Lakes Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.25° S 151.56° E

Lakes Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 am 24 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Lakes Beach sea temperature is
18.3° C
0.0° 

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


Lakes Beach surf forecast from 24 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 13s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 14s period, S swell with 2,037 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 24 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 9s period with S swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Lakes Beach this week:

The surf forecast for Lakes Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Lakes Beach in the next 16 days are 2.3m 14s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) 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 1.1m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 4PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1PM (Fri 24th Jul)5ft (1.6m) 9s
Best Surf10PM (Fri 24th Jul)7ft (2.1m) 13s
Most Powerful 1AM (Sat 25th Jul)7.5ft (2.3m) 14s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s break it down.

Starting off strong at Lakes Beach on Friday the 24th of July. The water’s at 65°F – dead average for the season, nothing weird.

Friday morning delivers a clean 6ft south swell, 10-second period, with a moderate offshore breeze from the southwest. The combined energy is 623 – that’s a solid amount of push. It’s an exposed beach break, so it’ll handle the power. This is a top session. The afternoon gets a bit chopped with a cross-shore, so get on it early.

Saturday the 25th is even better. Morning sees a 6ft south swell with a longer 11-second period, bumping the energy to 834. A light WNW cross-offshore keeps it clean. This is proper groundswell – better shape, more power, longer waits between sets. The standout is Saturday morning. The afternoon drops to 5ft and goes glassy with a NE wind. Perfect for a late session, but the energy is lower.

Sunday the 26th is another cracker. 6ft south swell, 11-second period, light WSW offshore, energy at 707. Clean and punchy. The afternoon turns cross-onshore, so morning is the call.

Monday the 27th is smaller – 4ft south swell, glassy in the morning with a light NW wind. Energy is down to 265. More of a funboard day. Afternoon goes onshore and messy.

Tuesday the 28th is a dud. 3ft swell, weak energy (86), cross-shore wind. Wednesday the 29th is tiny – 0.5ft swell, 16-second period but no height. Rain showers. That’s a two-day dry spell.

Thursday the 30th bounces back. 4ft SSE swell, short 7-second period (windswell), but a clean cross-offshore wind. Energy at 224 – rideable and clean.

Friday the 31st is a gem. 4ft south swell, 11-second period, light offshore from the SW. Energy at 247. Clean, lined up. The afternoon stays clean with a cross-offshore. Sneaky good.

Then we hit a big gap. From the 1st of August, the surf goes flat or tiny. Then Sunday the 2nd of August throws a monster – 15ft south swell, 12-second period, energy at 5159. That’s enormous. But for a beach break, that’s way too big for paddle surfing – it’s a washing machine. Glassy wind, but the swell is overwhelming. Same story for Monday the 3rd (10ft) and the rest of the week. There’s a long stretch of oversized, messy, or onshore conditions from the 2nd through the 7th. The energy numbers are huge (1380, 1791, etc.), but the quality for a regular surfer is poor.

The light at the end is Saturday the 8th of August. The swell drops to a manageable 5ft from the ESE, 11-second period, light cross-offshore from the SW, energy at 426. Clean, well-sized, and a relief. That’s the standout for the second week.

So, best surf: Friday morning the 24th, Saturday morning the 25th, and Sunday morning the 26th. Then a gap of flat days, a few small clean sessions, then a huge run of oversized, unsurfable swell from the 2nd to the 7th. The late-saver is Saturday the 8th of August. Plan around that.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat afternoon, min 7°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Warm (max 20°C on Tue afternoon, min 12°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
Monday
27
Tuesday
28
Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
!
3
2
2
3
1
2
2
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
2
1
2
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.8
S
10
1.7
S
10
2.3
S
14
1.9
S
11
1.5
S
10
1.4
S
11
1.8
S
11
1.8
S
10
1.5
S
10
1.2
S
9
1.1
S
9
0.9
S
8
0.6
S
9
0.5
S
8
0.2
S
15
0.3
S
7
0.2
S
13
1.7
S
8
1.5
S
7
1.7
S
10
1.4
S
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
587
555
2037
920
486
459
783
687
426
235
185
116
55
35
17
8
13
355
246
535
349
Wind (km/h)
20
SW
10
SSE
15
WNW
15
WNW
5
NE
10
W
10
SSW
10
SE
5
SW
0
SSW
10
E
10
NNW
10
NW
15
NNW
20
W
20
SW
25
SSE
15
SSW
20
SW
25
S
15
SW
Wind State
off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
glassy
glassy
on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
High Tide
4:36PM1.36m
5:13AM0.89m
5:27PM1.40m
6:08AM0.93m
6:12PM1.46m
6:53AM0.97m
6:54PM1.52m
7:33AM1.02m
7:32PM1.57m
8:10AM1.07m
8:08PM1.60m
8:46AM1.11m
8:43PM1.60m
Low Tide
11:38PM0.44m
10:34AM0.49m
00:26AM0.38m
11:27AM0.47m
1:07AM0.32m
12:15PM0.43m
1:44AM0.26m
12:57PM0.39m
2:19AM0.21m
1:38PM0.36m
2:52AM0.17m
2:16PM0.34m
3:24AM0.14m
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:50
6:50
6:50
6:48
6:48
6:48
6:47
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:08
5:09
5:09
5:10
5:12
5:12
5:13
 mm
4
1
Temp °C
13
13
13
16
18
16
15
16
16
15
15
16
19
20
15
15
15
13
14
14
14
Feels °C
8
9
10
13
16
12
12
14
15
14
14
14
17
15
9
10
9
9
8
8
8
  • 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 Lakes Beach Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Lakes Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Lakes Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Lakes 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 (Lakes 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 Lakes 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.

Lakes Beach is 11 km (7 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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