Shelley Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.36° S 151.51° E

Issued: 3 pm 05 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Shelley Beach sea temperature is
19.1° C

Slightly warmer than usual

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


Shelley Beach surf forecast from 5 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 7 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, SSE swell with cross-shore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 7 Jul, 4PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 11s period, SE swell with 2,460 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 7 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period with SSE swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Shelley Beach this week:

The surf forecast for Shelley Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 07) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 3.0m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Shelley Beach in the next 16 days are 3.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 07) 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 0.5m 3s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 12) at 10PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7AM (Tue 7th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 10s
Best Surf 7AM (Tue 7th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 10s
Most Powerful 4PM (Tue 7th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 11s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – for the next little while, Shelley Beach is a bit of a challenge. It’s on the expose to the south-east, but the wind is going to be a problem for a few days. We’ve got a decent run of swell on the way, but it’s gonna take its time to clean up.

The first decent chance you’re gonna get doesn't come around until Thursday morning, the 9th of July. The swell has dropped a bit to about 7ft from the SE, with a 10-second period, but the real win is that cross-offshore WSW wind at 9 mph. It’s gonna be clean, and there’s a moderate wave energy (875). It’s not a monster, but after the blown-out mess of the weekend, this is a real relief. The water is sitting at about 66°, which is pretty average for this time of year – nothing to worry about.

Friday morning, the 10th of July, is similar but a little smaller – around 6ft from the SSE with a 10-second period and that same clean, cross-offshore wind. The energy is down a notch (650), but it’s still a fun, user-friendly option for anyone who missed out Thursday.

Now, the real standout for the whole outlook is Saturday the 18th of July, into Sunday the 19th of July. That’s the one to circle on the calendar. On Saturday afternoon, we’ve got a pumping 8ft SE groundswell riding that 12-second period, with a gentle offshore wind out of the northwest at 9 mph. The energy is there (1824), and it’s going to be clean. This is set for experienced surfers – that’s a bit too big for a beginner, but for anyone with some time in the water, it’s gonna be epic. The direction is perfect for the break.

Sunday the 19th of July keeps the fun going – 6ft from the SE, a solid 11-second period, and again, offshore flow from the northwest. Clean and lined up. And Sunday afternoon picks up a bit again, 7ft from the SSE. If crowds are a thing for you, it’s worth noting that Shelley Beach is sometimes busy, so a bit of competition is possible.

For the week in between, we’ve got a bit of a lull. Saturday the 11th of July morning is glassy and clean, with just about 4ft from the SE and a light offshore breeze, but it’s small. Then Sunday the 12th of July morning is similar – 3ft and clean, but you’re really scratching. There’s a stretch from Monday the 13th through to Wednesday the 15th of July that’s basically flat or just messy.

One thing – on Tuesday the 16th of July and Thursday the 17th of July, the swell gets big again (10ft to 12ft), but it’s coming with strong cross-shore winds. That’s not great for paddle surfing at a beach; if you’ve got a kite, you might have a better time.

In short: Thursday and Friday of this coming week are your early pick for a clean wave, but the real gold is on the 18th and 19th of July – that’s the weekend to keep free.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Tue night. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat morning, min 11°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Sun
5
Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
Friday
10
Saturday
11
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
!
0
!
2
0
3
3
1
2
3
1
2
2
1
2
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3
S
11
3
SSE
11
3
SSE
10
2.5
SSE
10
2.5
SSE
10
3
SSE
10
3
SE
11
3
SE
11
2.5
SE
10
2.5
SSE
11
2.2
SE
10
2.1
SE
10
2
SE
10
1.8
SE
9
1.7
SSE
10
1.9
SE
10
1.6
SE
10
1.3
SE
9
1.1
SE
9
0.8
ESE
12
0.9
ESE
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1796
1904
1461
1412
1520
2183
2460
2287
1351
1395
967
869
738
538
490
678
459
287
190
167
170
Wind (km/h)
35
S
35
SSE
25
SSE
25
SSE
25
SSW
25
SSW
30
S
20
S
20
SW
25
SSW
15
SW
15
WSW
10
S
10
SW
15
SW
15
SSW
10
W
5
NW
15
NE
15
NW
20
NNW
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
off
cross
off
off
High Tide
11:35PM1.38m
12:42PM1.19m
00:21AM1.30m
1:34PM1.25m
1:18AM1.20m
2:29PM1.33m
2:25AM1.12m
3:27PM1.43m
3:41AM1.07m
4:26PM1.53m
4:57AM1.05m
5:23PM1.64m
6:06AM1.07m
Low Tide
5:25PM0.50m
6:18AM0.20m
6:23PM0.52m
6:59AM0.22m
7:29PM0.53m
7:46AM0.24m
8:44PM0.49m
8:39AM0.27m
10:00PM0.41m
9:38AM0.30m
11:11PM0.30m
10:38AM0.30m
00:15AM0.17m
11:38AM0.29m
light rain
light rain
light rain
light rain
rain showers
light rain
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
light rain
light rain
part cloud
clear
cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:58
6:58
6:56
6:56
6:56
6:56
6:56
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
4:58
4:59
4:59
5:00
5:00
5:00
5:00
5:01
 mm
2
3
2
2
4
2
2
3
2
1
5
1
1
2
2
Temp °C
16
15
15
16
16
15
16
16
14
15
15
13
16
15
14
15
14
17
17
14
19
Feels °C
9
9
9
11
11
10
10
11
10
10
11
11
13
12
11
13
12
15
14
11
14
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.5
SSE
14
0.2
E
13
0.1
E
14
0.2
E
14
3
SSE
10
0.2
S
17
3
SE
11
2.5
SE
10
0.9
ESE
13
2.2
SE
10
2.1
SE
10
2
SE
10
1.8
SE
9
1.7
SSE
10
1.9
SE
10
1.6
SE
10
1.3
SE
9
1.1
SE
9
1
SE
8
0.9
ESE
11
Energy kJ
803
14
4
15
1637
22
1951
1351
261
967
869
738
538
490
678
459
287
190
132
170
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
E
8
0.1
E
14
0.1
E
14
1
SE
14
0.9
ESE
14
0.1
S
16
0.5
ESE
11
0.1
S
18
0.7
SE
12
0.1
S
19
0.1
S
18
0.3
ESE
13
0.4
ESE
12
0.8
ESE
12
0.6
SSE
9
Energy kJ
5
4
4
357
289
5
69
6
153
7
6
34
58
167
50
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
S
17
0.1
S
20
0.1
S
19
0.1
S
16
0.2
ESE
15
0.4
ESE
10
0.1
S
15
Energy kJ
6
8
7
5
21
38
4
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3
S
11
3
SSE
11
3
SSE
10
2.5
SSE
10
2.5
SSE
10
3
SSE
10
3
SE
11
3
SE
11
2.5
SSE
11
0.9
SSW
4
0.3
W
3
0.2
WNW
2
0.4
NW
3
0.4
NNW
3
Energy kJ
1796
1904
1461
1412
1520
2183
2460
2287
1395
28
1
1
2
3
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
4
5
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
2
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
Distance (km)
296
296
292
166
11
11
41
11
11
11
0
0
11
0
0
0
0
0
8
0
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Newcastle
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia
Rating
(10 max)
9
7
4
4
8
7
4
5
7
5
5
4
4
5
4
4
4
3
2
9
7
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
9
7
5
6
8
7
5
5
9
8
9
9
5
6
6
5
8
7
4
9
9
  • 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 Shelley Beach Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Shelley Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Shelley Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Shelley Beach 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 (Shelley Beach) 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 Shelley Beach 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 Shelley Beach, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Newcastle, consider staying in Central Coast which is 20 km (12 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 24 km (15 miles) away, Dee Why, Newcastle and Hornsby.

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