
Surf Forecasts:
Redhead surf forecast from 8 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 9 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 10s period, SE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 8 Jul, 4PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 11s period, SE swell with 1,227 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 9 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 10s period with SE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Redhead this week:
The surf forecast for Redhead over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 09) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 10s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Redhead in the next 16 days are 2.4m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 08) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 11s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 08) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Thu 9th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Thu 9th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Wed 8th Jul) | 8ft (2.4m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Redhead over the next 16 days.
Righto, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up at Redhead. It’s a bit of a mixed bag to start, but there’s a real flash of something special if you’re patient.
We kick off Wednesday the 8th of July, and honestly, it’s a write-off. We’ve got a solid 8 ft swell rolling in from the southeast, with a period of 11 seconds, giving a strong 1627 combined energy, but the wind is on it from the SSE at 12 mph, making it messy. The water temp is sitting at 66°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year. Don’t bother paddling out Wednesday.
Thursday the 9th is still no good. The swell drops a touch to 7 ft, but we’ve still got that cross-on wind. It’s just not clean enough. The energy drops to 856, which tells you it’s losing its grunt anyway.
Then we get to Friday the 10th of July, and this is where it gets interesting. The morning shows the swell settling at 5 ft, still from the southeast with a 9-second period, but the wind swings to a light westerly, giving us a clean, cross-off breeze. It’s a proper surf window. The afternoon is even better – the wind drops to glassy, with the same 5 ft swell and 10-second period (energy 517). That’s your first standout. Redhead is a reef, and with a longish 10-second period on a southeast swell, it should offer up some nice, lined-up waves. The swell direction is from the southeast, and the optimum for this break is northeast, so it’s a touch off-angle, but with glassy conditions, it’ll still be fun. It’s fairly consistent too, so you won’t be waiting forever.
Saturday the 11th of July keeps the good run going. The morning has clean 4 ft swell with a nice westerly offshore at 9 mph. That’s going to be tidy. It’s a beginner-friendly size, so a good day for a wider crew. The afternoon drops to 3 ft with a 12 mph offshore, still clean, but getting small. Crowds can be a thing here sometimes, so get in early Saturday morning if you want a quieter paddle.
Sunday the 12th of July through to the end of the 16-day period is where the surf really dries up. From Sunday onwards, we’re looking at tiny, sub-2 ft swell with weak energy readings dropping to 87 and below. The wind stays clean from the west and northwest, but there’s just no push. There’s a solid gap of poor to no surf from Sunday the 12th right through to the 23rd of July. We see a tiny blip on the 19th with a 1 ft, 12-second groundswell from the southeast, but the energy is only 38, and it won’t be rideable on a reef like Redhead. The 23rd has a tiny uptick to 2 ft, but the wind is cross-on, so nothing to get excited about.
So, to sum it up: the only real window to score is Friday the 10th afternoon and Saturday the 11th morning. Friday afternoon with that glassy 5 ft southeast swell is the pick of the bunch – clean, lined-up, and fun. Saturday morning with the offshore breeze is your second-best call. After that, it’s a long, quiet stretch. Keep an eye on the forecasts, but for now, make plans for Friday.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed morning, min 10°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat afternoon, min 8°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SE 11 | SE 11 | ESE 12 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | SE 8 | E 8 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1377 | 1227 | 710 | 809 | 602 | 502 | 433 | 517 | 373 | 202 | 133 | 151 | 86 | 63 | 18 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:23PM1.21m | 2:29AM1.04m | 3:25PM1.28m | 3:45AM0.97m | 4:29PM1.36m | 5:06AM0.95m | 5:32PM1.45m | 6:18AM0.96m | 6:30PM1.53m | 7:19AM0.99m | 7:23PM1.60m | 8:12AM1.03m | 8:14PM1.64m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:43PM0.46m | 8:44AM0.34m | 9:59PM0.42m | 9:40AM0.35m | 11:16PM0.34m | 10:39AM0.35m | 00:25AM0.24m | 11:40AM0.33m | 1:24AM0.15m | 12:40PM0.30m | 2:16AM0.07m | 1:37PM0.26m | 3:03AM0.03m | ||||||||
6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | |
— | 5:00 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:01 | — | — | 5:01 | — | — | 5:02 | — | |
mm | 2 | 1 | 10 | 3 | — | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 11 | 16 | 17 | 11 | 17 | 18 | 12 |
Feels °C | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 12 | 13 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 11 | SE 11 | ESE 12 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 8 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | SSW 7 | S 9 | SSW 7 | S 7 | S 8 | S 11 | S 12 |
1377 | 1227 | 710 | 809 | 602 | 502 | 433 | 517 | 373 | 202 | 118 | 151 | 86 | 63 | 15 | 56 | 17 | 4 | 11 | 21 | 44 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 14 | ESE 13 | SSE 10 | ESE 11 | SE 10 | SE 14 | SE 13 | S 20 | ESE 14 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | — | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 8 | S 8 |
250 | 269 | 492 | 47 | 25 | 89 | 109 | 8 | 40 | 127 | 133 | 38 | 17 | — | 18 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 20 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 20 | S 18 | S 17 | S 16 | S 19 | — | S 18 | S 15 | S 16 | S 15 | NE 5 | N 6 | S 12 | E 11 | SE 8 | E 8 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 |
— | — | 8 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 7 | — | 6 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 2 | NW 3 | WNW 3 | W 3 | WNW 3 | WNW 3 | NW 3 | W 3 | WNW 3 | — | NW 3 |
1661 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 4 | — | 8 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 32 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 73 | 73 | 21 | 9 | 52 | 89 | 186 | 10 | 9 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Newcastle | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
Information about the Redhead Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Redhead provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Redhead can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Redhead 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 (Redhead) 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 Redhead 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 Redhead, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Newcastle, consider staying in Newcastle which is 12 km (7 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 19 km (12 miles) away, Cessnock, Port Stephens and Central Coast.










