
Surf Forecasts:
Nobbys Reef surf forecast from 19 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 10s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 13s period, S swell with 673 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 10s 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 Monday (Jul 20) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 11s. 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 1.4m 13s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Sat 25th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Nobbys Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, it’s Rusty. Let’s look at what’s on the table for Nobbys Reef over the next couple of weeks.
The surf story starts off a bit slow. The first few days are pretty ordinary, with only small, messy waves. The real action kicks off properly on Friday the 24th of July, and there’s a big pulse of energy coming through at the end of the month. The best window is Friday morning through to Sunday morning, with another standout on the Thursday the 30th of July.
Monday the 20th is a write-off, with 5ft east swell and a cross-on wind – real bumpy and not worth paddling out. The energy is moderate (692). Tuesday the 21st morning cleans up nicely with a northerly cross-off breeze and 4ft, 10-second swell from the east. The energy is still moderate (325), but the clean conditions make it a decent option for a quick session. Tuesday arvo goes messy again.
Wednesday the 22nd morning has a 3ft ENE swell with a moderate offshore NW wind, so it’s clean but tiny. The energy is weak (135). Wednesday arvo actually goes glassy, but with the same small 3ft swell. Hard to get excited, but it’s a chance for a glide.
Thursday the 23rd is flat and not worth talking about.
Now, Friday the 24th of July is where it gets good. The morning brings a 6ft south swell with a clean cross-offshore wind from the west. The energy is moderate (568), and the water temp is 66°F, which is about average for this time of year. This is a solid pick for experienced surfers – the swell is a bit over 5ft, so it’s not for beginners. The south swell direction matches the optimum for this exposed reef break. Friday arvo goes glassy with 5ft south swell – still a good session.
Saturday the 25th morning has 4ft south swell, but the period jumps to 12 seconds, which is a long-period groundswell. The reef setup here is ideal for that. The energy is moderate (402). The wind is cross-off, so it’s clean, but the score suggests it’s marginal, likely due to tide. It’s worth a look. Saturday arvo is cross-on and messy.
Sunday the 26th of July morning is another standout – 5ft south swell, 11-second period, with a clean cross-offshore wind from the WNW. The energy is moderate (583). This is a great morning for a surf. The water temp is still around 66°F, pretty average. Sunday arvo is onshore and blown out.
Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th mornings offer clean, smaller waves in the 4ft to 4ft range, with a good offshore wind. Energy is moderate (around 280). Worth a paddle if you’re keen for a smaller session.
Wednesday the 29th is a write-off with strong winds and lumpy conditions.
Now, Thursday the 30th of July brings a massive pulse of energy. There’s a 5ft south swell with a very long 17-second period, and the energy is strong (2678). This is a big groundswell – the reef will handle it well, but it’s going to be a serious session. The wind is cross-shore, so it’s not perfect, but the power is undeniable. Thursday arvo sees 8ft south swell, 15-second period, and very strong energy (2792). This is big – only for experts. The cross-onshore wind will make it tricky.
Friday the 31st of July morning still has a solid 7ft south swell, 12-second period, with moderate energy (1106). The wind is cross-shore, so it’s a bit lumpy but still powerful. This is a good window for experienced surfers who can handle size.
The first weekend of August (Saturday the 1st and Sunday the 2nd) sees a slow drop in size, but the wind stays messy, with cross-onshore or strong cross-shore winds. The energy is still moderate (around 400-1100), but the conditions are choppy and hard to enjoy. Monday the 3rd and Tuesday the 4th are similarly poor with onshore winds and messy waves.
The bottom line: Friday the 24th, Saturday the 25th, and Sunday the 26th of July are your best bets for clean, fun surf. The big pulse on Thursday the 30th and Friday the 31st of July is for the experts only. Nobbys Reef can be inconsistent, so when it comes together like this, it’s a treat. Crowds can show up sometimes, especially on the weekends.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed morning, min 12°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu afternoon, min 7°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | S 6 | S 10 | S 9 | SSE 16 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
577 | 505 | 346 | 245 | 200 | 163 | 115 | 115 | 65 | 57 | 39 | 115 | 552 | 356 | 416 | 389 | 264 | 584 | 576 | 524 | 414 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | glassy | off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | on | glassy |
High Tide | 1:01PM1.37m | 00:56AM1.29m | 1:51PM1.36m | 1:46AM1.15m | 2:44PM1.37m | 2:44AM1.04m | 3:40PM1.40m | 3:53AM0.99m | 4:35PM1.45m | 5:04AM0.98m | 5:25PM1.52m | 6:05AM1.02m | 6:09PM1.59m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:03PM0.58m | 7:17AM0.43m | 8:07PM0.64m | 7:57AM0.50m | 9:20PM0.66m | 8:41AM0.54m | 10:35PM0.63m | 9:30AM0.57m | 11:38PM0.58m | 10:24AM0.58m | 00:26AM0.50m | 11:18AM0.57m | 1:07AM0.42m | ||||||||
6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | |
— | 5:06 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:09 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 |
Temp °C | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 17 | 18 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
Feels °C | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 5 | 11 | 9 | 4 | 13 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 8 | S 10 | S 9 | S 10 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 |
577 | 505 | 346 | 245 | 200 | 163 | 115 | 115 | 65 | 57 | 39 | 24 | 552 | 356 | 202 | 389 | 264 | 584 | 576 | 524 | 414 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 11 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | S 10 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SSE 16 | ENE 9 | SSE 18 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 |
106 | 139 | 85 | 56 | 35 | 31 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 14 | 13 | 416 | 7 | 178 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 15 | SE 15 | SE 15 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | S 13 | — | — | S 10 | S 10 | S 17 | SE 7 | SSE 21 | ENE 8 | E 9 | E 8 | — | E 9 | — | E 7 |
9 | 9 | 8 | 24 | 21 | 19 | 3 | — | — | 8 | 8 | 24 | 2 | 43 | 13 | 6 | 6 | — | 2 | — | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | NNE 4 | NW 2 | — | WSW 2 | — | SSW 4 | S 6 | — | — | W 3 | W 3 | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | 2 | 21 | 1 | — | 1 | — | 6 | 115 | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 29 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 75 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
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.










