Backdoor 4 Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.28° S 151.57° E

Backdoor 4 Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 am 12 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Backdoor 4 sea temperature is
18.3°C
0.1° 

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 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 16 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 8s period, S swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 11s period, S swell with 4,664 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 12 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 12s 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 Saturday (Sep 12) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 19s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Backdoor 4 in the next 16 days are 4.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 10PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10AM (Sat 12th Sep)4.5ft (1.3m) 12s
Best Surf 4AM (Wed 16th Sep)10ft (3.0m) 8s
Most Powerful10PM (Wed 16th Sep)15ft (4.5m) 11s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for the next couple of weeks at Backdoor 4.

The start of this run is a bit of a mixed bag. We get a nice little window early on, but don't get too excited, because after that the trade winds and a massive pulse of swell will shut things down for most. Let's walk through it.

The first real shot is on Saturday the 12th, in the morning. It's clean with glassy conditions and a light breeze from the southeast. The swell is a tidy 4ft from the south at a long 12 seconds, giving the break some proper shape. The combined energy is solid at a moderate 702. It's a classic, fun-size morning session with nobody around, but remember, this spot can get busy. That morning is about as good as it gets for a while.

Things change fast. From Saturday afternoon all the way through Monday the 14th, it’s a write-off. Cross-onshore winds from the east-northeast and northeast pick up, making a mess of the 3ft to 5ft swell. It's not worth paddling out.

Now for the big event. On Wednesday the 16th, a serious southerly groundswell arrives. We're talking 12ft in the morning, pushing to 15ft by the afternoon. The wind is howling offshore from the south-southwest at 25 to 28 mph, which would normally be magic, but this is just too much. The combined energy is massive – 1930 in the morning and an enormous 3951 in the afternoon. That's big-wave territory and, as the forecast says, it will be hard to paddle into. For the experts only, and honestly, it might be more of a spectacle than a session.

The big swell lingers through Thursday the 17th, dropping from 12ft to 10ft, with clean offshore winds all day, but still only for the top-end crew. The energy remains very strong, around 1552 to 2408.

We have a quiet patch from the 20th to the 24th; small, choppy, or just poor conditions. Nothing worth a rush.

The standout, and the best of the bunch after the first morning, is actually Saturday the 19th in the morning. It's small, only 5ft, but from the east-southeast with a very long 11-second period, and it's glassy with zero wind. The energy is moderate at 696. The waves will be cleaner and more lined up than what you'd expect for the size, but those long-period south swells at a spot like this can sometimes run a bit straight. It's a glassy, clean option with a long period that will feel more powerful than it looks for a small day.

Standout: Saturday morning the 12th, for the clean combo of 4ft south swell and glassy wind. It's a quiet, playful session. Honorable mention: Saturday morning the 19th, for the glassy, long-period east-southeast swell.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Mon afternoon. Warm (max 24°C on Mon morning, min 13°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat morning, fresh winds from the NE by Sun afternoon).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue morning, min 11°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the S on Tue morning, strong winds from the SSW by Wed morning).

Saturday
12
Sunday
13
Monday
14
Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
Thursday
17
Friday
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)
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
!
!
!
!
!
3
2
2
2
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
12
1.1
SSE
11
1
S
10
0.9
S
10
0.9
S
11
0.8
S
10
0.7
S
12
1.5
NE
5
1.5
NE
6
0.8
ENE
7
0.7
ENE
7
1.9
S
6
3.5
S
9
4.5
S
10
4
S
10
3.5
S
10
3
SSE
9
2
S
9
1.7
ESE
11
1.8
ESE
11
1.7
ESE
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
497
320
198
164
184
136
132
124
172
59
38
264
1920
3951
3688
2399
1542
642
637
745
764
Wind (km/h)
0
SE
20
ENE
15
N
15
NE
30
NE
15
N
15
NNE
30
NE
10
WNW
10
S
15
ESE
40
S
40
SSW
45
SSW
40
S
25
S
30
S
15
W
5
N
15
ENE
5
WNW
Wind State
glassy
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
off
off
cross-off
on
cross
cross-on
High Tide
8:54PM1.50m
9:21AM1.49m
9:34PM1.38m
9:57AM1.49m
10:13PM1.25m
10:34AM1.46m
10:54PM1.12m
11:13AM1.40m
11:39PM1.01m
11:59AM1.34m
00:34AM0.92m
12:54PM1.27m
1:48AM0.86m
Low Tide
2:47PM0.17m
3:07AM0.11m
3:31PM0.19m
3:39AM0.19m
4:15PM0.24m
4:10AM0.28m
5:01PM0.31m
4:42AM0.37m
5:51PM0.39m
5:18AM0.46m
6:50PM0.46m
6:02AM0.53m
8:02PM0.50m
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:58
5:56
5:54
5:54
5:52
5:50
5:50
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:42
5:43
5:44
5:44
5:45
5:45
5:45
 mm
1
4
2
1
1
Temp °C
17
17
16
17
18
16
24
22
19
19
17
15
13
14
13
14
14
14
16
16
16
Feels °C
15
14
13
13
13
12
18
17
16
15
15
8
3
4
3
8
8
12
12
13
15
  • 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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