Redhead Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.02° S 151.72° E

Issued: 3 am 04 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Redhead sea temperature is
19.3° C

Slightly warmer than usual

Redhead surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Redhead surf forecast from 3 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 4 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 13s period, E swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 6 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 9s period, SE swell with 690 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 4 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 13s 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 Saturday (Jul 04) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.3m and 13s 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 2.1m 9s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 06) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 11s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 05) at 10AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1PM (Sat 4th Jul)1ft (0.3m) 13s
Best Surf 1PM (Sat 4th Jul)1ft (0.3m) 13s
Most Powerful10PM (Mon 6th Jul)7ft (2.1m) 9s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

G’day, Rusty here.

Righto, lookin’ at Redhead for the next couple of weeks, and I gotta be straight with ya—it’s a pretty lean stretch. This is a reef setup, fairly exposed, and it’s got a bit of a NE swell direction preference, but the ocean just ain’t playin’ ball for most of it. You’re lookin’ at a long gap with basically nothin’ worth paddlin’ out for.

Let me walk ya through it. We kick off Saturday the 4th of July, and it’s clear skies with a light northwesterly, which is a nice cross-off breeze. But the swell’s tiny—0.7ft from the east, period around 13 seconds. Combined energy is just 19—that’s weak as dishwater. Water temp’s 67°, about what you’d expect for this time of year. Honest, this is poor surf, not worth wettin’ a suit over.

That set the tone for the next week, honestly. Saturday arvo, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday—all rubbish. Winds swing southerly and get up to 19 mph, cross-on or onshore, and those little 0.7ft to 1ft east swells just get chopped to bits. The energy’s in the teens, barely crackin’ 20. It’s a write-off.

Wednesday the 8th sees a tiny pulse—1ft to 2ft from the ESE, period around 12 to 13 seconds, energy creepin’ up to 69 then 83. Still moderate, but the wind’s a moderate to fresh breeze from the southwest, cross or cross-on. It’s lumpy and messy. Thursday and Friday the 9th and 10th flatline again—zero energy, despite a brief glassy moment Friday morning, but with no swell, that’s just a flat pond.

There is a flicker of hope come Sunday the 12th of July. Mornin’ session sees a 2ft ESE swell, period about 10 seconds, combined energy hittin’ 55—that’s actually moderate! And the wind’s a clean offshore from the NNW at 9 mph. This is the closest we get to “surfable” in this whole run. It’s small, sure, and the break can be inconsistent, but with that offshore breeze cleanin’ it right up, you might snag a few little peelers. Still, it’s beginner-friendly at that size. Crowds are sometimes an issue here, so if you go, you might have a few mates out.

That little window fades out Monday and Tuesday the 13th and 14th with similar tiny swells and cross-off winds, but energy drops back to weak levels. Then from Wednesday the 15th right through to the end of the forecast, it’s a big fat zero for most of it, with fresh to strong southerly winds hittin’ 22 mph. Friday the 17th of July arvo does show a spike—6ft from the SE, period only 8 seconds, so it’s a short-period wind swell, energy a huge 534—that’s strong. But the wind’s a fresh cross-onshore at 22 mph, so it’ll be blown-out, lumpy, and ugly. That kind of setup with a beach-and-reef joint like Redhead looks way more interesting for kite surfers than paddle surfers.

Saturday the 18th has a tiny 0.3ft SE swell with a ridiculously long 21-second period, energy only 17, and light onshore wind. The only thing long period that does is make for long waits between nothing.

So bottom line: The only day that even gets a nod is Sunday the 12th in the mornin’. Small, clean, offshore. That’s your pick. The rest is a long, grim gap with no real standouts. It’s not abnormal for the area, but it sure ain’t fun.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Sun morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon night, min 12°C on Sat morning). Winds increasing (calm on Sat afternoon, fresh winds from the SSE by Sun afternoon).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Thu night. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue morning, min 11°C on Wed morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Tue night, light winds from the WSW by Thu night).

Saturday
4
Sunday
5
Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
Friday
10
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
E
13
0.3
E
12
0.3
E
11
0.3
E
8
0.2
E
13
0.2
E
13
0.2
E
14
0.2
E
14
0.2
E
13
0.2
E
11
3
SSE
11
2.5
SE
11
0.4
ESE
13
0.5
ESE
12
0.5
ESE
11
2.4
SSE
10
2.5
SSE
9
0.3
ESE
8
2.3
SSE
11
2.1
SSE
10
1.8
SSE
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
14
27
23
12
13
14
16
15
14
10
0
0
69
83
70
0
0
14
0
0
0
Wind (km/h)
10
NW
10
SE
10
SSW
30
S
30
S
30
SSE
25
SSE
25
SSE
25
S
25
SSW
25
SSW
35
SSW
25
SW
30
SSW
25
SSW
25
SW
25
SSW
20
SW
0
SE
10
SW
15
WSW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross
glassy
cross-on
cross
High Tide
11:12AM1.06m
11:01PM1.39m
11:53AM1.09m
11:43PM1.32m
12:38PM1.12m
00:30AM1.23m
1:27PM1.16m
1:25AM1.14m
2:23PM1.21m
2:29AM1.04m
3:25PM1.28m
3:45AM0.97m
4:29PM1.36m
Low Tide
4:44PM0.41m
5:46AM0.18m
5:34PM0.44m
6:25AM0.22m
6:30PM0.46m
7:07AM0.26m
7:32PM0.47m
7:53AM0.30m
8:43PM0.46m
8:44AM0.34m
9:59PM0.42m
9:40AM0.35m
11:16PM0.34m
clear
clear
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
mod rain
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:56
6:56
6:56
6:56
6:56
6:56
6:54
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
4:58
4:58
4:59
4:59
5:00
5:00
5:00
 mm
1
2
2
4
2
2
4
1
3
3
1
4
2
8
3
2
Temp °C
15
15
15
15
15
16
16
16
17
16
16
16
14
15
15
15
15
15
14
14
14
Feels °C
13
12
13
9
9
10
11
11
12
11
12
9
8
8
9
9
10
12
12
12
12
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.2
S
12
1
S
10
0.9
S
9
0.3
E
8
1.2
SSE
15
0.2
E
13
0.2
E
14
0.2
E
14
2.4
SSE
10
2.5
SSE
10
2.5
SSE
11
2.5
SE
11
3
SSE
10
2.4
SSE
10
2.5
SSE
10
2.4
SSE
10
0.1
S
21
2.4
SSE
11
2.3
SSE
11
2.1
SSE
10
1.8
SSE
10
Energy kJ
373
181
117
12
612
14
16
15
1080
1306
1628
1592
1544
1138
1137
1021
9
1287
1237
978
635
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
ENE
7
0.5
S
12
0.5
S
12
0.1
E
13
0.2
E
13
0.2
E
13
0.2
E
11
0.1
S
16
0.4
ESE
13
0.5
ESE
12
0.5
ESE
11
0.1
S
23
0.1
S
17
0.3
ESE
8
0.1
S
19
0.1
S
21
0.1
S
19
Energy kJ
5
78
72
3
13
14
10
5
69
83
70
10
6
14
7
8
7
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
E
13
0.3
E
12
0.3
E
11
0.1
S
22
0.1
S
22
Energy kJ
14
27
23
10
9
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
WNW
2
0.4
SE
3
3
S
11
2.5
S
10
2.5
SSE
11
2.5
SSE
10
2.4
SSE
10
2.5
SSE
10
3
SSE
11
3
SSE
10
2.5
SSE
10
2.5
SSE
10
2.5
SSE
9
2.5
SSE
9
Energy kJ
1
2
2130
1568
1756
1160
1077
1352
2092
1810
1526
1365
1256
1062
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
4
4
3
4
4
4
4
4
5
4
2
4
4
3
4
4
3
3
Distance (km)
3
3
3
137
253
281
209
209
3
3
32
84
32
119
3
3
32
3
3
3
3
Best forecast wave conditions in Newcastle
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
2
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia
Rating
(10 max)
5
5
6
5
4
7
4
4
8
7
4
5
6
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
7
5
6
5
9
7
5
6
8
7
4
5
9
8
9
6
5
5
8
5
8
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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 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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