
Surf Forecasts:
Nobbys Reef surf forecast from 23 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 12s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 14s period, S swell with 1,422 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 24 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 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 Friday (Jul 24) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 12s. 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 1.9m 14s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 5s period and expected on Friday (Jul 24) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Fri 24th Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Fri 24th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Nobbys Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Righto, let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the next couple of weeks. The only spot on the radar is Nobbys Reef, and it’s a real mixed bag. We’ve got a few decent windows, but there are also some long stretches of flatness or foul weather to work around.
The first proper swell that’s worth paddling out for hits on Friday morning, July 24th. We’re lookin’ at a 5-foot S swell with a 10-second period, but the wind is swingin’ cross from the SW, which is gonna leave a bit of chop on the face. The wave energy is chunky (416) but the conditions aren’t quite there. Things improve later that arvo, but the score is still low.
The standout session for the first week is without a doubt Saturday morning, July 25th. The swell holds at 5 feet from the S, period stretches to 11 seconds, and the wind is a clean offshore from the WNW – that’s the ticket. The energy is pumping (677) and the forecast says expect very good surf. That’s your best bet. The afternoon cleans up too with a lighter NNW breeze, but the swell drops a little.
Sunday morning, July 26th, is also a solid option with 5 feet of S swell, 11-second period, and a cross-offshore breeze from the W. The energy is still strong (500) and the conditions are clean. The water temp is 65°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so nothin’ to worry about there.
After Sunday, the surf drops off quickly. Monday and Tuesday are small and weak, with waves under 3 feet and energy down in the 100s. Wednesday brings a weird long-period 16-second swell, but it’s tiny at 1 feet from the SSE, so nothin’ to get excited about.
Then we hit a big gap. From Wednesday afternoon through to the end of the week, it’s a write-off – onshore winds, rain, and messy, choppy conditions. The swell tries to build again on the 30th, but the wind is rubbish.
Now, for the second week, things get wild. From Sunday, August 2nd, a massive pulse of S swell arrives. We’re talkin’ 10 feet to 13 feet, with periods up to 13 seconds, and energy readings in the thousands (3383, 5769, 3780). That’s serious power. But here’s the problem – for a reef break like Nobbys, waves over 8 feet are only for the experts. The wind is also a nightmare for most of this period, with strong onshore and cross-shore breezes creating a mess. There are a few moments where the wind is glassy or light, like on Friday morning, August 7th, when the wind drops to glassy with a 10-foot SE swell. But the guidance warns that the swell is too big for this break. The reef will be closing out and dangerous. Honestly, this big swell window looks more like a kite-surfing show than a paddle-in session.
Through all this, the break is exposed to the south swell, which is the optimum direction, and it’s a reef setup, so it can handle the long-period groundswells. But the crowds are a possibility here – it’s a spot that can get busy when it’s off. The inconsistency is also a factor; it doesn’t pump every day.
So, the bottom line: your absolute best chance for a clean, fun, safe surf is Saturday morning, July 25th. After that, it’s a long wait for a window, and the second week is just too big and messy for most.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu afternoon, min 6°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | ||||||||||||||
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) | E 9 | SSW 6 | S 10 | S 10 | S 14 | S 11 | S 10 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 15 | SSE 16 | SSE 19 | SSE 18 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
39 | 143 | 400 | 474 | 1422 | 655 | 367 | 231 | 493 | 418 | 296 | 175 | 139 | 142 | 99 | 74 | 77 | 87 | 72 | 61 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross | cross | on | off | off | off | off | cross-off | on | cross-off | off | on | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 3:53AM0.99m | 4:35PM1.45m | 5:04AM0.98m | 5:25PM1.52m | 6:05AM1.02m | 6:09PM1.59m | 6:54AM1.08m | 6:51PM1.65m | 7:37AM1.15m | 7:30PM1.70m | 8:16AM1.21m | 8:08PM1.73m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:35PM0.63m | 9:30AM0.57m | 11:38PM0.58m | 10:24AM0.58m | 00:26AM0.50m | 11:18AM0.57m | 1:07AM0.42m | 12:09PM0.54m | 1:43AM0.34m | 12:56PM0.51m | 2:18AM0.27m | 1:40PM0.47m | 2:52AM0.21m | |||||||
— | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | |
5:07 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:12 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 |
Temp °C | 19 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 |
Feels °C | 16 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | ENE 8 | S 10 | S 10 | S 14 | S 11 | S 10 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | SSE 16 | SSE 19 | S 11 |
39 | 24 | 400 | 474 | 1422 | 655 | 367 | 231 | 493 | 418 | 296 | 175 | 139 | 142 | 99 | 74 | 33 | 87 | 72 | 36 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | SE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SSE 17 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | NE 8 | E 12 | SE 16 | SE 15 | SE 15 | SSE 15 | S 8 | S 6 | SSE 18 |
8 | 2 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 7 | 27 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 77 | 11 | 7 | 61 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | S 9 | SE 7 | SSE 18 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | — | — | E 13 | E 8 | E 11 | NE 8 | S 14 | ENE 4 | NE 8 | S 8 | E 13 |
2 | 2 | 2 | 62 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 1 | — | — | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 3 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 6 | — | — | — | WNW 3 | — | WNW 2 | WNW 3 | — | — | WNW 2 | — | NNE 8 | — | — | WNW 2 | WNW 2 | — | SSE 5 |
— | 143 | — | — | — | 3 | — | 1 | 3 | — | — | 1 | — | 6 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 17 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 42 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 490 | 44 |
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.










