Bar Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 32.94° S 151.78° E

Bar Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 am 13 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Bar Beach sea temperature is
18.3°C
0.3° 

Bar Beach surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Bar Beach surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 18 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 9s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 10s period, S swell with 2,946 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 14 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 10s period with S swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Bar Beach this week:

The surf forecast for Bar Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 14) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 1.1m and 6s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Bar Beach in the next 16 days are 4.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 17) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 19) at 10PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Mon 14th Sep)2.5ft (0.7m) 10s
Best Surf 1AM (Fri 18th Sep)6.5ft (2.0m) 9s
Most Powerful 7AM (Thu 17th Sep)13ft (4.0m) 10s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bar Beach over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what’s coming our way over the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a slow burner, so let’s get into it.

The first real action we see kicks off on Sunday the 13th of September, but honestly, it’s nothing to get too worked up about. We’ve got a small 3 ft SSE swell rolling in with a period of 9 seconds, so the energy is just moderate (206). The wind is a light cross-offshore from the NNE at 6 mph, so the surface should be clean. It’s surfable, but it’s not the standout. The water temp is sitting at 65°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year. Crowds are likely at Bar Beach though, so keep that in mind.

Monday the 14th sees a similar story – a bit smaller at 2 ft from the S, with a longer 12-second period giving it a bit more grunt (158). Morning winds are light and cross-off from the N, so it’ll be clean again. Still, it’s ordinary, not special.

Tuesday the 15th drops right off. The swell fades to 1 ft, and while the morning is offshore from the NW, there’s just no juice (45). The afternoon gets messy with a short-period onshore breeze and a 4-second windswell. This is a solid gap day.

Wednesday the 16th is where things turn a bit wild. We get a big jump in size to 8 ft from the S by morning, but it’s a messy cross-shore wind from the SSW at 22 mph. The combined energy is massive (1211), but the wind is just tearing it up. By the afternoon it’s 12 ft and cross-onshore – that’s big, ugly, and only for the hardcore, or honestly, more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing at a beach setup like this.

Thursday the 17th stays big with 12 ft from the S in the morning, but again, strong cross-shore winds (4050 energy). It’s not going to be pretty. The afternoon drops to 8 ft but stays cross-onshore and choppy.

Now, Friday the 18th is our first real standout. The swell drops to a much more manageable 4 ft from the S, and the wind finally plays ball – light offshore from the NW at 6 mph. The energy is moderate (353), and it’s clean. This is the morning to get out if you can. It’s not huge, but the quality will be there.

Saturday the 19th morning is another good one. A 3 ft SE swell with a nice 11-second period (387) and light offshore wind from the WNW. Clean, lined-up waves. The period is long enough to give them some push, but it might make the beach break a bit straight. Still, it’s a solid option.

After Saturday, we hit another quiet patch. Sunday the 20th is tiny (1 ft), and the following week is mostly small, onshore, or wind-affected. Monday the 21st brings a bigger 8 ft SSE swell but with a messy cross-onshore wind again. Not recommended for the average surfer.

The best of the bunch is the morning of Friday the 18th and Saturday the 19th. After that, keep an eye on Tuesday the 22nd morning – 4 ft from the SSE with light offshore wind (237 energy). Clean, but not as strong. And then there’s a long-range possibility on Monday the 28th of September – a 7 ft S swell with a long 11-second period and light wind. That’s over two weeks away, so treat it as promising but not locked in.

Overall, don’t expect a classic run. There’s a lot of wind and chop in between the clean windows. Get on it Friday or Saturday morning if you can.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 24°C on Mon morning, min 11°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNE on Sun morning, strong winds from the SSW by Tue night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri morning, min 10°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Wed morning, light winds from the NW by Fri morning).

Sunday
13
Monday
14
Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
Thursday
17
Friday
18
Saturday
19
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
0
2
1
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
2
0
3
2
0
3
2
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
SSE
9
0.8
S
11
0.7
S
10
0.7
S
12
0.6
S
11
1
NE
6
0.4
SSE
10
0.8
ESE
4
2.3
S
7
2.5
S
9
3.5
S
10
3.5
S
10
3.5
S
10
2.5
SSE
10
2
SSE
9
1.2
S
9
1.2
S
9
1.1
SE
10
0.9
SE
11
0.8
SE
9
0.6
ESE
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
115
143
100
132
85
75
31
16
483
1198
2825
2572
2269
1287
631
215
210
248
198
99
56
Wind (km/h)
10
NNE
30
ENE
15
N
10
N
20
NE
15
N
15
NW
15
SE
40
SSW
35
SSW
35
SSW
35
SSW
25
SW
25
SSW
10
W
10
NW
20
ENE
15
WNW
10
WNW
15
E
15
WNW
Wind State
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
off
on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-off
off
cross
cross-off
off
cross-on
off
High Tide
9:47PM1.46m
10:10AM1.53m
10:25PM1.32m
10:48AM1.50m
11:03PM1.19m
11:27AM1.46m
11:44PM1.07m
12:11PM1.41m
00:35AM0.98m
1:02PM1.36m
1:45AM0.92m
2:03PM1.34m
3:16AM0.92m
Low Tide
3:43PM0.24m
3:53AM0.24m
4:26PM0.31m
4:24AM0.32m
5:12PM0.39m
4:55AM0.41m
6:01PM0.48m
5:28AM0.51m
6:59PM0.55m
6:08AM0.59m
8:08PM0.59m
7:03AM0.67m
9:25PM0.58m
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
light rain
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:56
5:54
5:52
5:50
5:50
5:48
5:47
<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
2
1
Temp °C
19
20
17
24
23
22
24
18
14
13
14
14
13
14
14
19
19
16
24
23
20
Feels °C
15
14
13
20
19
19
20
17
7
4
5
5
6
8
11
16
14
13
20
18
17
  • 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 Bar Beach Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Bar Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Bar Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Bar Beach 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 (Bar Beach) 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 Bar Beach 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.

Are you planning a holiday in Newcastle? If you are looking for accommodation near Bar Beach, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Newcastle, consider staying in Newcastle which is 2 km (1 miles) away. Other places in and around Newcastle where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Catherine Hill Bay which is 29 km (18 miles) away, Port Stephens, Cessnock and Central Coast.

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