
Surf Forecasts:
Shelley Beach surf forecast from 4 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 10 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, SSE swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 10 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 9s period, SSE swell with 1,998 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 5 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 10s period with S 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 Saturday (Sep 05) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 4s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Shelley Beach in the next 16 days are 3.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 10) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Shelley Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s break this one down. This is Shelley Beach, and the next couple weeks are mostly quiet, but there are a couple of sweet spots if you’re willing to wait.
For now and through the weekend, the swell is small and the wind is off or onshore, making things pretty average. The wave energy is weak (99) and the waves are tiny. The water’s about normal for this time of year.
Monday the 7th of September is the standout. Monday morning it’s glassy – dead calm wind out of the west at 0 mph. Waves are 5ft from the south, period 8 seconds, and the combined energy is moderate (312). That glassy surface is gold. This is a consistent spot, but it can get crowded sometimes.
Tuesday the 8th brings bigger surf – 7ft from the south-southeast, 9-second period, with moderate to strong energy (794 to 1102 in the afternoon), but the wind is cross-onshore, so it’ll be choppy. The afternoon is a little lighter, but still not clean. For experts only at that size.
Wednesday the 9th has a small chance in the morning with 5ft waves and a light cross-shore wind from the southwest at 3 mph. Energy is moderate (331), but conditions are marginal.
From the 10th through the 12th, the swell holds between 4ft and 8ft, but the wind stays cross-on or onshore, and every session is rated poor. The strong cross-on wind and decent wave size could be fun for kite surfing, but for paddle surfing, it’s a no-go.
After a few days of nothing good, Monday the 14th of September afternoon shows a clean cross-off wind from the north-northeast at 6 mph, waves 4ft from the south-southeast with an 11-second period (longer interval groundswell), and moderate energy (452). Clean conditions. This is your second best window.
Tuesday the 15th morning is small but tidy: 3ft, 10-second period, light cross-off wind, and low-moderate energy (240). Fine for a small wave board.
It fades again until Friday the 18th of September morning: clean cross-off, 3ft waves, 11-second period, moderate energy (361). Small but nice.
The pick of the whole run is Monday the 7th morning – glassy, clean, consistent waves around 5ft. The second best is Monday the 14th afternoon. Everything else is too small, too windy, or too messy. Shelley Beach is usually a consistent spot, so this many poor days is a bit of a bummer, but the good windows are real.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sat afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Sat afternoon, min 13°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed morning, min 11°C on Thu morning). Mainly strong winds. | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 11 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 7 | SSW 8 | S 10 | S 8 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
66 | 90 | 58 | 27 | 48 | 169 | 1170 | 302 | 159 | 949 | 792 | 1091 | 603 | 329 | 415 | 1998 | 938 | 616 | 598 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:14AM0.96m | 2:40PM1.44m | 3:44AM0.96m | 3:54PM1.49m | 4:59AM1.02m | 5:00PM1.56m | 5:57AM1.12m | 5:57PM1.63m | 6:45AM1.22m | 6:46PM1.66m | 7:28AM1.31m | 7:31PM1.65m | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:47AM0.46m | 9:46PM0.33m | 9:08AM0.47m | 10:57PM0.24m | 10:24AM0.43m | 11:54PM0.15m | 11:28AM0.35m | 00:41AM0.08m | 12:24PM0.28m | 1:23AM0.04m | 1:14PM0.21m | 2:00AM0.03m | |||||||
— | 6:07 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:40 | — | |
mm | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 27 | 30 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 14 |
Feels °C | 15 | 22 | 26 | 19 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 7 | S 10 | NE 5 | ENE 6 | S 7 | S 8 | S 10 | S 8 | S 9 | E 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | E 9 | SSE 19 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 |
40 | 90 | 17 | 24 | 48 | 72 | 1170 | 302 | 159 | 8 | 792 | 1091 | 603 | 329 | 2 | 35 | 938 | 616 | 598 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | E 9 | S 9 | S 9 | NE 7 | NE 6 | ENE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | — | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | — | S 17 | NE 16 | SSE 23 | SSE 23 | SSE 23 |
66 | 7 | 58 | 27 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 8 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 5 | 10 | 102 | 105 | 101 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 4 | NE 7 | E 9 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | NE 8 | N 8 | — | — | ENE 10 | — | E 9 | E 17 | — | E 16 | E 15 | E 15 |
4 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 9 | — | 2 | 6 | — | 5 | 4 | 4 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNE 4 | NW 3 | SW 2 | W 3 | SSW 8 | — | — | SE 8 | SSE 9 | — | — | NNE 3 | — | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | — | — | — |
— | 3 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 169 | — | — | 119 | 949 | — | — | 3 | — | 415 | 1998 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 26 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 205 | 11 | 0 | 166 | 205 | 37 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 739 | 158 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Newcastle | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.










