
Surf Forecasts:
Nobbys Reef surf forecast from 4 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 10 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, SSE swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 10 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SSE swell with 3,275 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 4 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 8s 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 (Sep 04) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 4s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Nobbys Reef in the next 16 days are 3.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 10) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Friday (Sep 04) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Thu 10th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Nobbys Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, mate. Rusty here with your fortnight-plus look at what’s coming our way for a special little slab we've got.
First thing to note: the next week or so is a weird one for Nobbys Reef. This is an exposed, advanced-level reef break that's inconsistent, but when it lines up, it can be pure magic. The water temp is sitting at 65°, which is pretty much dead-nuts average for this time of year, so no surprises on that front.
The Friday morning kicks things off with a small, glassy pulse. We’re looking at a clean 3ft south swell, with a nice 12-second period that’ll give it some push. The wind is dead calm, making for a glassy surface. The combined swell energy is moderate at best (209), so it’s not a world-beater, but for an inconsistent slab like this, you take what you can get. That morning window is your tiny golden ticket before the afternoon gets ruined by a 12 mph cross-shore.
Saturday and Sunday are write-offs. Tiny swell, bumpy winds, just not worth paddling out. Monday morning offers a bit of redemption: a 5ft south swell with glassy conditions again (209 swell energy), but it drops off hard in the afternoon. You’d need to be on it early.
Then things get serious. Tuesday the 8th brings a pulse of 8ft swell from the SSE, but the energy jumps to 1044, which is solid. The catch? It's choppy and cross-onshore. It’s not going to be a pretty wave. For a reef, that’s a tough look unless you’re a masochist.
The standout window? Wednesday the 9th morning. We’ve got a 5ft SSE swell with a 10-second period, and the wind is offshore from the NW. That’s clean, offshore conditions on a reef that likes a bit of direction. The energy is moderate (469), but the quality from the offshore breeze makes it a genuine goer. This is the pick of the first week.
Thursday the 10th sees the swell spike to a mighty 10ft from the SSE. That’s heavy, and the forecast actually says it might be too big for this break. The wind is a fresh cross-shore (19 mph), and the energy is pumping at 1741. That’s not a paddle session; that’s a survival mission. Only for the most experienced, and even then, it’s iffy.
The following days drop back into the 5ft to 8ft range but with messy cross-onshore winds. There’s a glimmer on Saturday the 12th morning with a 5ft SSE groundswell (12-second period) and a gentle cross-shore, but it’s still marginal. Honestly, after Wednesday, the window is small.
Later, on Thursday the 17th, we see another clean morning slot: a 5ft SSW swell with 7-second period and an offshore NW breeze at 6 mph. That’s a short period, so it won’t have the same wall, but it’ll be clean and fun for a quick session. Then Friday the 18th gets huge again—10ft with 14-second period—but the wind is a fresh cross-onshore, making it a lumpy mess.
Overall: Wednesday the 9th morning is the standout. Clean, offshore, decent size, and that reef will handle it. Monday the 7th morning is your backup for a glassy, smaller wave. The rest is either too big for the break or too messy. For an inconsistent spot, we’ve got a couple of clear windows. Get in, get out.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Sat afternoon, min 14°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri morning, fresh winds from the WNW by Sat afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 21°C on Wed morning, min 10°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, strong winds from the S by Wed night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | |||||||||||||||
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 12 | S 10 | SSE 12 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 11 | S 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
177 | 220 | 50 | 96 | 58 | 42 | 41 | 58 | 1301 | 292 | 187 | 789 | 1042 | 1152 | 787 | 461 | 348 | 763 | 1587 | 2235 | 2977 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | off | off | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 1:26PM1.51m | 2:14AM1.04m | 2:41PM1.52m | 3:47AM1.04m | 3:58PM1.58m | 5:08AM1.11m | 5:08PM1.65m | 6:07AM1.21m | 6:08PM1.71m | 6:55AM1.32m | 6:59PM1.74m | 7:38AM1.42m | 7:45PM1.73m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:22PM0.44m | 7:51AM0.54m | 9:49PM0.40m | 9:11AM0.55m | 11:04PM0.32m | 10:30AM0.51m | 00:02AM0.23m | 11:39AM0.42m | 00:51AM0.15m | 12:36PM0.33m | 1:33AM0.11m | 1:27PM0.25m | 2:11AM0.10m | ||||||||
6:07 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | |
— | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 19 | 18 | 27 | 29 | 23 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 21 | 19 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 15 |
Feels °C | 15 | 15 | 15 | 25 | 24 | 21 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 9 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 19 | 15 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 10 | S 8 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 11 | S 9 | E 10 | E 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 15 | SSE 21 | SSE 18 | SSE 14 |
177 | 220 | 44 | 96 | 58 | 42 | 41 | 58 | 807 | 292 | 7 | 7 | 1042 | 1152 | 787 | 461 | 348 | 23 | 144 | 572 | 2977 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 6 | ENE 10 | SSE 12 | E 9 | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | — | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | S 17 | E 16 | E 16 | NE 15 | SSE 24 |
25 | 18 | 50 | 7 | 4 | 16 | 5 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 56 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | S 18 | NE 4 | — | E 9 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | — | NE 7 | N 8 | — | — | — | — | S 18 | E 17 | E 16 | E 16 | — | E 15 |
7 | 6 | 4 | — | 7 | 9 | 9 | 8 | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | — | 4 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NE 7 | WNW 3 | NNW 3 | NW 3 | WNW 3 | WNW 3 | SE 3 | S 11 | — | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | — | — | — | NNW 2 | — | SSE 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | — |
— | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1301 | — | 187 | 789 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 763 | 1587 | 2235 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 41 | 0 | 30 | 30 | 23 | 22 | 70 | 9 | 0 | 81 | 211 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 241 | 179 | 499 | 96 |
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.










