
Surf Forecasts:
Frenchmans Reef surf forecast from 11 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 16 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 9s period, S swell with cross-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 Frenchmans Reef this week:
The surf forecast for Frenchmans Reef 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 Frenchmans Reef in the next 16 days are 4.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Sat 12th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Wed 16th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Wed 16th Sep) | 15ft (4.5m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Frenchmans Reef over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Mon afternoon. Warm (max 24°C on Mon morning, min 12°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat morning, fresh winds from the NE by Sun afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), 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 | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | SSE 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 11 | S 10 | S 12 | NE 5 | NE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | S 6 | S 9 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 9 | S 9 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
497 | 320 | 198 | 164 | 184 | 136 | 132 | 124 | 172 | 59 | 38 | 264 | 1920 | 3951 | 3688 | 2399 | 1542 | 642 | 637 | 745 | 764 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | off | cross-off | on | glassy |
High Tide | 9:09PM1.39m | 9:32AM1.37m | 9:49PM1.29m | 10:11AM1.36m | 10:29PM1.16m | 10:50AM1.32m | 11:09PM1.03m | 11:31AM1.26m | 11:51PM0.91m | 12:14PM1.19m | 00:40AM0.81m | 1:03PM1.13m | 1:46AM0.74m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:59PM0.12m | 3:22AM0.10m | 3:45PM0.14m | 3:57AM0.16m | 4:31PM0.19m | 4:31AM0.22m | 5:19PM0.26m | 5:05AM0.30m | 6:09PM0.33m | 5:41AM0.38m | 7:06PM0.39m | 6:21AM0.45m | 8:11PM0.43m | ||||||||
5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | |
— | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 24 | 23 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 17 | 15 |
Feels °C | 16 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | SSE 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 11 | S 10 | S 12 | S 11 | NE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | NE 7 | NE 12 | — | ENE 13 | E 13 | S 18 | S 9 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 |
497 | 320 | 198 | 164 | 184 | 136 | 132 | 82 | 112 | 59 | 38 | 15 | 6 | — | 17 | 3 | 7 | 642 | 637 | 745 | 764 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 19 | S 18 | S 20 | S 17 | S 16 | ENE 13 | NE 6 | ENE 12 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | E 14 | E 15 | — | — | S 18 | E 13 | ESE 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 |
186 | 156 | 198 | 53 | 43 | 17 | 33 | 15 | 50 | 30 | 15 | 15 | 4 | — | — | 6 | 3 | 238 | 304 | 204 | 142 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 14 | ENE 14 | ENE 13 | ENE 13 | ENE 13 | S 18 | ENE 13 | — | E 12 | NE 13 | E 13 | S 17 | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 10 | S 18 | S 18 | S 18 |
19 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 6 | 17 | — | 12 | 6 | 14 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 95 | 6 | 25 | 54 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NE 4 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 5 | NE 6 | — | S 4 | S 6 | S 9 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 9 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | 34 | 14 | 74 | 120 | 75 | 124 | 172 | — | 6 | 264 | 1920 | 3951 | 3688 | 2399 | 1542 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 58 | 7 | 9 | 530 | 2 | 2 | 204 | 0 | 13 | 163 | 196 | 760 | 809 | 270 | 21 | 74 | 0 | 0 | 52 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Newcastle | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Frenchmans Reef Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Frenchmans Reef provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Frenchmans Reef can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Frenchmans Reef 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 (Frenchmans Reef) 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 Frenchmans Reef 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.
Frenchmans Reef is 8 km (5 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.










