Nobbys Reef Surf Break

Lat Long: 32.93° S 151.80° E

Nobbys Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 am 06 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Nobbys Reef sea temperature is
17.8° C
0.8° 

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 6 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 11 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 11s period, S swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 11 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 11s period, S swell with 599 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 6 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 9s 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 Thursday (Aug 06) at 4PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 9s. 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 11s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 10AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4PM (Thu 6th Aug)2.5ft (0.7m) 9s
Best Surf 4AM (Tue 11th Aug)5ft (1.6m) 11s
Most Powerful 4AM (Tue 11th Aug)5ft (1.6m) 11s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – this 16-day window for Nobbys Reef is a real mixed bag of small, ordinary surf and a few fleeting moments that could be worth a look. The overall pattern is dominated by long periods of poor conditions, with a couple of standouts that are the real deal.

We kick off with some pretty weak energy. The water temp is sitting at 64°, which is about 1° cooler than usual for this time of year – nothing to write home about, just a bit of a chill.

The first few days are a write-off. Thursday the 6th is tiny, with a 1.0ft S swell and weak energy (38). Friday and Saturday the 7th and 8th are similar – small, messy, and not worth paddling out for. This poor run continues through Sunday the 9th and Monday the 10th, with a strong, howling WNW wind hitting 28 mph on Monday morning, making it clean but impossible to paddle into. That pattern drags on.

Then, on Tuesday the 11th, we get our first real window. The morning brings a solid 4ft swell from the S with moderate energy (313) and a clean offshore WNW breeze. The wind is moderate, but the sets should have some shape. Nobbys Reef is an exposed reef, and this S swell is right in its wheelhouse. It’s a standout for the first week – the best on offer, but it’s a short-lived window.

The surf drops right back off after that, with a string of poor, small days from the 12th through to the 13th. The energy is weak, and the wind is mostly cross-off but strong.

Now, hold on to your board. The next standout is a beauty. On Friday the 14th, the morning session is where it’s at. We’re looking at a 5ft swell from the S, with very strong energy (513) – that’s a serious pulse of groundswell. The wind is gentle and cross-off from the WSW, keeping the surface clean. This is a much bigger, more powerful wave, and with a period of 10 seconds, it’ll have some push. For advanced surfers at Nobbys Reef, this is the pick of the entire forecast. The S swell direction matches the optimum for the reef. The afternoon turns sour with a cross-on wind, so get in early.

Saturday the 15th morning is also solid, with another 5ft S swell and strong energy (481), again clean with light WSW cross-off winds. Another strong option, but again, the wind swings onshore in the afternoon.

After that, it’s a long, barren stretch. From Sunday the 16th right through to the 20th, the surf is tiny, onshore, and messy. Energy levels drop into the weak range. There’s a gap of several days with no real action.

Finally, on Friday the 21st, we get a late bloomer. The morning is glassy with a 3ft S swell and a long 11-second period, carrying moderate energy (295). This will be a clean, lined-up groundswell with good shape. The glassy conditions make it a real treat for the reef. It’s a promising end to a tough period, but the afternoon onshore wind kills it.

So, the standout is the Friday the 14th morning session at Nobbys Reef – that’s your best bet. The Tuesday the 11th morning and the Saturday the 15th morning are also solid. Everything else is a waiting game.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri morning, min 9°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun morning, min 8°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNW on Sun morning, strong winds from the WNW by Mon morning).

Thursday
6
Friday
7
Saturday
8
Sunday
9
Monday
10
Tuesday
11
Wednesday
12
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
1
1
1
0
1
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
2
1
1
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
S
10
0.7
S
9
0.6
S
7
0.5
SSE
10
0.7
SSE
9
0.5
SSE
9
0.5
S
8
0.6
S
8
0.6
E
8
0.7
E
9
0.7
ENE
9
1
ENE
9
0.9
ENE
9
0.5
ENE
9
1.3
S
10
1.3
S
9
0.9
S
8
0.8
S
8
0.5
E
10
0.4
ENE
10
0.4
ENE
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
17
78
39
56
88
49
32
43
45
78
82
162
121
49
299
293
113
88
49
31
33
Wind (km/h)
10
WNW
5
NE
15
NW
10
WNW
10
SE
5
W
5
WNW
15
E
15
N
10
NNW
15
ENE
40
WNW
45
WNW
35
W
20
WNW
20
WNW
25
NW
15
NW
20
NNW
35
WNW
40
WNW
Wind State
off
glassy
off
cross-off
on
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
1:53PM1.46m
2:17AM1.12m
3:00PM1.52m
3:41AM1.07m
4:12PM1.60m
5:05AM1.09m
5:19PM1.69m
6:15AM1.16m
6:20PM1.79m
7:11AM1.24m
7:13PM1.85m
7:59AM1.33m
8:03PM1.87m
Low Tide
8:30PM0.51m
8:12AM0.47m
9:54PM0.46m
9:20AM0.49m
11:13PM0.37m
10:32AM0.48m
00:18AM0.26m
11:40AM0.43m
1:11AM0.16m
12:41PM0.36m
1:58AM0.10m
1:36PM0.30m
2:42AM0.06m
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
cloud
cloud
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:39
6:39
6:37
6:37
6:35
6:35
6:33
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:16
5:17
5:19
5:19
5:20
5:21
5:21
 mm
3
3
1
Temp °C
14
15
12
16
15
14
14
15
14
18
17
16
14
14
11
16
18
13
12
13
12
Feels °C
12
12
8
14
12
13
12
11
11
15
13
12
5
5
6
10
12
9
7
5
3
  • Map Icons:
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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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