Nobbys Reef Surf Break

Lat Long: 32.93° S 151.80° E

Nobbys Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 am 05 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 5 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 11 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 9s period, S swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 11 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 10s period, S swell with 361 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 5 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 9s period with E 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 Wednesday (Aug 05) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 5s. 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 1.3m 10s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 4s period and expected on Monday (Aug 10) at 10AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7PM (Wed 5th Aug)1.5ft (0.4m) 9s
Best Surf 1PM (Tue 11th Aug)4.5ft (1.3m) 9s
Most Powerful 7PM (Tue 11th Aug)4.5ft (1.3m) 10s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you—this stretch is going to test your patience before it gives you a couple of decent windows. We’ve got a long, flat-ish start with not much on offer, then things start moving around the middle of next week. The first real surf recommendation doesn’t show up until Wednesday the 13th, so that’s about a week of waiting through small, messy, or just plain weak conditions. Don’t get too excited about the early days—there’s a reason they’re not on the list.

Right now, from Wednesday the 5th through the weekend, we’re looking at tiny surf, mostly under 2 feet, with a weak combined energy reading (42-119). The swell is mostly out of the east or south, but it’s short-period stuff, just not doing anything. The wind is a mixed bag—some glassy patches on Wednesday afternoon and Saturday morning, but otherwise it’s cross-off or cross-on, and it’s just not worth the paddle. The water temp is 64°, which is about 1° cooler than normal for this time of year—pretty much average, nothing to write home about.

Monday the 10th sees a bit more push, with a 3 foot east-northeast swell and energy up to 182, but the wind is howling offshore at 25 mph. That makes it clean but damn hard to get into. Not a good trade-off. Tuesday the 11th is a step up, with a 4 foot south swell and energy jumping to 349. The morning is still a bit iffy, but Tuesday afternoon looks better—offshore wind at 12 mph, clean, and finally something to paddle into. That’s the first real glimmer of hope.

Then it starts to get interesting. Wednesday the 13th morning is where you want to be. The swell jumps to a solid 7 feet from the south, with a combined energy of 705—that’s strong, no doubt. The wind is light and cross-off, so it’s going to be clean. This is the standout of the whole run. Nobbys Reef (looks like we’re in the Newcastle area based on the region) is going to be handling that south groundswell well. It’s a reef break, exposed to the swell, and it’s inconsistent, so you’ll be waiting for sets, but when they come, they’ll have some punch. This is advanced territory at 7 feet—not for beginners.

The afternoon on the 13th drops a bit to 5 feet, and the wind turns cross-on, so it gets messier. Thursday the 14th morning is still decent at 5 feet with energy at 510, but the wind is cross-shore, so it’s not as clean. After that, the wind turns onshore and the quality drops off. The swell stays in that 5 to 6 foot range through the 15th and 16th, but it’s mostly cross-on or onshore, with showers around on Sunday. Not great.

The 17th and 18th see the swell back down to 3 to 5 feet, but the wind is all over the place—onshore and messy. Not your day. Then, on Thursday the 20th, there’s another little window. The morning is glassy, calm wind, with a 3 foot southeast swell and energy at 253. It’s not the size of the 13th, but it’s clean and rideable. That’s your second-best option, but it’s a far cry from that Wednesday morning.

So, bottom line: don’t waste your time until Tuesday the 11th afternoon. The big one is Wednesday the 13th morning—that’s the one to plan around. The 20th morning is a backup, but it’s smaller. The rest is either too small, too windy, or too messy. This is a proper reef, so the long-period south swell will be better here than on a beach break, but the inconsistency is part of the deal. Keep an eye on it, but don’t hold your breath for anything else.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed afternoon, 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 7°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat morning, strong winds from the WNW by Sun night).

Wednesday
5
Thursday
6
Friday
7
Saturday
8
Sunday
9
Monday
10
Tuesday
11
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
1
1
0
1
1
0
1
1
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
1
2
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
E
10
0.4
E
9
0.3
SSE
12
0.4
S
10
0.8
S
9
0.9
S
9
0.6
SSE
10
0.7
SSE
9
0.5
SSE
9
0.4
SSE
9
0.5
E
8
0.7
E
8
0.8
E
9
0.7
ENE
9
1.2
ENE
8
1
ENE
9
0.6
ENE
9
0.7
SSW
8
1.3
S
10
1.3
S
9
1.2
S
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
31
26
27
30
99
130
65
90
48
32
34
63
99
77
197
177
65
67
325
293
235
Wind (km/h)
15
WNW
5
NNE
15
WNW
10
WNW
10
E
10
NNW
10
WNW
10
SE
5
WNW
5
WNW
15
E
15
N
10
NNW
10
NE
35
NNW
40
WNW
40
W
30
WNW
25
WNW
20
NW
15
WNW
Wind State
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
off
off
on
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
off
off
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
off
High Tide
12:54PM1.43m
1:05AM1.22m
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
Low Tide
7:14PM0.50m
7:13AM0.42m
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
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:39
6:39
6:39
6:37
6:37
6:35
6:35
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:16
5:16
5:17
5:19
5:19
5:20
5:21
 mm
3
Temp °C
15
16
14
14
14
13
15
15
14
14
15
14
18
18
17
14
14
10
16
19
14
Feels °C
12
13
8
12
11
9
13
12
13
12
12
10
15
16
13
5
5
2
11
14
9
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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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