
Surf Forecasts:
Nobbys Reef surf forecast from 7 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 10 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, S swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 10 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, SSE swell with 2,363 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 8 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 8s period with SSE 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 (Sep 08) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 10s. 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 3.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 10) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 13) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Tue 8th Sep) | 6ft (1.9m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Nobbys Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get into it. The window ahead is a bit of a mixed bag with some real nice windows and some proper slop to sit out. The standout is undeniably Thursday morning, but we’ll walk through it all step by step, day by day.
We start off pretty grim. Tuesday morning’s got a solid 8.2 ft of SSE swell, but it’s cross-on with a 15.5 mph southerly, making it messy and choppy. The combined energy is still strong (1133), but the conditions are just poor. Tuesday afternoon drops to 6.6 ft, but the wind stays cross-on, and the period is short at 8 seconds, so it’s still a write-off, only a 1/10.
Wednesday morning is our first real glimmer of hope. The swell drops to 3.3 ft from the S with a period of 8 seconds, but the wind swings to a light 6.2 mph cross-off from the WSW, cleaning the surface right up. The energy is weak (227), but the conditions are clean. This is a solid option for a beginner or a longboard session. Wednesday afternoon is a hard no – 7.9 ft of S swell with a 28 mph southerly cross-on wind. That’s a kitesurfing special, not a paddle surf session.
Now for the real standout. Thursday morning, the 10th of September, is the pick of the whole forecast. We’ve got a solid 9.8 ft S swell with a period of 10 seconds, and the combined energy is pumping hard (1650). The wind is a moderate 15.5 mph cross-shore from the SW, which is workable, but the size is the issue. At 9.8 ft, this is strictly for experts at Nobbys Reef. This break is a reef, so it handles the size well, but the crowd profile is “sometimes” so you could get a few out. The swell direction is SSE, which is slightly off the optimum SE, but it will still wrap in nicely. This is the one to point your board at if you’ve got the skill. Thursday afternoon, forget it, the wind picks up to 21.7 mph onshore and it’s a mess.
Friday the 11th is a bit of a letdown. Morning has 8.2 ft S swell at 10 seconds, but it’s cross-on with a 9.3 mph south wind, so it’s fairly choppy. The energy is high (2269), but the quality is just marginal. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so no thermal surprises there.
Saturday morning the 12th is a beauty. The swell drops to 5.2 ft from the SSE, period is 10 seconds, and the wind is glassy—3.1 mph from the SSW. The combined energy is moderate (522), and the surf is clean. This is a proper, fun, clean session for the intermediate to advanced crowd. The size is manageable for confident beginners but not ideal for a total newbie. The glassy conditions are a major positive. Saturday afternoon goes to crap with a 12.4 mph cross-on from the ENE.
Sunday the 13th morning is small and clean. Only 3.0 ft from the SSE with a 6.2 mph cross-off from the north. The energy is weak (284), but it’s clean. A good option for mellow waves or a learner session. Sunday afternoon is a write-off with a 18.6 mph cross-shore wind.
Monday the 14th morning is a nice little window. The swell is 2.6 ft from the S, but the period jumps to 12 seconds, giving it some push. The wind is off from the NW at 9.3 mph, so it’s clean. The energy is low (209), but the quality is good. This is a classic, clean, small-wave day.
The middle of the second week gets quiet. Tuesday the 15th is a write-off, small and onshore. Wednesday the 16th has some size (5.2 ft S) but cross-shore winds and a marginal rating. The energy is moderate (457) but the quality isn’t there.
Thursday the 17th morning is small and clean, but the swell is only 3.9 ft and the period is 10 seconds, so it’s weak. The afternoon has a 3.6 ft SSE swell with a very long period of 15 seconds, which is a groundswell. The energy is moderate (1089), but the wind is onshore. This long period swell will break straight at a beach break, but Nobbys is a reef, so it might produce some nice lines if the wind cooperates. It’s marginal.
Friday the
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon night, min 10°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, strong winds from the S by Wed afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 21°C on Sun morning, min 12°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat morning, fresh winds from the NE by Sun afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | ||||||||||||||
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 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | S 8 | S 7 | SSE 10 | S 10 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
706 | 1131 | 562 | 423 | 143 | 619 | 2363 | 1555 | 1908 | 2137 | 1316 | 724 | 464 | 452 | 431 | 290 | 146 | 118 | 128 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off |
High Tide | 6:07AM1.21m | 6:08PM1.71m | 6:55AM1.32m | 6:59PM1.74m | 7:38AM1.42m | 7:45PM1.73m | 8:18AM1.49m | 8:28PM1.67m | 8:56AM1.53m | 9:08PM1.58m | 9:33AM1.54m | 9:47PM1.46m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:02AM0.23m | 11:39AM0.42m | 00:51AM0.15m | 12:36PM0.33m | 1:33AM0.11m | 1:27PM0.25m | 2:11AM0.10m | 2:14PM0.21m | 2:47AM0.12m | 2:59PM0.20m | 3:21AM0.17m | 3:43PM0.24m | 3:53AM0.24m | ||||||
— | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:42 | — | |
mm | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 21 | 21 | 19 |
Feels °C | 9 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 17 | 14 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 10 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | S 8 | ESE 13 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | SSE 22 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 |
2 | 2 | 562 | 423 | 143 | 17 | 47 | 38 | 288 | 1618 | 940 | 724 | 464 | 452 | 431 | 290 | 146 | 118 | 128 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 10 | E 10 | SE 8 | E 9 | S 26 | SSE 23 | ESE 10 | E 15 | S 21 | E 14 | E 13 | SSE 18 | SSE 18 | SSE 21 | SSE 18 | SSE 16 | ENE 5 |
— | — | 2 | 2 | 82 | 2 | 13 | 52 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 66 | 102 | 171 | 124 | 52 | 16 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | E 15 | E 9 | E 17 | — | E 16 | E 15 | — | E 15 | — | S 18 | E 14 | E 14 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 |
— | — | — | 4 | 2 | 6 | — | 5 | 4 | — | 4 | — | 6 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 13 | 3 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | SSE 9 | — | — | WNW 3 | S 7 | SSE 10 | S 10 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | — | — | — | E 3 | NE 4 | NNW 2 | ENE 4 | WSW 3 |
706 | 1131 | — | — | 1 | 619 | 2363 | 1555 | 1908 | 2137 | 1316 | — | — | — | 3 | 18 | 1 | 5 | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 211 | 125 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 556 | 179 | 107 | 125 | 44 | 9 | 72 | 2 | 0 | 75 | 0 | 0 | 81 | 0 |
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.










