Bar Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 32.94° S 151.78° E

Bar Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 am 29 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Bar Beach sea temperature is
18.2° 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 28 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 30 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 10s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 31 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 11s period, S swell with 914 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 30 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 11s 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 Thursday (Jul 30) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 6s. 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 1.9m 11s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 31) 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 0.5m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 10AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7AM (Thu 30th Jul)4.5ft (1.4m) 11s
Best Surf10AM (Thu 30th Jul)6ft (1.8m) 10s
Most Powerful 1AM (Fri 31st Jul)6ft (1.9m) 11s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, this is Rusty. Let’s talk about Bar Beach. We’ve got a bit of a mixed bag over the next sixteen days, but there are a couple of sessions that are really gonna fire.

Right now, the start is dead flat. Wednesday morning has barely a ripple with a 0.7ft swell from the south, but a 25 km/h wind from the WNW is keeping it clean. Still, you’re not getting wet for anything worthwhile. The water’s sitting at 65°, which is about average for this time of year.

Thursday morning, July 30, things start to wake up. The swell jumps to 6ft from the south, with a period of 10 seconds and a combined energy of 609 (moderate). The wind is a gentle WSW breeze at 15 km/h, blowing cross-offshore, so the waves will be clean. That’s a good session for a confident beginner – the 6ft is a bit pushy for a total beginner, but it’s not too big. Expect a few people in the water, as crowds are often there.

Friday morning, July 31, is another solid look. You’ve got a 6ft south swell, period of 11 seconds, and combined energy of 651 (moderate). The wind is a gentle 15 km/h from the SW, blowing cross-shore, so there’s a little bit of chop, but it’s still surfable. The water’s still around average.

Saturday morning, August 1, is a standout. The wind drops to glassy conditions – 5 km/h from the WSW – and the swell is 5ft from the SSE, with a 10-second period and combined energy of 404 (moderate). This is going to be clean and really fun under the clear sky. For a beginner-friendly spot, this is your peak.

Sunday morning, August 2, is also very good. The swell is 5ft from the SSE, period of 12 seconds (long period groundswell), and combined energy of 512 (moderate). The wind is light at 10 km/h from the NNW, cross-offshore, keeping it clean. The longer period means the waves will have more shape and energy, with longer lulls between sets. At a beach break like Bar Beach, that long period can make the waves run a bit straight, but the clean conditions will make up for it.

After that, the surf drops off through the week. Wednesday morning, August 5, has a 5ft south swell with a 9-second period, and a light 5 km/h wind from the west, cross-offshore, so it’s clean but small. Combined energy is 333 (moderate).

The next true standout hits on Thursday morning, August 6. The swell is 6ft from the south, period of 9 seconds, combined energy of 988 (moderate). The wind is light at 10 km/h from the WSW, cross-offshore, so it’s clean again. That’s a solid session for anyone.

Now, we’ve got a gap of a few days where the surf is messy or smaller. But then we get to the big one: Wednesday morning, August 12. This is the best of the entire outlook. The swell is 8ft from the south, with a period of 11 seconds, and the combined energy is 1393 (strong). The wind is glassy – just 5 km/h from the north. That’s a clean, powerful swell. For experienced surfers, this is excellent. For beginners, 8ft is getting too big, so stick to the smaller days.

And then Thursday morning, August 13, is a massive swell event. The swell is 12ft from the SSE, period of 10 seconds, and combined energy is 2105 (very strong). The wind is a fresh 30 km/h from the NW, blowing offshore, so it’s clean but that’s big, powerful, and dangerous. This is for experts only. The afternoon pushes even more energy with a 10ft south swell and combined energy of 3347 (very strong). The wind turns lighter, but the size is still extreme. If you’re not a very experienced big-wave surfer, stay on the sand.

Overall, the best on offer is Wednesday morning, August 12, for the glassy, clean, powerful 8ft south swell. The second best is Saturday morning, August 1, for the glassy, fun 5ft SSE swell. Everything else is hit or miss, with a lot of small or windy days in between.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed morning, min 9°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Mon morning, min 8°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
Friday
31
Saturday
1
Sunday
2
Monday
3
Tuesday
4
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
3
0
3
2
1
3
2
0
3
3
0
2
1
1
0
0
0
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
S
18
0.1
S
16
1.2
SSW
6
1.8
S
10
1.5
S
9
1.9
S
11
1.7
S
11
2.1
S
10
1.7
S
10
1.5
SSE
10
1.5
SSE
10
1.5
SSE
10
1.4
SSE
12
1.2
SSE
11
0.9
SSE
10
0.9
SE
10
0.8
SE
10
0.6
SE
10
0.4
SE
11
0.4
SE
11
0.9
S
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
24
5
107
605
367
914
646
884
561
399
416
448
500
305
171
167
117
73
30
29
189
Wind (km/h)
25
WNW
30
WSW
15
WSW
15
WSW
15
S
5
WNW
15
SW
20
S
5
ENE
5
WSW
15
E
10
NNE
10
NNW
15
ENE
10
NNW
15
NW
20
NW
15
W
15
W
10
SSE
10
W
Wind State
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross-on
glassy
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
8:08PM1.73m
8:53AM1.27m
8:45PM1.73m
9:29AM1.31m
9:21PM1.70m
10:05AM1.34m
9:59PM1.64m
10:41AM1.36m
10:37PM1.56m
11:20AM1.38m
11:20PM1.46m
12:03PM1.40m
00:08AM1.34m
Low Tide
1:40PM0.47m
2:52AM0.21m
2:22PM0.45m
3:26AM0.19m
3:02PM0.43m
3:59AM0.19m
3:43PM0.42m
4:33AM0.21m
4:27PM0.43m
5:07AM0.25m
5:14PM0.45m
5:44AM0.30m
6:09PM0.48m
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:46
6:45
6:45
6:43
6:43
6:41
6:41
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:12
5:13
5:13
5:14
5:15
5:15
5:15
 mm
2
Temp °C
18
18
12
13
14
14
14
15
15
16
16
16
17
17
16
20
20
15
14
15
14
Feels °C
13
11
6
10
10
12
10
10
14
14
12
13
15
14
13
15
15
10
10
11
11
  • 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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