Shelley Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.36° S 151.51° E

Shelley Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 am 16 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Shelley Beach sea temperature is
17.4° C
0.9° 

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 16 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 17 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 11s period, S swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 9s period, S swell with 355 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 11s 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 Monday (Aug 17) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Shelley Beach in the next 16 days are 1.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) 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 0.5m 3s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 7AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Mon 17th Aug)3ft (0.9m) 11s
Best Surf 1AM (Mon 17th Aug)3ft (0.9m) 11s
Most Powerful10PM (Sat 22nd Aug)5ft (1.5m) 9s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: the next couple of weeks at Shelley Beach are going to test your patience more than your paddle. There’s a long stretch of marginal to poor conditions ahead, but if you’re willing to wait, there’s one morning that could make it all worthwhile.

Right off the bat, Sunday the 16th, it’s a write-off. We’ve got onshore SE winds at 9 mph with rain showers, and the swell is just a short-period, messy 5ft. That’s not surf, that’s a washing machine. The wave energy is moderate at best (261), but it’s all for nothing with that wind. Monday and Tuesday follow suit with light cross-onshore breezes and small, weak swell – nothing to get excited about.

Wednesday the 19th morning is our first real glimmer of hope. The wind drops out to almost nothing, leaving it glassy, and we’ve got a clean 3ft of ESE swell. It’s not big, but it’s clean, and that’s a huge plus. The energy is moderate (204), but it’s a short-period swell, so it might be a bit soft. Still, for a dawn session on a board with some float, it could be fun.

After that, the week goes a bit pear-shaped. The swell drops off, the winds get messy, and we’re looking at a whole lot of nothing. We’re talking a solid stretch of poor conditions from Thursday the 20th through to the following Wednesday the 27th. The swell gets small, the wind is all over the shop – cross-shore, cross-on, and on Thursday the 27th, we get a fresh onshore blow with rain. The wave energy is all over the place, but none of it is working for us. This is a real test of dedication.

Now, here’s the standout. Fast forward to Saturday morning, the 29th of August. The finder shows a serious pulse of swell arriving – a solid 8ft of NE windswell. And the wind? Glassy. Dead calm. That’s a major positive. The combined energy rockets up to a strong 1259, so there’s plenty of grunt in the water. This is looking like the pick of the whole run.

But listen, that 8ft is a solid size. It’s pushing into expert territory. This is not a day for the learners or the groms; this is for the crew who know what they’re doing. The swell direction is NE, which is a bit off the optimum SE for this spot, but the power and clean conditions should still make it a proper session. Expect some sizeable, lined-up waves. Given the conditions, this is the one you want to be circling on the calendar.

The following Sunday the 30th and Monday the 31st look like they’ll drop right back down to small and ordinary again. So, there you have it: a long, flat spell, one glassy morning on the 19th, and then a big, powerful Saturday on the 29th. Keep your eyes on that one.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun morning, min 14°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu morning, min 14°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
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
2
1
0
0
0
0
2
2
0
1
1
0
1
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)
1.5
SSE
6
1.3
SE
7
0.9
S
11
1
ESE
7
1
ESE
7
0.9
ESE
7
1
ESE
7
1
ESE
7
0.9
ESE
8
1
ESE
7
1.2
ESE
9
0.9
ESE
9
0.9
ESE
6
0.7
ESE
6
1.3
NE
6
0.7
E
6
0.6
ENE
6
0.6
ENE
7
0.5
ENE
7
0.9
SSE
5
1.4
S
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
170
140
181
91
88
70
99
91
98
99
232
137
60
43
100
38
31
36
26
47
283
Wind (km/h)
15
SE
15
SE
5
E
10
S
15
ESE
10
E
15
E
15
E
5
NE
5
SE
20
ENE
10
NW
10
N
25
NE
5
SSW
5
W
20
WNW
15
NW
20
SW
35
S
15
SW
Wind State
on
on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
glassy
cross-on
off
cross-off
cross
glassy
cross-off
off
off
cross
cross-on
cross
High Tide
10:39AM1.38m
10:43PM1.39m
11:21AM1.37m
11:25PM1.23m
12:04PM1.35m
00:11AM1.08m
12:53PM1.32m
1:06AM0.96m
1:49PM1.28m
2:17AM0.88m
2:54PM1.27m
3:41AM0.86m
4:00PM1.29m
Low Tide
4:39PM0.29m
5:00AM0.19m
5:30PM0.36m
5:34AM0.29m
6:26PM0.44m
6:11AM0.39m
7:30PM0.50m
6:54AM0.47m
8:46PM0.53m
7:49AM0.53m
10:05PM0.51m
8:59AM0.56m
11:09PM0.46m
rain showers
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:31
6:31
6:28
6:28
6:26
6:26
6:24
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:24
5:24
5:25
5:27
5:27
5:28
5:29
 mm
1
1
1
Temp °C
16
16
15
15
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
19
19
16
18
19
16
17
14
14
Feels °C
12
12
13
13
13
14
13
14
14
14
14
14
14
14
15
13
15
13
11
7
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 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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