Backdoor 4 Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.28° S 151.57° E

Backdoor 4 Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 am 12 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: Thursday 13 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period, S swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 17 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 7s period, ESE swell with 417 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 13 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s 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 1.4m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 1.2m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s is also forecast. 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 2.0m 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 7s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 13) at 7AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1PM (Thu 13th Aug)4.5ft (1.4m) 7s
Best Surf 1PM (Thu 13th Aug)4.5ft (1.4m) 7s
Most Powerful 4AM (Mon 17th Aug)6.5ft (2.0m) 7s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here, looking at the upcoming surf for Backdoor 4. It's a classic reef setup, very consistent, and exposed to the east. The water's sitting at 64°, which is pretty much what you'd expect for this time of year.

Right off the bat, I gotta be honest with you – the next week and a half is looking pretty flat and ordinary. We've got a long stretch of small, weak waves with poor energy readings, mostly in the low hundreds (392) dropping off to under 100. The winds are all over the place, and the swell direction is often swinging around from the south and east-southeast, which isn't ideal for this spot that really wants it from the east.

The first real glimmer of hope pops up on Friday, August 14th. The morning session is looking like the pick of the early period. We're expecting a glassy 4 ft swell from the south with a moderate 270 energy reading. That's clean, that's calm, and it's about as good as it gets for a while.

The weekend of the 15th and 16th has some promise but comes with a catch. Saturday, August 15th kicks off with a clean 4 ft south swell under offshore winds, energy climbing to 321. Then the afternoon sees it bump up to 6 ft south swell with a period of 8 seconds and a solid 429 energy reading, still under offshore winds. It's clean, but that 6 ft on a reef is getting into intermediate territory. Sunday the 16th is still rideable at 6 ft, but the period drops to 7 seconds and the wind is cross-offshore, making it a bit more of a handful.

After that, we're back into a slump of small, weak, and often onshore conditions until the start of the second week. However, things start to look up around Sunday, August 23rd. The afternoon brings a clean 4 ft swell from the east-northeast with a period of 10 seconds – that's a proper groundswell direction for this break. The energy reading jumps to 303, and the light cross-offshore breeze will keep it clean. It's a solid, promising session.

Then, looking way out to Thursday, August 27th, the models are hinting at a bigger pulse. The afternoon shows a 7 ft swell from the northeast, but it's got a short 8-second period and a strong cross-shore wind. The energy reading is a massive 718, but with those conditions, it's only for the experts out there. It's one to watch, but don't hold your breath.

Overall, the standout sessions are the glassy Friday morning on the 14th, the clean, fun Saturday on the 15th, and the promising Sunday afternoon on the 23rd. The rest is a whole lot of waiting.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed morning, min 11°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Mon night. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat afternoon, min 14°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Friday
14
Saturday
15
Sunday
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
AM
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
1
2
2
1
2
2
2
2
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
1
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
S
10
1
S
9
0.9
S
8
0.5
ENE
10
1.5
S
9
1.4
S
8
1.1
S
9
1.2
S
9
1.2
SSE
8
1.3
S
9
1.7
S
8
1.4
S
7
1.7
SSE
7
1.5
SSE
7
1.6
ESE
7
1.7
ESE
7
1.8
ESE
7
1.8
ESE
7
1.4
ESE
7
1.1
ESE
7
0.8
SE
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
332
164
111
52
328
258
211
210
173
263
346
187
249
210
209
310
303
317
191
118
65
Wind (km/h)
20
WNW
15
NW
20
W
20
SW
15
ESE
15
SW
5
WSW
15
SE
15
SSE
15
SSE
25
S
10
SW
25
SSE
20
SSE
30
ESE
30
ESE
25
ESE
25
ESE
20
ESE
15
ESE
10
E
Wind State
cross
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
High Tide
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
12:04PM1.35m
00:11AM1.08m
Low Tide
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
5:34AM0.29m
6:25PM0.44m
part cloud
thunderstorm
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
clear
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
6:28
<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
5:25
 mm
1
3
4
2
5
1
1
2
7
2
1
9
Temp °C
17
16
14
17
16
15
14
16
16
15
16
14
15
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
Feels °C
13
12
9
13
12
12
11
13
13
12
11
11
9
12
11
11
11
11
12
13
12
  • 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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