Surf Forecasts:
Backdoor 4 surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 9s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 10 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, NE swell with 1,341 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 13 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 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 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s. 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 3.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 10) 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 2.2m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 13) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 1PM (Thu 13th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Mon 10th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Backdoor 4 over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s break it down. It’s a slow start, no doubt. The first week is pretty much a write-off, so don’t be in a rush. The first decent surf is about a week out, so you’ve got time to sort your gear.
It’s flat and messy from now until around the 13th of August. Tiny waves, onshore winds, and just a lot of nothing. The water is 64°F, which is about average for this time of year.
The real deal shows up on Thursday, August 13th at Backdoor 4. The morning is clean with a light cross-offshore breeze and a 5ft swell from the south. The afternoon is the standout: a solid 7ft south swell with an 11-second period, and it’s clean. This is the best wave in the window. It’s a reef break, very consistent, and it’ll be pumping. With waves over 5ft, it’s getting too much for beginners, and at 7ft it’s expert territory only. This is the one to circle.
Friday and Saturday keep the quality up. Friday morning has a 5ft south swell with clean conditions, and the afternoon is a 5ft. Both have a clean cross-offshore breeze. Saturday the 15th is another good one: a solid 5ft south swell with a gentle offshore wind all day. It’ll be clean and lined up.
After that, the swell drops off fast. Sunday the 16th is still rideable but fading fast – 4ft dropping to 3ft. The rest of the second week is mostly small and weak. The next notable session is on the 22nd of August. That Saturday afternoon has a 4ft south-southeast swell with clean conditions. It’s a decent option, but nothing like the 13th.
So, the plan is simple: wait for the 13th and 15th of August. The 13th afternoon is the big one. Don’t miss the 14th or 15th either. It’s a reef break, so it’ll handle the long period swell. It’s very consistent, and it can get crowded sometimes, so get there early.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun morning, min 10°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat morning, strong winds from the NW by Mon morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Tue afternoon, light winds from the SW by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 8 | S 8 | E 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 7 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | ENE 10 | S 8 | S 11 | S 9 | S 10 | S 9 | S 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 58 | 40 | 61 | 149 | 154 | 479 | 601 | 334 | 133 | 71 | 62 | 169 | 121 | 96 | 52 | 326 | 881 | 306 | 392 | 392 | 219 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 4:07PM1.52m | 4:56AM1.00m | 5:11PM1.61m | 6:03AM1.06m | 6:09PM1.71m | 6:59AM1.13m | 7:02PM1.78m | 7:49AM1.20m | 7:50PM1.80m | 8:34AM1.27m | 8:36PM1.77m | 9:17AM1.32m | 9:19PM1.68m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:06PM0.28m | 10:26AM0.38m | 00:08AM0.16m | 11:31AM0.33m | 1:02AM0.07m | 12:29PM0.27m | 1:50AM-0.00m | 1:22PM0.22m | 2:33AM-0.03m | 2:12PM0.19m | 3:13AM-0.02m | 3:01PM0.20m | 3:50AM0.03m | ||||||||
 | |  |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — |
 | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 19 | 20 | 13 | 20 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 |
Feels °C | 11 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 15 | 7 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | S 8 | E 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | S 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | ENE 10 | S 8 | S 11 | S 9 | S 10 | S 9 | S 8 |
| kJ | 58 | 40 | 61 | 149 | 154 | 1 | 601 | 334 | 133 | 71 | 62 | 169 | 121 | 96 | 52 | 326 | 881 | 306 | 392 | 280 | 219 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | S 7 | NE 4 | S 6 | E 14 | S 13 | S 13 | E 13 | S 7 | SSW 6 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | S 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 |
| kJ | 46 | 30 | 15 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 25 | 14 | 43 | 47 | 69 | 40 | 29 | 29 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | E 8 | SSE 9 | S 6 | SSE 8 | S 13 | — | — | S 12 | S 12 | S 14 | S 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 19 | S 19 |
| kJ | 18 | 22 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 3 | — | — | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 63 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 2 | — | NE 3 | NNE 4 | N 3 | ENE 7 | NW 4 | NW 5 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | WNW 3 | WNW 4 | NW 3 | NW 3 | SW 6 | SSW 8 | — | SSW 9 | — | S 9 | — |
| kJ | 1 | — | 5 | 11 | 3 | 479 | 44 | 94 | 34 | 16 | 8 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 133 | 511 | — | 474 | — | 392 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 285 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 392 | 118 | 117 | 37 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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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