Surf Forecasts:
Shelley Beach surf forecast from 10 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 11 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 13s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 11 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 11s period, S swell with 618 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 11 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 13s 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 Tuesday (Aug 11) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 7s. 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 1.6m 11s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Monday (Aug 10) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 1PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Shelley Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's chew the fat on Shelley Beach for the next couple of weeks. Got to be honest, it's a tale of two halves, with a long barren spell before a little bit of hope shows up.
We start on Monday the 10th, but don't even think about paddling out. There's a 4ft swell from the ENE with a short, weak 9-second period, and a howling 28 mph wind from the northwest. It's clean but it's a battle to get out. This one's for the kite crowd.
The next stretch is a real grind. From Tuesday the 11th all the way through to the 24th of August, it's mostly poor. We get a few fleeting moments of clean but tiny surf, like a 2ft wave on Tuesday morning the 11th, or a 3ft wave on Wednesday afternoon the 12th, but the energy is low. The water temp is 64°, which is right on the money for this time of year. The south swell that tries to build on the 12th and 13th gets chopped up by cross-shore and onshore winds. The 13th sees a 6ft swell, but it's ugly with a cross-onshore breeze. It's a solid 10-day gap where the waves are just not worth your time.
But hold on, because the finish line is Tuesday the 25th of August. The morning session looks like the winner: a 5ft south swell with an 8-second period, and a light offshore breeze from the northwest. That's a clean, ridable wave. The afternoon follows with a 4ft south swell and a gentle offshore. This is the one to aim for. Shelley Beach is a consistent, exposed spot, so it just needs that offshore wind to turn it on. The crowds are listed as "sometimes," so you might have a few others with the same idea, but after a long wait, it could be a bit quiet.
So, the long story short is: sit tight for a long time, then get ready for Tuesday the 25th. That's the best shot we've got.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Tue morning, min 11°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NW on Mon afternoon, light winds from the WSW by Tue morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat morning, min 11°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | SSW 7 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 | S 8 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 7 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | S 11 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 272 | 117 | 68 | 618 | 338 | 184 | 134 | 66 | 332 | 556 | 219 | 235 | 263 | 172 | 157 | 107 | 170 | 131 | 155 | 58 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 6:09PM1.71m | 6:59AM1.13m | 7:01PM1.78m | 7:49AM1.20m | 7:50PM1.80m | 8:34AM1.27m | 8:36PM1.76m | 9:17AM1.32m | 9:19PM1.68m | 9:58AM1.36m | 10:01PM1.54m | 10:39AM1.38m | 10:43PM1.39m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:02AM0.07m | 12:29PM0.27m | 1:49AM-0.00m | 1:22PM0.22m | 2:33AM-0.03m | 2:12PM0.20m | 3:13AM-0.02m | 3:01PM0.20m | 3:50AM0.03m | 3:50PM0.23m | 4:26AM0.10m | 4:39PM0.29m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |  |  | | | |  |  | |
 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — |
 | 5:21 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Temp °C | 15 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 13 | 17 | 19 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 |
Feels °C | 6 | 10 | 17 | 15 | 7 | 14 | 16 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | SSW 7 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 | S 8 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | SSE 7 | ENE 10 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 6 |
| kJ | 272 | 117 | 67 | 618 | 338 | 184 | 134 | 66 | 159 | 556 | 219 | 235 | 263 | 172 | 99 | 18 | 32 | 47 | 26 | 41 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | E 13 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | E 10 | E 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | SSE 21 | ENE 9 | S 15 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ESE 5 |
| kJ | 3 | 4 | 68 | 66 | 47 | 31 | 47 | 45 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 18 | 18 | 84 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 10 | 19 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 12 | S 17 | — | — | — | S 14 | — | S 20 | — | S 14 | S 16 | S 20 | ENE 10 | S 15 | S 20 | S 14 | S 18 | S 16 | S 11 |
| kJ | — | 3 | 6 | — | — | — | 4 | — | 8 | — | 16 | 21 | 30 | 18 | 18 | 7 | 4 | 24 | 20 | 58 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 4 | WNW 4 | W 4 | — | W 3 | WNW 3 | NNW 4 | W 3 | S 8 | — | — | — | — | — | S 7 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | — |
| kJ | 39 | 28 | 8 | — | 4 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 332 | — | — | — | — | — | 157 | 107 | 170 | 131 | 155 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 128 | 219 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 46 | 260 |
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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