Surf Forecasts:
Bar Beach surf forecast from 14 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 7s period, SE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 9s period, S swell with 340 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 15 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 7s 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 Saturday (Aug 15) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Bar Beach in the next 16 days are 1.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Sat 15th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bar Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, it’s Rusty here. Let's be honest, the next couple weeks are a straight-up test of character. There's a whole bunch of nothing on the horizon for Bar Beach before things finally wake up, and when they do, it’s gonna be a full-on freight train.
Right now, and through the middle of next week, it’s a total write-off. The swell is weak, barely a ripple in the wave energy department, and the wind refuses to play nice. We’ll see a few glassy mornings, like around the 19th and 20th, but the swell is just too small and weak to do anything. There's one clean day on the 21st with a light offshore wind, but it's only pushing 0.7m of short-period junk. It's a flat spell that’s gonna last a good 10 days. You might as well find a book to read.
Now, looking further out, the models are hinting at a change right around the 23rd and 24th. We'll see the energy climb a bit and the swell gets a little more interesting, up to a surfable 1-1.7m from the south, but it’s still going to be lumpy and disorganised. Another non-event for the most part.
But then we get to Monday, the 25th. This is the day. The energy readings just go through the roof, and we're looking at a powerful 2.5m south swell with a proper 10 to 11-second period. Forget it, this will be a big, serious day. The morning looks flawless with glassy conditions, making for some heavy, expert-only waves. If you have to ask if you're ready, you're not. This is one for the experienced crew.
Tuesday the 26th is still pumping with overhead swell, and the morning cross-off wind should keep it reasonably clean, offering another solid day for the specialists. The swell eases a bit into the 27th and 28th, but there are still some clean windows with offshore winds and chest to head-high waves. It’s a great finish to a long wait. Just remember, Bar Beach can get crowded, so getting there early will be key for any of those quality sessions.
Bottom line: save your energy, don't waste your time on the dribble. Circle the 25th and 26th on the calendar. It's still over a week out, so don’t book the time off just yet – but if that swell holds, we're in for a proper winter treat.
Rusty, out.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Sat night. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed afternoon, min 13°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | ||||||||||||||
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 7 | SSE 9 | S 9 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | SSE 18 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | E 7 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 165 | 109 | 173 | 340 | 208 | 181 | 102 | 143 | 120 | 113 | 136 | 99 | 105 | 126 | 96 | 127 | 122 | 83 | 75 | 72 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | glassy | cross | cross-on | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:32PM1.74m | 10:08AM1.45m | 10:14PM1.61m | 10:48AM1.45m | 10:54PM1.46m | 11:30AM1.42m | 11:35PM1.30m | 12:12PM1.39m | 00:16AM1.16m | 12:59PM1.36m | 1:04AM1.03m | 1:52PM1.34m | 2:06AM0.94m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:01AM0.12m | 4:02PM0.29m | 4:37AM0.19m | 4:49PM0.36m | 5:12AM0.28m | 5:38PM0.44m | 5:46AM0.37m | 6:30PM0.53m | 6:20AM0.46m | 7:31PM0.60m | 6:59AM0.54m | 8:45PM0.63m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | |  | |  | | | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — |
 | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — |
mm | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | — | 2 | — | — | — | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
Feels °C | 14 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | S 7 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 7 | SSE 18 | S 7 | S 8 | ESE 7 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | E 7 |
| kJ | 165 | 109 | 173 | 232 | 208 | 102 | 100 | 72 | 120 | 76 | 35 | 33 | 105 | 126 | 96 | 127 | 122 | 83 | 75 | 72 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SSE 19 | SSE 17 | E 10 | SSE 18 | S 11 | S 9 | SSW 13 | S 12 | SE 10 | S 11 | ESE 12 | ESE 10 | S 9 | — | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 |
| kJ | 17 | 17 | 17 | 70 | 101 | 8 | 102 | 40 | 104 | 53 | 25 | 23 | 56 | 81 | 95 | 14 | — | 3 | 2 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | SSE 19 | ENE 10 | E 10 | S 12 | S 12 | SE 7 | S 16 | — | SE 11 | S 12 | SE 14 | S 10 | S 10 | — | — | E 12 | — | — |
| kJ | 55 | 24 | 37 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 25 | 11 | 21 | — | 18 | 10 | 47 | 31 | 28 | — | — | 3 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | S 9 | — | SSE 6 | SE 6 | ESE 7 | — | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 3 | N 3 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 340 | — | 181 | 91 | 143 | — | 113 | 136 | 99 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 43 | 0 | 7 | 43 | 7 | 127 | 127 | 43 | 42 | 242 | 166 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 510 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Newcastle | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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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