Surf Forecasts:
Shelley Beach surf forecast from 14 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 21 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 10s period, ENE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 15 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 10s period, S swell with 1,194 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 21 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 10s period with ENE 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 21) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Shelley Beach in the next 16 days are 2.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 15) at 1PM. 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 Tuesday (Jul 21) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Tue 21st Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Tue 21st Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Wed 15th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Shelley Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’m not gonna lie to you—Shelley Beach is lookin’ at a pretty rough start to the forecast window. The first week or so is a write-off, with poor surf conditions and messy winds. You’d be better off waxin’ your board and puttin’ it straight back in the shed. There’s a gap of about six or seven days with nothing worth paddlin’ out for. The water temp is sittin’ around 66°, which is pretty much where you’d expect it for this time of year, so that’s a small win.
Wednesday the 23rd of July morning is where things finally start to shape up. We’ve got a clean 6ft easterly groundswell with a solid 11-second period and glassy conditions—northwest wind at 3 mph. That’s the kind of mornin’ that makes the drive worthwhile. The combined swell energy’s at 699 (moderate energy) and the wave comment says “expect very good surf conditions,” so you can feel the optimism. This is your standout session: Shelley Beach (SE QLD) on a clean, tidy swell. The swell direction is from the east, and the guidance says the optimum swell direction is from the southeast, so it’s not a perfect match, but it’s close enough when the glass is this good. Crowds can be a bit of a thing here, especially when it’s clean, so get in early.
Tuesday the 28th of July is another one to circle. Tuesday morning sees a 4ft easterly swell with a long 13-second period, combined energy at 600 (moderate), and a moderate offshore breeze from the northwest at 13 mph. That’s clean, lined-up, and the longer period means better-shaped waves, though it might run a bit straight on the beach—still, for Shelley it’ll be fun. The afternoon holds onto clean conditions with a cross-offshore breeze, so you could make a day of it. The water’s still that same ~66°.
The last hurrah is Wednesday the 29th of July morning: a smaller 3ft easterly swell with a 12-second period, gentle offshore wind from the northwest, and combined energy at 368. It’s not a big day, but it’ll be clean and cruisy. Good for a longboard or a fish.
That’s your lot. It’s a slow burner, but the 23rd and the 28th are the real gems. Keep an eye on the forecast—things change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Thu night. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue afternoon, fresh winds from the S by Thu morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri afternoon, min 16°C on Fri afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tue 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | SW 6 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 7 | S 6 | ESE 6 | S 9 | S 10 | ESE 6 | E 8 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 13 | 33 | 766 | 1014 | 345 | 453 | 566 | 206 | 65 | 40 | 78 | 69 | 90 | 198 | 470 | 530 | 509 | 492 | 424 | 294 | 288 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross | glassy |
High Tide | 8:04PM1.86m | 8:55AM1.18m | 8:54PM1.85m | 9:44AM1.21m | 9:42PM1.79m | 10:32AM1.23m | 10:29PM1.67m | 11:20AM1.25m | 11:15PM1.51m | 12:09PM1.27m | 00:01AM1.34m | 12:59PM1.28m | 00:51AM1.17m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:56AM-0.06m | 2:23PM0.23m | 3:43AM-0.06m | 3:15PM0.24m | 4:28AM-0.02m | 4:07PM0.28m | 5:10AM0.04m | 5:01PM0.35m | 5:51AM0.13m | 5:59PM0.42m | 6:30AM0.22m | 7:01PM0.48m | 7:10AM0.31m | ||||||||
 |  | | |  |  |  | |  | | | | |  |  | | | | |  | | |
 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 |
 | 5:02 | — | — | 5:02 | — | — | 5:04 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:06 | — | — | 5:06 | — | 5:07 |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 |
Feels °C | 17 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 7 | S 10 | — | — | S 15 | S 18 | S 18 | S 7 | S 6 | ESE 6 | S 9 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 |
| kJ | 4 | 8 | — | — | 5 | 6 | 25 | 206 | 65 | 40 | 78 | 69 | 46 | 43 | 470 | 530 | 509 | 492 | 424 | 294 | 288 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | E 10 | — | — | — | S 15 | S 13 | S 18 | ESE 5 | S 6 | S 23 | SSE 21 | SSE 19 | SSE 19 | S 9 | SSE 17 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 |
| kJ | 13 | 2 | — | — | — | 4 | 14 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 10 | 43 | 36 | 36 | 23 | 96 | 54 | 109 | 102 | 60 | 36 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 10 | — | — | — | — | — | S 15 | S 17 | S 8 | S 18 | — | S 18 | — | SSE 18 | S 9 | S 7 | SE 16 | SSE 15 | SE 14 | SE 14 |
| kJ | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 23 | 21 | 6 | — | 6 | — | 104 | 13 | 4 | 10 | 21 | 8 | 7 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 6 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 8 | ESE 5 | — | — | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | E 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 33 | 766 | 1014 | 345 | 453 | 566 | 30 | — | — | 72 | 62 | 90 | 198 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 398 | 100 | 37 | 41 | 31 | 83 | 83 | 11 | 11 | 15 | 11 | 35 | 158 | 35 | 35 | 57 | 11 | 26 | 11 | 8 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Newcastle | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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