Frenchmans Reef surfForecast / NSW – Newcastle / Australia

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 9 pm Monday 04 May 2026 AEST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Frenchmans Reef surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Frenchmans Reef sea temperature is
22.7° C
(Which is 1.0°C warmer than normal for this time of year)

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 Tuesday (May 05) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 17s. 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 3.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (May 10) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 6s period and expected on Thursday (May 07) at 7PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Tue 5th May)7ft (2.1m) 10s
Best Surf 1AM (Tue 5th May)7ft (2.1m) 10s
Most Powerful 1AM (Sun 10th May)11ft (3.5m) 14s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 21°C on Tue morning, min 13°C on Thu afternoon). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSW on Tue night, fresh winds from the WSW by Thu afternoon).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Fri afternoon, min 8°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Thu night, calm by Sun morning).

Tuesday
5
Wednesday
6
Thursday
7
Friday
8
Saturday
9
Sunday
10
Mon
11
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Rating
(10 max)
!
3
1
3
3
1
1
2
1
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
3
3
!
Swell
Height Map
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
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<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.1
E
10
1.9
ENE
11
1.7
E
11
1.7
E
11
1.6
E
10
1.5
E
10
1.4
E
10
1.3
E
10
1.1
E
10
2.5
S
10
3
S
11
2.3
S
10
2.2
S
10
2.1
S
11
2.5
S
12
3.5
S
14
3
S
12
2.4
S
12
2
S
12
1.4
S
11
2.3
S
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
951
894
707
682
562
467
400
332
235
1334
1959
1146
1029
990
1680
4280
2507
1665
1079
466
1288
Wind (km/h)
10
WNW
15
WSW
15
SE
10
S
10
SSW
10
ENE
15
N
25
WNW
30
W
25
WSW
20
WNW
20
SW
10
W
10
SW
10
S
10
W
5
SW
20
SSE
15
SSW
25
SW
20
S
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
on
cross-off
off
off
off
off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross
off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
High Tide
10:37AM0.96m
10:35PM1.38m
11:21AM0.92m
11:13PM1.33m
12:11PM0.89m
11:55PM1.29m
1:06PM0.90m
00:44AM1.26m
2:06PM0.94m
1:41AM1.23m
3:05PM1.01m
2:43AM1.23m
3:59PM1.11m
Low Tide
4:49AM0.28m
4:00PM0.45m
5:32AM0.31m
4:37PM0.51m
6:17AM0.34m
5:23PM0.57m
7:05AM0.36m
6:19PM0.61m
7:54AM0.36m
7:25PM0.63m
8:43AM0.36m
8:34PM0.61m
9:31AM0.35m
mod rain
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:28
6:28
6:30
6:31
6:31
6:31
6:33
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:09
5:08
5:08
5:07
5:07
5:06
5:05
7
1
6
Temp °C
19
21
20
19
19
20
18
19
15
11
18
20
13
17
17
17
18
19
19
18
18
18
18
17
17
18
18
15
12
7
2
12
14
9
14
14
16
16
16
16
16
16
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.1
E
10
1.9
ENE
11
1.7
E
11
1.7
E
11
1.6
E
10
1.5
E
10
1.4
E
10
1.3
E
10
1.1
E
10
0.8
E
10
3
S
11
2.3
S
10
2.2
S
10
2.1
S
11
2.5
S
12
3.5
S
14
3
S
12
2.4
S
12
2
S
12
1.4
S
11
0.7
E
13
Energy kJ
951
894
707
682
562
467
400
332
235
120
1959
1146
1029
990
1680
4280
2507
1665
1079
466
156
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
S
17
0.1
S
16
0.5
S
5
0.2
S
18
0.5
S
10
0.7
S
8
0.5
S
7
0.3
S
6
0.2
S
11
0.6
E
10
0.5
E
11
0.5
E
11
0.5
E
11
0.5
E
11
0.4
ENE
11
0.5
E
12
0.6
E
12
0.7
E
12
0.7
E
12
0.8
E
13
Energy kJ
6
5
13
24
51
61
22
6
9
71
57
59
59
59
39
72
106
151
141
209
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
S
16
0.3
SSE
4
0.3
S
14
0.2
S
13
0.2
S
12
0.1
S
17
0.1
S
16
0.1
NE
10
0.1
N
10
0.8
E
13
Energy kJ
5
3
35
13
11
6
5
4
2
212
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
WNW
3
0.5
SSW
4
0.3
S
3
0.7
NE
4
0.5
W
3
1.2
SW
5
2.5
S
10
0.7
WSW
5
1.8
S
8
2.3
S
11
Energy kJ
3
9
2
14
5
71
1334
22
422
1288
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
3
3
3
2
2
3
2
2
2
2
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
2
3
4
Distance (km)
11
0
2
14
13
0
22
11
0
187
218
0
129
0
0
13
0
0
270
0
13
Best forecast wave conditions in Newcastle
Rating
(10 max)
3
4
4
3
3
3
3
2
2
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia
Rating
(10 max)
3
4
4
4
4
4
5
4
2
4
5
4
4
7
5
4
4
4
2
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
6
5
5
8
6
6
7
5
5
4
4
4
5
8
  • Map Icons:
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  • 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 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.

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