Backdoor 4 Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.28° S 151.57° E

Backdoor 4 Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 pm 26 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Backdoor 4 sea temperature is
17.8°C
0.4° 

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 26 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 10s period, SSE swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 11s period, SSE swell with 750 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 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 27) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.2m and 15s 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 1.7m 11s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 1AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Thu 27th Aug)5ft (1.5m) 7s
Best Surf 1PM (Sat 29th Aug)6.5ft (2.0m) 10s
Most Powerful 7AM (Fri 28th Aug)5.5ft (1.7m) 11s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here, lookin’ at what’s cookin’ for us over the next couple of weeks at one spot that’s got some serious potential if you time it right. It’s gonna be a bit of a slow start, but hold tight, there’s some fire on the horizon.

So, right off the bat, Wednesday the 26th ain’t gonna get you out of bed. We’ve got some weak, short-period swell from the ENE at 3ft, but the wind’s howling from the south at 15 mph. It’s surfable, but it’s ordinary—you’d be paddling out for the exercise more than the stoke. The water temp is sittin’ around 64°, which is pretty much what you’d expect for this time of year.

The good stuff starts to trickle in Thursday the 27th. Thursday morning sees a solid jump to 6ft from the south with a gentle offshore breeze. The energy is gettin’ real (664), and conditions are looking very good. That’s your first real window. It holds through the afternoon as the swell drops just a touch to 6ft, but the wind swings cross-offshore, keeping things clean.

Now, Friday the 28th morning is where you wanna be if you can swing it. We’re talkin’ 5ft of SSE groundswell with a period of 11 seconds, and the wind is dead calm—glass. The wave energy is pumpin’ at 726. That’s about as perfect as it gets for a reef break. The afternoon is still fun, but the wind picks up a bit.

Saturday the 29th is another beauty. Morning session has 7ft from the SSE, a solid offshore wind, and energy sittin’ at 767. That’s a serious amount of power, but still manageable for a confident intermediate. Just know that with that size, beginners might be biting off more than they can chew. The afternoon drops back to 4ft with clean conditions.

Sunday the 30th starts with a glassy 3ft from the south—a nice mellow session to wind down the weekend. The energy is still there (278), but it’s a more relaxed vibe. Monday the 31st has a funky 2ft south swell with a very long 16-second period. That long period means the waves will have some punch for their size, but at a reef, they’ll shape up nicely. Glassy conditions in the morning make it worth a look.

Then we hit a flat patch. From Monday afternoon right through until the morning of Sunday the 7th of September, it’s pretty grim. Winds go onshore or cross-onshore, and the swell drops to ankle-snappers. There’s a couple of days with energy in the 300s, but the wind just kills it. You’ll be better off waxing your board and waiting.

But hold onto your leash, because the stand-out is coming. Monday the 7th of September morning is a beast—8ft from the south with a clean offshore wind. The energy reading is 1700. That’s a heavy day. This is for experts only; that size at a reef like Backdoor 4 will be charging. The afternoon drops to 6ft, still massive, and still clean. This is the best of the whole run if you’ve got the skill to handle it.

After that, it fades. Tuesday the 8th is still rideable at 6ft in the morning, but the wind goes onshore, making it messy. From there, it’s a slow decline into smaller, wind-affected surf for the rest of the run. There’s a brief flash of 6ft on Thursday the 10th, but the onshore wind ruins it.

So, to boil it down: your best bet is the morning of Friday the 28th of August for clean, glassy perfection, and the morning of Monday the 7th of September for the big, expert-level juice. Don’t sleep on Thursday the 27th morning either.

Rusty, out.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri night, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Tue afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
27
Friday
28
Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
3
3
1
3
2
2
3
3
1
2
2
2
2
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)
1.5
S
7
1.9
S
9
1.7
S
9
1.4
S
9
1.7
SSE
11
1.6
SSE
10
1.3
SSE
9
1.5
SSE
10
1.3
SSE
10
1
SE
10
1
S
9
1
S
9
1.2
S
9
0.7
S
17
0.7
S
16
0.6
S
15
0.9
S
12
0.8
S
11
0.7
S
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
239
593
440
292
724
511
287
464
340
192
157
153
220
288
254
157
229
160
108
Wind (km/h)
20
S
20
S
10
SE
10
NW
0
WNW
20
SSE
15
SSE
20
SSE
15
SE
5
W
5
N
15
ESE
10
SW
5
SSW
15
ENE
10
NNW
15
N
15
NNW
15
NW
Wind State
off
off
cross-off
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
7:41AM1.17m
7:40PM1.57m
8:15AM1.25m
8:15PM1.57m
8:49AM1.32m
8:50PM1.54m
9:24AM1.38m
9:27PM1.47m
10:01AM1.42m
10:07PM1.38m
10:41AM1.45m
10:52PM1.27m
Low Tide
1:43AM0.18m
1:19PM0.32m
2:14AM0.13m
1:59PM0.28m
2:44AM0.10m
2:39PM0.26m
3:14AM0.10m
3:21PM0.25m
3:46AM0.12m
4:05PM0.26m
4:20AM0.17m
4:55PM0.29m
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:18
6:16
6:16
6:15
6:13
6:11
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:31
5:32
5:32
5:34
5:34
5:35
 mm
1
2
Temp °C
15
15
15
15
15
15
16
15
16
15
16
15
15
16
16
15
24
26
21
Feels °C
12
12
12
14
12
11
13
12
13
15
14
13
15
14
14
12
20
22
17
  • 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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