Surf Forecasts:
Redhead surf forecast from 28 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 3 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 12s period, SE swell with 71 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Redhead this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Redhead in the next 16 days are 0.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 03) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 8s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Redhead over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with ya – the next week or so is a bit of a write-off. We’re staring down a long stretch of tiny, weak waves and mostly onshore or cross-off winds. From Tuesday the 28th of July right through to Friday the 7th of August, it’s pretty much flat or close to it. A few days in there you might see a ripple, but nothing worth paddling out for. The real action doesn’t start to show until the second week of August.
The first decent pulse arrives on Saturday the 8th of August. Redhead is a reef break, fairly exposed to the swell. Saturday morning brings a 4ft swell from the east with a period of 8 seconds (moderate wave energy of 156). The wind is light offshore from the NNW, so the surface will be clean. It’s a beginner-friendly wave, but the conditions are only ordinary, not firing. Sunday the 9th of August morning is the pick of the early week – glassy conditions with a light offshore from the NW, 4ft east swell at 9 seconds (207 energy). That’s clean, small, and rideable. Monday the 10th of August morning is similar: 3ft east swell, 10-second period (208 energy), light offshore from the NNW. Clean but nothing to write home about.
The standout window is Tuesday the 11th of August. Tuesday morning sees 4ft east swell at 11 seconds (410 energy), with a light offshore from the NW. That’s clean, solid, and the longer period will give the reef some shape. Tuesday afternoon, the swell jumps to 6ft from the ENE at 12 seconds (very strong combined energy of 1469). That’s a serious groundswell – long period, heaps of juice. The wind is cross-off from the NE, which should keep it reasonably clean at Redhead. That’s a big pulse for the reef, so it’ll be one for experienced surfers only. Crowds are possible here, so pick your session.
Wednesday the 12th of August morning backs off a touch to 4ft east swell at 12 seconds (389 energy), with a gentle offshore from the NNW. Still clean and solid. The afternoon gets a bit messy with cross-shore wind.
Water temp at Redhead is 65°F right now, which is about average for this time of year.
If you’re a kite surfer, that Tuesday afternoon pulse with the strong onshore energy might be more your vibe than a paddle session. The setup is a reef, so keep that in mind.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue morning, min 8°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Wed morning, calm by Thu night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun morning, min 10°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | |||||||||||||||
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 7 | SE 15 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SE 6 | ENE 6 | E 12 | E 12 | E 13 | ENE 7 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | SE 20 | E 18 | E 17 | E 17 | E 16 | E 16 | S 4 | E 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 19 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 23 | 17 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 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 | 11:15AM1.19m | 11:18PM1.26m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 5:06AM0.13m | 5:13PM0.30m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | | | | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — |
 | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
Temp °C | 19 | 19 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 14 |
Feels °C | 14 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 11 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | S 7 | S 9 | S 8 | S 7 | S 6 | S 11 | S 10 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SE 12 | SSE 11 | S 8 |
| kJ | 42 | 16 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 54 | 716 | 426 | 942 | 658 | 563 | 440 | 347 | 238 | 213 | 965 | 727 | 472 | 303 | 251 | 334 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 6 | S 16 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | E 6 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | SE 20 | SSE 16 | E 17 | E 8 | NE 8 | E 16 | E 15 | SSE 10 |
| kJ | 19 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 419 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 18 | 72 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 14 | SE 15 | SE 14 | S 18 | SE 6 | S 16 | E 12 | E 12 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 7 | E 18 | S 23 | E 17 | E 16 | E 7 | S 16 | E 15 |
| kJ | 7 | 8 | 8 | 24 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 17 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 2 | NW 3 | NW 2 | NW 3 | WSW 4 | WSW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 3 | — | — | SSW 4 | S 4 | — |
| kJ | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 4 | 23 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 9 | 21 | 54 | 186 | 186 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 42 | 9 | 9 | 34 | 9 | 104 | 137 | 84 |
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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