Nobbys Reef Surf Break

Lat Long: 32.93° S 151.80° E

Nobbys Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 am 29 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Nobbys Reef sea temperature is
18.2°C
0.2° 

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


Nobbys Reef surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 10s period, SSE swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 10s period, SSE swell with 462 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 29 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 10s period with SSE 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 Saturday (Aug 29) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m 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 1.6m 10s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 4PM. 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 3s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 05) at 7AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10PM (Sat 29th Aug)4ft (1.2m) 10s
Best Surf10PM (Sat 29th Aug)4ft (1.2m) 10s
Most Powerful 4PM (Sat 29th Aug)5ft (1.6m) 10s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Nobbys Reef over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

G’day crew, Rusty here. We’ve got a bit of a mixed bag coming in over the next sixteen days for Nobbys Reef. The early window is looking pretty lean, with a lot of onshore junk and not much to get excited about, but there’s a proper pulse of swell and clean conditions brewing in the second week that could be the real story.

First up, Saturday 29 August is a write-off – poor surf, onshore SSE wind at 9 mph, and a meagre 3.9 ft swell at 10 seconds from the SSE. Combined wave energy is only 319 – weak and messy. The afternoon gets a bit bigger at 5.2 ft but it’s still onshore and marginal. Best to sit this one out.

Sunday 30 August is the first glimmer. The morning glass off with NW offshore wind at 3 mph, clean as a whistle, the swell dropping to 3.0 ft from the SE at 10 seconds – not big, but the conditions will make it look fun. Combined energy of 237 means it’s light, but glassy conditions are gold. It’s small, but for a highly exposed reef break like Nobbys (Nobbys Reef), it’s a goer for the advanced crew. The afternoon turns cross-on and drops off. Crowds are possible here sometimes, so get in early.

Monday 31 August – another glassy morning with zero wind – dreamy. Swell is 3.3 ft from the south at 8 seconds, combined energy 288. That short period is a bit junky, but the mirror surface will tidy it up. The afternoon gets ruined by a strong cross-onshore ENE breeze at 12 mph and a weird 1.6 ft, 15-second groundswell that’ll just straighten out on the reef – not worth it.

Tuesday 01 September is a nice little run. Both morning and afternoon have clean, cross-off winds (NNW and NNE, 9 mph). Swell is 2.6-3.0 ft from the south, period around 10-11 seconds, combined energy 204-229. It’s not big, but the wave shape will be decent and it’ll be clean all day. Good chance for a few peelers.

The rest of that first week slides off. From Wednesday 02 September through Friday 04 September, we’re looking at small, ordinary surf – 1.3 ft to 2.3 ft with combined energy dropping below 100. Winds are offshore or cross-off, but there’s just not enough energy to get the reef working properly.

Saturday 05 September – the morning has a very small 1.0 ft SSE swell but with a very long 17-second period, combined energy 111. That long period groundswell suits a point or reef like Nobbys, but it’s tiny. The afternoon picks up a bit to 1.6 ft at 11 seconds with offshore NW wind at 12 mph, clean but still weak.

Sunday 06 September is a blowout – strong offshore wind at 22 mph and tiny 1.3 ft swell. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing on that morning.

Monday 07 September is completely cooked – onshore, rain, and small bumpy surf.

Now here’s where it gets interesting. Tuesday 08 September starts looking a bit weird. The morning has a 5.9 ft SSW swell with a short 6-second period, combined energy 286 – that’s a choppy, lumpy windswell, not good. But the afternoon of Tuesday 08 September is a standout. There’s an 11.5 ft swell from the south at 10 seconds, combined energy a massive 2287 – that is strong, powerful swell. However, it’s too big for this break – Nobbys Reef can’t handle 11.5 ft, it’s only for experts if they’re brave enough, and even then it’s more dangerous than fun. Light cross-onshore wind at 6 mph with rain – but the size is the problem.

Wednesday 09 September – still big, with 7.9 ft to 8.2 ft SSE swell at 10 seconds, combined energy around 1151 – moderate to strong. Winds are cross-off or cross, and conditions are clean-ish, but the swell is getting into the “too big for beginners” territory and is pushing expert-only at the top end. It’s rideable for the right crew but a bit of a handful.

Thursday 10 September is blown out by strong cross and cross-onshore winds at 22 mph, with 6.6 ft to 7.2 ft lumpy swell. Not worth it.

Now the real pick: Friday 11 September. Morning has a clean 5.6 ft from the SSE at 10 seconds, combined energy 590 – moderate energy, solid and

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Thu morning, min 13°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
Friday
4
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
2
2
0
2
2
0
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
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
SSE
10
1.6
SSE
10
1.1
SE
10
0.8
SSE
10
0.8
SE
10
1.1
S
9
1
S
8
0.5
S
15
0.8
S
9
0.8
S
9
0.9
S
11
0.8
S
11
0.7
S
10
0.6
S
10
0.5
S
10
0.5
S
10
0.5
S
10
0.4
SSE
9
0.5
S
9
0.8
S
9
0.4
SSE
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
269
462
211
117
110
194
140
112
108
106
191
146
96
70
50
49
47
28
45
103
39
Wind (km/h)
15
SSE
10
SSE
5
SW
5
NW
15
E
5
SW
0
NNW
20
ENE
10
N
10
NNW
15
NNE
15
NNW
20
NW
25
NW
15
NW
25
NW
25
WNW
15
WSW
10
WNW
10
N
20
NW
Wind State
on
cross-on
glassy
glassy
cross-on
glassy
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
off
off
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
High Tide
8:54PM1.63m
9:27AM1.45m
9:33PM1.57m
10:03AM1.49m
10:13PM1.48m
10:43AM1.51m
10:58PM1.36m
11:28AM1.51m
11:50PM1.23m
12:22PM1.51m
00:54AM1.12m
1:26PM1.51m
2:14AM1.04m
Low Tide
2:42PM0.30m
3:18AM0.15m
3:23PM0.28m
3:50AM0.18m
4:07PM0.29m
4:25AM0.23m
4:56PM0.32m
5:03AM0.31m
5:53PM0.37m
5:47AM0.39m
7:02PM0.42m
6:42AM0.47m
8:22PM0.44m
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:15
6:13
6:11
6:11
6:09
6:09
6:07
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:32
5:32
5:34
5:35
5:35
5:36
5:36
 mm
Temp °C
16
16
15
16
17
15
17
17
16
22
24
20
25
25
21
26
23
18
21
24
18
Feels °C
14
14
15
14
14
15
15
14
14
19
21
17
20
20
18
21
18
15
20
21
14
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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 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.

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