Lakes Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.25° S 151.56° E

Lakes Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 am 20 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Lakes Beach sea temperature is
18.8° C
0.5° 

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 19 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 20 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 11s period, ENE swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 20 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 11s period, ENE swell with 862 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 11s period with ENE 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 Monday (Jul 20) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 12s. 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 1.9m 11s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 20) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 23) at 10PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7AM (Mon 20th Jul)6ft (1.9m) 11s
Best Surf10AM (Mon 20th Jul)6ft (1.9m) 11s
Most Powerful10AM (Mon 20th Jul)6ft (1.9m) 11s

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 cards for Lakes Beach over the next couple of weeks.

The forecast starts with a couple of days of messy, onshore junk, but we push through to a pretty tidy run of S/SE groundswell from Thursday the 24th onwards. The standout window is the weekend of the 26th and 27th of July, with a solid, consistent S swell and clean conditions.

We kick off on Monday the 20th. The morning has a nice 6ft ENE swell with glassy conditions, but it's a bit of a tease – the wind swings onshore by the afternoon and Tuesday is a write-off with cross-onshore slop. Wednesday the 22nd offers a brief reprieve with a clean 4ft swell and a light cross-offshore breeze, but it's small.

The real action starts on Thursday the 24th of July. The morning brings a clean 7ft S swell under offshore WSW wind. The energy is moderate. Friday the 25th morning is a beauty: 5ft S swell, but it's a long-period 12-second groundswell with a solid 12 mph offshore wind. That's clean, lined-up waves. Saturday the 26th and Sunday the 27th are the pick of the bunch. Saturday morning has a 6ft S swell with 11-second period and light offshore wind, giving you clean, punchy waves. The energy is strong. Sunday morning is similar – another 6ft S swell, offshore wind, clean. The break is described as "fairly consistent" and exposed to the swell, but it's an advanced wave, so crowds are possible here.

The following week gets a bit tricky. From Monday the 28th through to Wednesday the 30th, the swell drops and the wind gets messy. Monday the 28th is small and clean, but nothing to write home about.

Then we get a massive pulse of S swell arriving on Thursday the 30th of July. The morning swell hits 8ft with a 14-second period, and the energy is pumping hard. The wind is offshore, but the swell is too big for this break, pushing 10ft in the afternoon. That's for experts only, and even then, it's a gamble. The swell stays above 7ft through to Saturday the 1st of August, with strong energy but plenty of cross-offshore wind. The window from the 30th to the 1st is really only for the very experienced.

The run fades out early in the week of the 4th of August, with the swell dropping back to 5-5ft and the wind staying cross-offshore. It's rideable, but ordinary.

So, to wrap it up: the best bet is the weekend of the 26th and 27th of July. Hit the Saturday morning for the cleanest, most powerful S swell. The following Friday (31st) morning is a sleeper, but it's big. The rest of the second week is a bit of a struggle, with the massive swell being a bit too much of a good thing.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed morning, min 12°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu afternoon, min 8°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Thu afternoon, calm by Fri morning).

Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
4
1
2
1
0
1
2
0
0
1
1
2
3
1
2
3
3
3
3
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)
1.9
ENE
11
1.8
ENE
11
1.6
ENE
10
1.5
ENE
10
1.2
ENE
10
1.3
ENE
10
1.1
ENE
10
1
ENE
10
0.9
ENE
9
0.8
ENE
9
0.8
ENE
9
1.5
SSW
6
2
S
10
1.6
S
9
1.2
S
12
1.4
S
12
1.2
S
12
1.6
S
12
1.7
S
11
1.7
S
11
1.6
S
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
862
763
501
416
294
312
210
193
124
92
90
167
740
407
383
520
396
738
698
649
464
Wind (km/h)
5
ESE
15
NE
10
NNW
10
N
15
NE
10
NNW
10
WNW
10
ESE
15
W
15
WSW
10
SSW
20
WSW
10
WSW
10
ENE
25
WNW
20
WSW
15
SSW
15
WSW
10
WSW
15
SE
10
WSW
Wind State
glassy
on
cross
cross-on
on
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
off
on
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
off
cross
off
High Tide
12:59PM1.28m
00:51AM1.17m
1:51PM1.29m
1:47AM1.03m
2:45PM1.31m
2:53AM0.93m
3:42PM1.32m
4:06AM0.89m
4:36PM1.36m
5:13AM0.89m
5:27PM1.40m
6:08AM0.93m
6:12PM1.46m
Low Tide
7:01PM0.48m
7:10AM0.31m
8:11PM0.53m
7:53AM0.39m
9:26PM0.53m
8:42AM0.45m
10:38PM0.50m
9:37AM0.49m
11:38PM0.44m
10:34AM0.49m
00:26AM0.38m
11:27AM0.47m
1:07AM0.32m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:52
6:52
6:52
6:50
6:50
6:50
6:50
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:06
5:07
5:07
5:07
5:08
5:09
5:09
 mm
2
Temp °C
15
15
15
15
16
15
19
18
18
18
19
11
13
14
10
17
18
14
16
15
15
Feels °C
14
13
13
12
13
12
16
14
14
14
15
4
11
9
3
13
14
9
13
12
15
  • 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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