
Surf Forecasts:
Nobbys Reef surf forecast from 23 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 13s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 14s period, S swell with 1,640 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 24 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 13s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Nobbys Reef this week:
The surf forecast for Nobbys Reef over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Nobbys Reef in the next 16 days are 2.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) 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 0.4m 3s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 25) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Fri 24th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Fri 24th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Nobbys Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s coming up for Nobbys Reef.
Alright, we’ve got a bit of a slow start, but don’t write it off just yet. The first few days are pretty average, but the real action is shaping up for the tail end of the week. The first run of decent waves comes in on Saturday morning, the 25th of July. We’re looking at a solid 6ft southerly swell with a period of 12 seconds, and the wind is forecast to be a clean offshore from the WNW at 9 mph. The combined energy of all swells directed here is a moderate 770, so there’s plenty of push. This is a reef break, so that long-period groundswell is going to wrap in nicely, offering up some proper shapes. The water temp is sitting around 65°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so you won’t need a full winter suit if you’ve got a decent steamer.
Sunday morning, the 26th, is also looking good. The swell drops a touch to 5ft from the south, with an 11-second period, but the wind is a cross-off from the WNW at 6 mph, keeping it clean. The energy is still moderate at 570. This is a spot that can get crowded, so if you’re keen, get in early.
Now, there’s a real lull in the middle of the week. From Monday afternoon all the way through to Friday, the first of August, it’s pretty dismal. The swell drops right off, and when it does show up, the wind is mostly onshore or cross-on, making for choppy, messy conditions. It's a solid five-day gap with nothing worth paddling out for.
But hold on to your boards, because the standout is coming in on Sunday, the 2nd of August. The forecast is for a massive 13ft southerly swell with a 12-second period. The energy is off the charts at 8233. The wind is a light offshore from the NW at 3 mph, so it’s clean. But I gotta be real with you—this is a reef break, and 13ft is way too big for anyone but the most experienced experts. The swell is predicted to be too big for this break, so don’t even think about it unless you’ve got serious skills and a bigger board. Monday morning, the 3rd, is still huge at 10ft, but the wind is cross-on, making it a messy, dangerous situation.
The week after that is a bit of a mixed bag. There’s some decent energy around the 6th and 7th of August, with swells in the 7ft to 7ft range from the ESE, but the wind is mostly cross-on, so the quality will be marginal. The best bet in that second week is Saturday morning, the 8th of August. The swell drops to a more manageable 4ft from the ESE, with an 11-second period, and the wind is a light cross-off from the WSW at 3 mph. The energy is a moderate 437, and it should be clean. It’s not a stand-out classic, but it’s the best you’ll see in that second week.
So, to sum it up: the first few days are a warm-up, but Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th of July are your best bets for a proper session. Then there’s a long break, and the big swell on the 2nd of August is for experts only. Keep an eye on the forecasts, because things can change.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat afternoon, min 6°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Mon 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 | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 10 | S 14 | S 12 | S 10 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | SSE 8 | S 16 | S 18 | S 9 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | S 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
464 | 400 | 1640 | 760 | 426 | 279 | 566 | 461 | 290 | 211 | 211 | 133 | 76 | 49 | 22 | 21 | 24 | 332 | 118 | 80 | 86 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | off | off | off | off | cross-off | on | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 4:35PM1.45m | 5:04AM0.98m | 5:25PM1.52m | 6:05AM1.02m | 6:09PM1.59m | 6:54AM1.08m | 6:51PM1.65m | 7:37AM1.15m | 7:30PM1.70m | 8:16AM1.21m | 8:08PM1.73m | 8:53AM1.27m | 8:45PM1.73m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:38PM0.58m | 10:24AM0.58m | 00:26AM0.50m | 11:18AM0.57m | 1:07AM0.42m | 12:09PM0.54m | 1:43AM0.34m | 12:56PM0.51m | 2:18AM0.27m | 1:40PM0.47m | 2:52AM0.21m | 2:22PM0.45m | 3:26AM0.19m | ||||||||
6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | |
— | 5:08 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:13 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 8 |
Temp °C | 13 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 14 |
Feels °C | 9 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 10 | S 14 | S 12 | S 10 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 18 | S 9 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | S 8 |
464 | 400 | 1640 | 760 | 426 | 279 | 566 | 461 | 290 | 211 | 211 | 133 | 76 | 49 | 22 | 5 | 24 | 332 | 118 | 80 | 86 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | NE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 13 | E 12 | SE 16 | SE 16 | SE 15 | S 15 | S 16 | S 8 | S 17 | SSE 16 | SSE 14 | ESE 5 |
14 | 13 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 18 | 21 | 1 | 5 | 50 | 64 | 17 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | SSE 19 | E 9 | NE 8 | E 8 | NE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | — | E 8 | E 8 | E 11 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 15 | SE 6 | SE 13 | E 13 | S 11 | S 10 | S 12 |
2 | 35 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 29 | 71 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | WNW 3 | — | WNW 2 | — | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | — | NNW 2 | — | — | S 3 | — | — | ESE 5 | — |
— | — | — | 3 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | 4 | — | — | 17 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 10 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 0 | 0 | 81 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 174 | 44 | 42 | 9 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Newcastle | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Nobbys Reef Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Nobbys Reef provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Nobbys Reef can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Nobbys 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 (Nobbys 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 Nobbys 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.
Are you planning a holiday in Newcastle? If you are looking for accommodation near Nobbys Reef, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Newcastle, consider staying in Newcastle which is 3 km (2 miles) away. Other places in and around Newcastle where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Catherine Hill Bay which is 31 km (19 miles) away, Port Stephens, Cessnock and Central Coast.










