Surf Forecasts:
Nobbys Reef surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 10s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 11s period, S swell with 418 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 10s 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 Monday (Aug 24) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.9m and 5s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Nobbys Reef in the next 16 days are 1.3m 11s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Nobbys Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Nobbys Reef.
First up, this is a reef break that’s exposed to the swell and works best with swell from the SE. It’s an advanced-only spot and it’s inconsistent, so you’ve got to pick your moments. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing weird going on.
We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but Monday the 24th of August morning is looking clean. Swell is a modest 3ft from the S with a 10-second period, and the wind is a light cross-off from the N. Combined energy is moderate at 218. It’s not huge, but it’ll be clean and rideable. The afternoon blows out with a strong ENE wind, so get in early.
Tuesday the 25th morning brings a bit more size – 5ft from the NE, but the period is short at 7 seconds, so it’ll be a bit crumbly. Still, light N wind keeps it tidy. The combined energy is moderate at 258. Afternoon goes cross and drops off.
Wednesday the 26th morning is small – 2ft from the ENE, period 8 seconds, and clean with a light WSW cross-off. Wave energy is weak at 93. It’s surfable but ordinary. The afternoon gets messy with S wind.
Thursday the 27th morning has a solid 5ft from the S, period 9 seconds, and light onshore SSE wind, combined energy is moderate at 332. The wind is on, so it won’t be pretty, but there’s push.
Friday the 28th morning is a real highlight. Clean conditions with a NNE breeze at 3 mph, 4ft from the S with a 10-second period, and combined energy at 283. The wind is cross-off, waves are clean, and the swell has decent shape. This is your best bet in the first week.
Saturday the 29th morning is glassy. Absolutely glassy. Wind is from the N at 3 mph, swell is 4ft from the SSE, period 10 seconds, combined energy 242. It’s clean, it’s glassy, and the waves will be smooth. This is a standout morning. Get out there.
From Sunday the 30th, things drop off. Small swell, onshore winds, flat and messy through to mid-week. There’s a gap of several days with no real recommendations.
Wednesday the 3rd of September morning has a bit of offshore NW wind at 12 mph, but the swell is only 2ft from the E with a 9-second period, combined energy 82. Clean, but tiny.
Friday the 4th of September afternoon picks up again. Swell 2ft from the S, 10-second period, combined energy 203, and a cross-off W wind. Clean, small, but it’s a better window.
Saturday the 5th of September is interesting. The combined energy jumps to 463 in the morning and 705 in the afternoon, with a 4ft S swell and an 11-second period in the morning, then 3ft from the SSE with a 16-second period in the afternoon. That’s strong to very strong wave energy. But the wind is onshore in the afternoon, and the morning has light cross-shore ripples. Not perfect, but there’s a lot of energy in the water. The 16-second period in the afternoon is a very long period groundswell – it’ll be better on this reef than a beach break, but the onshore wind will mess it up.
Sunday the 6th of September morning is clean again. Swell 3ft from the SSE, 13-second period, combined energy 307, and a light cross-off NNE wind. This is another solid morning for the reef, with good shape and clean conditions.
After that, the swell fades right out into the second week, with small, weak waves and poor conditions through to the end of the forecast.
So, the standouts are definitely Friday the 28th morning and Saturday the 29th morning. Both have clean conditions, decent swell, and good energy. If you’re an advanced surfer and you know this inconsistent reef, those are your windows.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 23°C on Tue morning, min 14°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri morning, min 13°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | ||||||||||||||
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 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SSE 7 | S 9 | S 8 | S 12 | S 10 | SSE 11 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
231 | 123 | 89 | 68 | 163 | 76 | 94 | 68 | 48 | 171 | 290 | 201 | 199 | 225 | 167 | 200 | 210 | 183 | 188 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 5:52AM1.02m | 5:41PM1.50m | 6:35AM1.11m | 6:23PM1.57m | 7:12AM1.20m | 7:02PM1.62m | 7:46AM1.28m | 7:40PM1.65m | 8:19AM1.35m | 8:17PM1.66m | 8:52AM1.41m | 8:54PM1.63m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:59PM0.47m | 11:00AM0.61m | 00:36AM0.38m | 11:53AM0.55m | 1:10AM0.29m | 12:39PM0.48m | 1:42AM0.22m | 1:22PM0.41m | 2:14AM0.17m | 2:02PM0.35m | 2:46AM0.15m | 2:42PM0.30m | 3:18AM0.15m | ||||||
— | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 19 | 20 | 17 | 23 | 21 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
Feels °C | 14 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 21 | 19 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | ENE 5 | ENE 7 | S 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SSE 7 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 10 | SSE 8 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 |
231 | 123 | 89 | 29 | 47 | 27 | 94 | 68 | 48 | 171 | 290 | 201 | 133 | 225 | 108 | 200 | 210 | 183 | 188 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | E 5 | SSE 17 | S 10 | S 9 | S 16 | S 9 | S 8 | S 11 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 12 | ENE 8 | SSE 11 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 |
7 | 19 | 28 | 68 | 28 | 20 | 15 | 6 | 9 | 37 | 23 | 22 | 199 | 22 | 167 | 12 | 22 | 24 | 26 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSE 17 | E 13 | ENE 9 | S 16 | — | S 16 | S 16 | S 15 | S 16 | S 16 | SSE 15 | ENE 8 | SSE 14 | — | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 16 |
— | 28 | 3 | 8 | 20 | — | 21 | 19 | 5 | 5 | 19 | 43 | 40 | 36 | — | 9 | 8 | 8 | 5 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 5 | NE 5 | ENE 4 | ENE 6 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | NW 2 | W 3 | S 5 | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 8 | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | E 3 | ENE 4 |
22 | 48 | 29 | 65 | 163 | 76 | 1 | 1 | 27 | — | — | — | — | — | 21 | 13 | 2 | 5 | 5 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 30 | 0 | 276 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 9 | 9 | 44 | 0 | 0 | 224 | 30 | 0 | 81 | 30 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Newcastle | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.











