keep an eye on Wednesday afternoon, the 9th of September, for a proper solid, windy session at Backdoor 4. Everything in between is a write-off.
Stay stoked,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat morning, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Wed afternoon, min 13°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 16 | S 15 | S 9 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 12 | S 9 | S 9 | S 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 312 | 251 | 192 | 125 | 157 | 251 | 176 | 150 | 140 | 272 | 237 | 182 | 96 | 96 | 71 | 49 | 47 | 47 | 45 | 97 | 31 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 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 | 1:25PM1.43m | 2:14AM0.96m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 6:36AM0.40m | 8:22PM0.37m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — |
 | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 23 | 24 | 20 | 26 | 27 | 22 | 25 | 23 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 18 |
Feels °C | 14 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 22 | 23 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 10 | S 9 | SSE 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 12 | SSE 5 | S 9 | ENE 4 |
| kJ | 312 | 214 | 192 | 125 | 157 | 251 | 167 | 97 | 140 | 272 | 237 | 182 | 96 | 96 | 71 | 49 | 47 | 47 | 30 | 97 | 6 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | SSE 10 | S 8 | SE 9 | SE 9 | S 18 | S 16 | S 15 | ENE 9 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | NE 5 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | S 9 | ENE 10 | S 10 |
| kJ | 57 | 251 | 93 | 90 | 90 | 150 | 176 | 150 | 15 | 38 | 37 | 21 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 18 | 18 | 45 | 18 | 31 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | S 16 | ENE 8 | — | ENE 10 | NE 5 | — | NE 5 | ENE 5 | NNW 3 | S 9 | ENE 10 | SSE 12 | S 6 |
| kJ | 28 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 17 | 16 | 43 | 6 | — | 33 | 4 | — | 4 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 19 | 28 | 12 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 3 | NE 4 | NE 3 | NE 4 | NW 3 | NW 3 | NNW 3 | NW 3 | NNW 3 | SSE 3 | SSW 4 | — | ESE 4 | NW 2 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 6 | 2 | 16 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 14 | — | 3 | 2 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 2 | 2 | 37 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 42 | 3 |
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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