Backdoor 4 Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.28° S 151.57° E

Backdoor 4 Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 pm 13 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Backdoor 4 sea temperature is
17.5° C
0.9° 

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 13 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 14 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 8s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 14 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 9s period, S swell with 425 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 14 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 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 Friday (Aug 14) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 10s. 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 1.7m 9s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 14) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 16) at 7AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4AM (Fri 14th Aug)4ft (1.2m) 8s
Best Surf 4AM (Fri 14th Aug)4ft (1.2m) 8s
Most Powerful 1AM (Fri 14th Aug)5.5ft (1.7m) 9s

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


The Lowdown

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next stretch. This is a tricky one, to be honest. For the next week or so, we’re going to be staring at a whole lot of nothing special. There’s a real lull in the action, with only small, weak, and messy swells and pretty ordinary wind conditions. It’s one of those periods where you’re better off doing maintenance on your board or just watching the horizon. That dry spell runs from now all the way through to the 26th of August. Then, things start to look a bit more interesting.

Backdoor 4 is the only spot on the radar here, and the first real chance of a wave comes on Thursday the 27th of August. Thursday afternoon, a solid 7 ft swell from the south rolls in, with a moderate energy (647). The period is a middling 9 seconds, so it’ll have some push. What makes this a standout is the wind: a light SSE breeze, cross-offshore, keeping the faces clean. It’s a reef break, very consistent, exposed to the swell, and the direction is side-on to the optimum. The water temperature is 64°, which is about normal for this time of year, so a wetsuit is still the call.

Now, Friday the 28th of August looks like the best of the whole outlook, but there’s a major caveat. We’ve got a 7 ft to 7 ft south swell, strong energy (836 and 851), and clean cross-offshore winds from the WSW and ESE. The problem? That’s too much water for Backdoor 4. It’s going to be walled up, heavy, and only for the experts. If you’ve got the skills and the nerve, it’ll be a proper session, but for most of us, it’s a day to watch from the cliff. The period is still around 9-10 seconds, so it’s not the long, lined-up groundswell that would make it perfect.

So, to sum it up: don’t bother paddling out for the next week and a half. Save your energy for the 27th for a clean, solid day, and if you’re an experienced charger, the 28th could be a real standout, but it’s a beast.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Sat morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu afternoon, min 11°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun afternoon, min 14°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Thu
13
Friday
14
Saturday
15
Sunday
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
1
2
1
2
2
2
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
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)
2
S
9
1.7
S
9
1.3
S
10
1.2
S
8
0.9
SSE
7
1.2
S
9
1.4
SSE
8
1.4
S
7
0.5
S
17
1.2
ESE
6
0.8
S
11
1.2
ESE
7
1.3
ESE
7
1.3
ESE
6
1.1
ESE
7
0.8
SE
7
1.4
SE
7
1.2
SE
7
0.9
ESE
7
1
SE
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
695
425
305
187
91
230
257
192
148
106
149
132
145
132
107
65
193
139
81
102
Wind (km/h)
20
SSE
15
WSW
5
W
15
SE
5
SSE
10
S
15
SSE
15
SSW
20
SE
20
SE
15
ESE
15
ESE
20
ESE
15
ESE
10
SE
15
SE
10
ESE
10
ESE
15
E
5
W
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
off
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
High Tide
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
12:52PM1.32m
1:05AM0.96m
Low Tide
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
6:11AM0.39m
7:30PM0.50m
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
rain showers
clear
clear
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:33
6:31
6:31
6:30
6:28
6:28
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:22
5:22
5:23
5:23
5:24
5:25
5:27
 mm
2
3
3
4
2
1
1
4
1
1
Temp °C
16
15
14
16
16
15
16
16
15
16
16
16
15
15
16
16
15
15
16
15
Feels °C
11
13
11
14
14
13
12
13
11
11
12
12
11
11
14
13
13
14
15
14
  • 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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