Lakes Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.25° S 151.56° E

Lakes Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 pm 18 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Lakes Beach sea temperature is
17.5° C
0.8° 

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 18 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 10s period, ESE swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 10s period, E swell with 267 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 11s period with ESE 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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Lakes Beach in the next 16 days are 1.2m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 1AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4AM (Wed 19th Aug)2.5ft (0.7m) 11s
Best Surf 7AM (Wed 19th Aug)2.5ft (0.7m) 10s
Most Powerful 4PM (Wed 19th Aug)4ft (1.2m) 10s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the table for Lakes Beach. It's a bit of a mixed bag, so I'll tell you straight up.

Overall, the pattern is pretty flat and uninspiring for the first week and a half. We've got a long stretch of small, weak, and messy conditions. The wind is mostly onshore or cross-shore, and the swell is short period, offering nothing worth paddling out for. The water temp is sitting at 64°, which is about 1° cooler than normal for this time of year, so nothing unusual there.

The first real hint of anything interesting doesn't pop up until the morning of Friday the 29th of August. We'll see a bit of a pulse of south swell, around 3ft, with clean conditions thanks to a moderate offshore wind. The combined energy is moderate at 359, but it's still small. The afternoon pushes up to 5ft with a 12-second period and strong energy (696), but it's cross-offshore and a bit more marginal.

Now, the standout is the morning of Sunday, the 30th of August. This is the one to circle on the calendar. A massive 8ft south swell with a very long 18-second period is forecast, and the energy is pumping at a massive 6612. The wind is light and offshore from the SSW, keeping it clean. But here's the thing – that's a lot of juice for a beach break. A long period groundswell like this can be a bit too straight and powerful for the banks here. This is strictly for experienced surfers only. Beginners, stay on the sand. It might even be more interesting for the kite crew than paddle surfers.

The following Monday morning, the 31st of August, the swell drops to a more manageable 6ft with a 12-second period, and it's glassy. That's excellent surf for experienced surfers, with plenty of energy (1108) and clean conditions. After that, we're back to fading small swell and onshore winds into the first days of September.

So, the call is this: There's a huge gap of nothing until the 29th. The best bet for the experienced crew is the big, clean swell on the 30th of August, but with the caveat that it's a beast. For a more manageable but still punchy session, the glassy morning of the 31st of August is your best pick.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 21°C on Fri morning, min 13°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Mon morning, min 14°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Tue
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
1
2
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.2
ESE
7
1
ESE
8
0.7
ESE
10
1.2
E
10
0.8
SE
9
0.9
E
6
1
E
6
1
ENE
6
0.8
ENE
6
0.6
ENE
6
0.4
ENE
6
0.4
NE
6
0.4
NE
6
0.4
NE
6
0.4
NE
9
0.8
S
9
0.4
S
12
0.6
S
10
0.6
S
11
0.7
ENE
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
128
140
94
267
95
66
81
85
45
25
14
9
9
12
25
95
41
66
79
67
Wind (km/h)
15
E
10
ENE
5
NNE
20
NE
20
NNE
10
N
15
NE
10
WNW
10
NNW
5
SE
10
NW
5
NW
5
N
5
S
10
ENE
15
ENE
15
N
10
NNW
15
NNW
10
WSW
Wind State
on
on
glassy
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
glassy
on
on
cross-on
cross
cross
off
High Tide
00:11AM1.08m
12:52PM1.32m
1:05AM0.96m
1:49PM1.28m
2:17AM0.88m
2:54PM1.27m
3:41AM0.86m
4:01PM1.29m
4:54AM0.89m
4:58PM1.35m
5:47AM0.94m
5:46PM1.42m
Low Tide
6:25PM0.44m
6:11AM0.39m
7:30PM0.50m
6:53AM0.47m
8:46PM0.53m
7:49AM0.53m
10:05PM0.51m
8:59AM0.56m
11:10PM0.46m
10:09AM0.54m
11:58PM0.39m
11:07AM0.50m
00:37AM0.32m
part cloud
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
light rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:28
6:26
6:26
6:24
6:22
6:22
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:25
5:27
5:27
5:28
5:29
5:29
5:30
 mm
2
5
Temp °C
16
16
16
16
16
20
20
20
21
19
16
17
18
16
17
17
16
22
24
19
Feels °C
13
14
13
12
12
15
17
18
20
18
16
16
17
15
15
15
13
19
20
18
  • 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 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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