
Surf Forecasts:
Nobbys Reef surf forecast from 9 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 11 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 12s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 9s period, S swell with 541 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 11 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 12s 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 Tuesday (Aug 11) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s. 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 1.8m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) 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 1.3m 4s period and expected on Monday (Aug 10) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Thu 13th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Nobbys Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright mates, let’s get into it.
The next 16 days are a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve got a long stretch of small, weak surf coming up before things finally start to build again. The first real pulse of energy doesn’t show until the middle of next week, and that’s where the focus should be.
The start is grim. From Monday the 10th through to the following Sunday, there’s just nothing doing. We’re looking at a run of tiny, weak waves with a lot of onshore and cross-shore junk. The energy is mostly pathetic, dipping down into double digits, like 52 and 86. There’s a brief lift on Thursday morning, the 13th, when a small S swell (4ft) shows up with a gentle offshore breeze. It’s clean and the energy is moderate (289), but it’s short-lived. By the afternoon, the wind swings onshore and the surf turns to mush. That’s about as good as it gets for over a week, which is pretty ordinary.
Then we hit a proper flat spell. From the 16th through the 20th, it’s all poor surf, mostly onshore winds, and energy readings that are mostly under 200. Saturday the 22nd is where things start to get interesting. The morning is looking like the standout of the whole run. There’s a clean 4ft E swell, glassy conditions, and the energy is starting to pick up (210). It’s not huge, but it’s clean and there’s finally some push. This is the one to get.
The bigger pulse arrives on Sunday the 23rd. The morning is the pick: a 6ft E swell with a clean cross-off wind. The energy is strong (674) and it’s shaping up to be the best surf of the forecast period. This is a solid, powerful swell for the reefs, and with that wind, it should be proper. The afternoon is a write-off though, as the wind swings onshore and turns it into a lumpy mess. Monday the 24th still has decent 4ft E swell in the morning, but the window is short again.
So, the takeaway is this: the waiting game is on. The first week to ten days is a slog. The standout is Sunday morning, August 23rd, at Nobbys Reef. It’s got the size, the direction, and the clean conditions. Just get there early before the seabreeze wrecks it. There’s also a decent, glassy option on Saturday the 22nd if you want a less crowded, slightly smaller version.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 20°C on Tue afternoon, min 10°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WNW on Mon afternoon, light winds from the WNW by Wed afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri night, min 10°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 5 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | E 9 | S 14 | S 10 | S 8 | S 10 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 | S 8 | SSE 7 | S 9 | SSE 20 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
149 | 260 | 129 | 51 | 42 | 32 | 177 | 61 | 65 | 46 | 251 | 541 | 277 | 63 | 269 | 133 | 60 | 45 | 52 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 6:15AM1.16m | 6:20PM1.79m | 7:11AM1.24m | 7:13PM1.85m | 7:59AM1.33m | 8:03PM1.87m | 8:44AM1.39m | 8:49PM1.83m | 9:26AM1.44m | 9:32PM1.74m | 10:08AM1.45m | 10:14PM1.61m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:18AM0.26m | 11:40AM0.43m | 1:11AM0.16m | 12:41PM0.36m | 1:58AM0.10m | 1:36PM0.30m | 2:42AM0.06m | 2:27PM0.26m | 3:22AM0.07m | 3:15PM0.26m | 4:01AM0.12m | 4:02PM0.29m | |||||||
— | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | |
mm | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 4 |
Temp °C | 17 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 19 | 20 | 13 | 19 | 19 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
Feels °C | 12 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 13 | 15 | 7 | 14 | 15 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | E 9 | S 7 | S 10 | S 8 | S 10 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 | S 8 | SSE 7 | S 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 |
3 | 260 | 129 | 51 | 42 | 27 | 177 | 61 | 65 | 46 | 251 | 541 | 277 | 63 | 269 | 120 | 60 | 45 | 52 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 14 | S 8 | S 13 | E 13 | SSW 7 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | S 9 | ENE 9 | SSE 20 | SSE 16 | S 9 | S 14 |
4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 27 | 27 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 17 | 17 | 60 | 17 | 133 | 48 | 13 | 15 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 6 | S 13 | — | S 12 | — | S 14 | — | S 11 | S 15 | — | S 20 | — | S 17 | ENE 9 | SSE 20 | ENE 10 | E 9 | SSE 15 | E 10 |
1 | 3 | — | 3 | — | 32 | — | 9 | 4 | — | 8 | — | 6 | 17 | 38 | 9 | 7 | 42 | 8 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 5 | NW 4 | NW 4 | WNW 4 | W 4 | WNW 2 | W 3 | NW 3 | WNW 2 | WSW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
149 | 24 | 32 | 31 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 611 | 75 | 75 | 107 | 42 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 293 | 9 |
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.











