Surf Forecasts:
Redhead surf forecast from 15 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 20 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 10s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 10s period, E swell with 768 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 10s period with E 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 Monday (Jul 20) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 10s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Redhead in the next 16 days are 1.9m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.3m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 16) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Redhead over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, I’m Rusty, and I’ve been staring at the charts for your local stretch. Honestly, it’s a pretty bleak picture for the next couple of weeks. We’re looking at a long gap with barely any worthwhile surf on offer. The first recommendation doesn't even pop up until Thursday the 20th of July, and even then, it's a struggle.
From now until then, it’s a write-off. Thursday the 16th through to Wednesday the 22nd of July is just a mess of onshore winds and lumpy, gutless swells. You’ll see days of cross-on and onshore breeze with wave heights barely climbing. The combined wave energy is weak to moderate, maxing out at 768 on Sunday the 19th, but with a stiff onshore wind on a reef break, it’s not paddle surf—that setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than a proper surf session.
The real heartache is the quality. The water temp is about average for the time of year here at Redhead, but that’s the only thing that’s normal.
Thursday the 20th of July morning finally sees a tiny shift. We get a 5ft swell from the east at 10 seconds with a cross-shore breeze from the ENE at 3 mph. The combined energy is 388, which is moderate, but the comment says it’s “marginal” with questionable tide. It’s still a poor option. That same trend holds into Friday the 21st with a cleaner morning, but the swell drops to 4ft. The period is still 10 seconds, which is okay for a reef, but the energy is down to 248. It’s surfable, but very ordinary.
After that, it drops off a cliff. From the 22nd of July right through to the end of the month, we’re talking swells under 3ft, mostly 1ft to 2ft, with weak combined energy readings in the double digits. The wind does go clean or even glassy on the 27th and 28th of July, but there’s simply no swell to push through. It’s a classic flat spell for a break like Redhead—when the consistency is only “fairly consistent” in the guidance, these blank runs are more normal for the area.
There are no standouts here, mate. Nothing to get excited about. The only faint glimmer is Thursday the 20th of July morning or Tuesday the 21st of July morning, but that’s scraping the bottom of the barrel. You’d be better off looking at other activities for the foreseeable future. Don’t bank on any of this—forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a dry spell.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Thu morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat afternoon, min 12°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Wed night, light winds from the SSE by Fri morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat night, min 12°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wed 22 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | S 8 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 0 | 0 | 53 | 73 | 108 | 114 | 160 | 222 | 306 | 527 | 768 | 578 | 434 | 379 | 332 | 284 | 240 | 245 | 209 | 160 | 125 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | cross | off | off | cross | off | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 9:47AM1.12m | 9:49PM1.59m | 10:32AM1.14m | 10:35PM1.50m | 11:18AM1.16m | 11:20PM1.38m | 12:05PM1.16m | 00:05AM1.24m | 12:54PM1.16m | 00:53AM1.09m | 1:47PM1.15m | 1:46AM0.96m | 2:45PM1.15m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:49AM0.01m | 3:24PM0.23m | 4:32AM0.03m | 4:16PM0.25m | 5:14AM0.08m | 5:08PM0.29m | 5:55AM0.14m | 6:03PM0.35m | 6:36AM0.21m | 7:01PM0.41m | 7:17AM0.28m | 8:06PM0.46m | 8:00AM0.34m | ||||||||
 |  | | |  | | | |  |  | |  |  | | |  | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — |
 | — | — | 5:04 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:06 | — | — | 5:06 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 |
mm | 3 | 9 | 4 | 3 | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 16 |
Feels °C | 11 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 18 | S 8 | S 8 | S 7 | S 6 | ESE 7 | S 10 | S 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 |
| kJ | — | 6 | 418 | 163 | 76 | 50 | 160 | 47 | 45 | 527 | 768 | 578 | 434 | 379 | 332 | 284 | 240 | 245 | 209 | 160 | 125 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 18 | E 8 | SSE 17 | S 15 | S 8 | SSE 21 | SSE 19 | S 9 | SSE 18 | SSE 16 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 |
| kJ | — | — | 25 | 12 | 30 | 17 | 31 | 43 | 37 | 24 | 60 | 87 | 86 | 103 | 103 | 88 | 56 | 48 | 31 | 17 | 17 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 18 | SSE 18 | S 11 | S 11 | S 21 | S 19 | — | SSE 19 | S 8 | S 8 | SE 16 | SE 15 | SE 15 | SE 14 | SE 14 | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 13 | — |
| kJ | — | — | 24 | 32 | 23 | 22 | 8 | 7 | — | 34 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | S 8 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | S 6 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | NNE 4 | — | — |
| kJ | 488 | 581 | 53 | 73 | 108 | 114 | 16 | 222 | 306 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 32 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 32 | 108 | 3 | 32 | 3 | 78 | 32 | 30 | 167 | 78 | 32 | 13 | 30 | 9 | 42 | 0 | 0 | 79 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Newcastle | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.
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