
Surf Forecasts:
Nobbys Reef surf forecast from 28 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 30 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 11s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 2 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 13s period, SSE swell with 965 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 28 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 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 Tuesday (Jul 28) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 7s. 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 1.7m 13s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1PM (Tue 28th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Thu 30th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Nobbys Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right. Rusty here, looking at what’s on the cards for us at Nobbys Reef over the next couple of weeks. Let’s be straight with each other – the start won’t get you out of bed. You’ve got a few days of barely-there dribble before we see something that actually looks like surf.
Tuesday the 28th of July kicks off flat and ordinary. A weak 2ft southerly swell with a short period of 8 seconds and combined energy of just 68 – that’s the definition of lifeless. The morning starts clean enough with a light 15 km/h offshore wind from the NW, but the ocean’s just not holding any power, you’d be scratching for anything worth paddling out for. By afternoon, the wind picks up to 20 km/h from the NW, and the swell drops back to 1.3ft. Poor conditions all round.
Wednesday the 29th is even worse. Morning delivers a pathetic 0.7ft southerly swell with an absurdly long 18-second period and combined energy of 31 – it’s just no use, like trying to surf a lake. The wind bumps up to 25 km/h from the WNW, so you’ve got texture on the surface with nothing underneath. Afternoon sees the swell drop to 0.3ft, combined energy of 8, cross-off wind from the W. Honestly, there is nothing here. That’s three days with no real surf to speak of.
Then, on Thursday the 30th of July, the energy finally arrives. The morning has a proper 6ft southerly swell pushing in with an 11-second period and combined energy of 721 (moderate to strong). The wind is light, 10 km/h from the W – cross-off – and it’s clean. That’s the first session that looks genuinely good. The water’s sitting at 18.1°, which is about average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there. By afternoon, the wind swings to SSE at 10 km/h and goes cross-on, and the swell drops to 5ft. The conditions fall apart, so make the most of that morning.
Friday the 31st of July is another solid morning. You’ve got 5.6ft of southerly swell, period 11 seconds, combined energy of 666. Light cross-off wind from the WSW at 10 km/h. That’s clean, lined-up, and very surfable. The afternoon gets messy as the wind switches to S at 20 km/h – cross-on and choppy.
Now, the standout of the entire run for quality, in my book, is Sunday the 2nd of August. The morning comes in with a nice 5.6ft SSE swell, but the period ticks up to a very long 13 seconds – groundswell stuff – and the combined energy is 981, which is strong. The wind is light offshore from the NW at 15 km/h, so it’s clean. That’s the pick of the lot for clean, powerful waves. Just be aware that a long-period SSE swell like this at a reef can make it a bit technical – it’ll wrap in nicely and hold its shape, but the sets will have some punch and they’ll be spaced out. It’s an advanced break here anyway. Crowds are sometimes an issue, so keep that in mind.
Saturday the 1st of August is a little sloppier, with a 4.6ft southerly swell and cross winds from the SW at 10 km/h. It’s marginal. Not the same class as Sunday.
After Sunday’s peak, things get a bit rough. Monday the 3rd of August brings a strong 30 km/h SSW cross-on wind, smashing up the 3.6ft SE swell. That’s poor and lumpy, not worth it. Tuesday the 4th of August sees the swell jump up to 8.2ft from the south with a short 8-second period, but the wind is cross from the SSW at 15 km/h, and the combined energy is 963. It’s marginal, and a bit too big for a clean, user-friendly wave. Afternoon hits 10ft with a strong cross-on wind from the south at 25 km/h – too big,
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue morning, min 8°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun morning, min 10°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | |||||||||||||||
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 8 | S 7 | S 9 | S 18 | S 16 | S 6 | S 11 | S 10 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 16 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SE 12 | SSE 11 | S 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
42 | 16 | 13 | 24 | 5 | 54 | 716 | 426 | 942 | 658 | 563 | 440 | 347 | 238 | 419 | 965 | 727 | 472 | 303 | 251 | 334 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 7:30PM1.70m | 8:16AM1.21m | 8:08PM1.73m | 8:53AM1.27m | 8:45PM1.73m | 9:29AM1.31m | 9:21PM1.70m | 10:05AM1.34m | 9:59PM1.64m | 10:41AM1.36m | 10:37PM1.56m | 11:20AM1.38m | 11:20PM1.46m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:56PM0.51m | 2:18AM0.27m | 1:40PM0.47m | 2:52AM0.21m | 2:22PM0.45m | 3:26AM0.19m | 3:02PM0.43m | 3:59AM0.19m | 3:43PM0.42m | 4:33AM0.21m | 4:27PM0.43m | 5:07AM0.25m | 5:14PM0.45m | ||||||||
6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | |
— | 5:10 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
Temp °C | 19 | 19 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 14 |
Feels °C | 14 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | S 7 | S 9 | S 8 | S 7 | S 6 | S 11 | S 10 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SE 12 | SSE 11 | S 8 |
42 | 16 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 54 | 716 | 426 | 942 | 658 | 563 | 440 | 347 | 238 | 213 | 965 | 727 | 472 | 303 | 251 | 334 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 6 | S 16 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | E 6 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | SE 20 | SSE 16 | E 17 | E 8 | NE 8 | E 16 | E 15 | SSE 10 |
19 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 419 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 18 | 72 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 14 | SE 15 | SE 14 | S 18 | SE 6 | S 16 | E 12 | E 12 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 7 | E 18 | S 23 | E 17 | E 16 | E 7 | S 16 | E 15 |
7 | 8 | 8 | 24 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 17 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 2 | NW 3 | NW 2 | NW 3 | WSW 4 | WSW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 3 | — | — | SSW 4 | S 4 | — |
1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 4 | 23 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 33 | 43 | 174 | 174 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 0 | 92 | 125 | 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.










