Surf Forecasts:
Redhead surf forecast from 26 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 2 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 13s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 2 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 12s period, SE swell with 126 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 2 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 13s 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 Sunday (Aug 02) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 13s 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 0.6m 12s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) 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 2.3m 10s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 30) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Redhead over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey, Rusty here, checking in on Redhead.
Right up front, there’s nearly a week of flat, crummy conditions – not a wave worth paddling for. But if you’re patient, we get something around the corner.
Sunday, August 2nd, morning shows a small 2ft south-east swell, 13-second period, combined energy of 96 (weak). The wind’s light north and cross-offshore, so it’s clean. Small and ordinary, but you can at least get wet.
Monday, August 3rd, afternoon brings a 3ft south-east groundswell, 10 seconds, energy at 160 (moderate). North-northeast cross-offshore wind keeps it tidy. Still not big, but it’s rideable, and honestly, the best we’ve had till now.
Late in the week the energy builds, but the wind fouls it up. By Friday, August 7th, morning sees 4ft south-east swell, 7-second period, 156 energy (moderate). Problem is the strong south-west cross-onshore wind – lumpy, bumpy, and borderline unrideable. Probably better as a kitesurf setup.
Saturday, August 8th, afternoon is big. 8ft east-south-east swell, 8-second period, energy jumps to 1767 (strong to very strong). But the wind is south cross-onshore with rain showers. That much power on a reef with winds all wrong – it’s big and dangerous. Experts only, and even then, it’s messy.
Sunday, August 9th, drops to 5ft east-south-east swell, 9 seconds, 394 energy (moderate). West-south-west cross-shore wind keeps it fairly clean but marginal. Tide dependent, so do your homework.
Now for the real highlight. Monday, August 10th, morning. 4ft east swell, 9 second period, 382 energy (moderate), and light north-northwest offshore wind. That is clean, lined-up surf on the reef at Redhead. Water temp is about 65°F – right around the seasonal average. This is easily the best window in the whole forecast.
Tuesday, August 11th, morning is solid too. 5ft east swell, 9 seconds, energy at 445 (moderate), with northwest offshore breeze at 12 mph. Clean and pushy. But by the afternoon the wind rips in from the west-southwest at 25 mph, shredding the surface with messy chop. So get your waves early.
Bottom line – flat for a long stretch, then the early mornings of August 10th and 11th are where it’s at. Clean offshore winds, decent swell, and Redhead doing its thing. Don’t sleep on it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Tue afternoon, min 7°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Mon morning, fresh winds from the WSW by Wed morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri afternoon, min 10°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | |||||||||||||||
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 13 | SE 14 | SE 16 | SE 14 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SE 6 | ENE 6 | E 12 | E 12 | E 7 | ENE 6 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 7 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 3 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 88 | 87 | 74 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | on | cross-off | cross | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross | off |
High Tide | 6:56PM1.34m | 7:39AM0.90m | 7:33PM1.39m | 8:15AM0.96m | 8:08PM1.43m | 8:50AM1.02m | 8:44PM1.45m | 9:24AM1.08m | 9:20PM1.45m | 10:00AM1.13m | 9:57PM1.42m | 10:36AM1.16m | 10:36PM1.35m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:10PM0.37m | 1:46AM0.19m | 12:55PM0.34m | 2:19AM0.13m | 1:37PM0.30m | 2:51AM0.09m | 2:18PM0.28m | 3:23AM0.07m | 2:59PM0.26m | 3:56AM0.07m | 3:41PM0.26m | 4:30AM0.09m | 4:25PM0.27m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | |  | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — |
 | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:15 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 16 | 15 | 19 | 20 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 14 |
Feels °C | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 7 | S 9 | S 8 | SSW 3 | S 6 | S 10 | S 10 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 11 |
| kJ | 203 | 162 | 119 | 42 | 17 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 66 | 789 | 524 | 1229 | 953 | 884 | 574 | 512 | 416 | 305 | 275 | 217 | 176 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 13 | E 12 | SE 16 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SE 6 | ENE 6 | E 12 | E 12 | E 7 | ENE 6 | E 13 | E 13 | E 8 | E 12 | S 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 12 |
| kJ | 3 | 3 | 10 | 14 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 88 | 87 | 74 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | SE 14 | E 11 | SE 14 | SE 15 | SE 14 | S 17 | S 17 | S 15 | E 12 | E 12 | — | — | — | E 13 | E 12 | S 15 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | NE 4 |
| kJ | 1 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NE 3 | NNW 2 | NW 2 | — | NW 3 | W 3 | W 3 | — | S 10 | — | — | S 11 | — | — | — | NE 3 | NNE 8 | NE 3 | NE 4 |
| kJ | — | — | 5 | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | 4 | 1 | — | 1066 | — | — | 1168 | — | — | — | 1 | 7 | 4 | 16 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 3 | 42 | 9 | 9 | 21 | 54 | 186 | 176 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 80 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 69 | 0 |
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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