Frenchmans Reef Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.10° S 151.66° E

Frenchmans Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 am 19 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Frenchmans Reef sea temperature is
17.4° C
1.0° 

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


Frenchmans Reef surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 6s period, NE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 10s period, E swell with 313 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 9s period with SE 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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 1.1m and 5s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Frenchmans Reef in the next 16 days are 1.3m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) 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 0.9m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 10AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4AM (Thu 20th Aug)2.5ft (0.7m) 9s
Best Surf10PM (Thu 20th Aug)5ft (1.6m) 6s
Most Powerful 4PM (Wed 19th Aug)4.5ft (1.3m) 10s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Frenchmans Reef over the next 16 days.


Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Warm (max 21°C on Thu morning, min 13°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Sat morning. Warm (max 23°C on Mon morning, min 14°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
2
1
1
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
ESE
10
1.3
E
10
0.8
SE
9
1
E
6
0.9
ENE
6
1.2
ENE
6
0.7
ENE
6
0.5
ENE
6
0.4
ENE
6
0.4
NE
6
0.4
NE
6
0.3
S
8
0.5
S
9
0.3
S
16
0.5
S
8
0.5
S
10
0.8
ENE
7
1.4
NE
6
1.1
ENE
7
0.9
ENE
8
0.8
ENE
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
94
313
95
81
57
113
35
22
14
9
9
12
40
44
33
44
56
157
124
101
80
Wind (km/h)
10
N
25
ENE
15
NNE
15
N
15
NNE
10
NW
15
NW
10
WNW
10
NW
5
WNW
10
ESE
5
S
5
E
20
ENE
15
NNE
15
NNW
20
NW
15
WNW
15
NNW
15
NW
15
SW
Wind State
cross
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
glassy
glassy
on
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
12:58PM1.15m
1:07AM0.85m
1:53PM1.11m
2:10AM0.75m
2:56PM1.09m
3:39AM0.70m
4:02PM1.11m
5:05AM0.73m
4:58PM1.15m
5:58AM0.79m
5:45PM1.21m
6:36AM0.87m
6:25PM1.28m
Low Tide
7:34PM0.41m
7:08AM0.37m
8:46PM0.45m
7:56AM0.43m
10:07PM0.44m
8:53AM0.46m
11:14PM0.39m
9:56AM0.46m
00:00AM0.32m
10:56AM0.44m
00:36AM0.25m
11:49AM0.39m
1:08AM0.18m
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
light rain
light rain
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
light rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:26
6:26
6:24
6:24
6:22
6:22
6:20
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:25
5:27
5:28
5:28
5:29
5:30
5:30
 mm
1
2
1
1
3
Temp °C
17
17
15
21
20
19
20
21
15
15
16
16
17
17
16
23
23
19
21
17
15
Feels °C
14
13
12
17
17
17
17
18
14
15
15
16
15
14
14
19
20
18
18
15
14
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
How to use the Wavefinder 
submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Frenchmans Reef:

join our community of surf reporters

FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Frenchmans Reef surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


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.

Nearest locationNearest