Shelley Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.36° S 151.51° E

Shelley Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 am 29 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Shelley Beach sea temperature is
17.8°C
0.4° 

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 29 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 10s period, SE swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 10s period, SE swell with 211 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 29 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 10s period with SE 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 (Aug 29) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 8s. 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 1.1m 10s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Friday (Sep 04) at 10PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10PM (Sat 29th Aug)3.5ft (1.1m) 10s
Best Surf10PM (Sat 29th Aug)3.5ft (1.1m) 10s
Most Powerful 7PM (Sat 29th Aug)3.5ft (1.1m) 10s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, it’s Rusty.

Let’s be straight: the next few days at Shelley Beach are pretty flat and nothing special. Saturday morning sees a weak 4ft SSE swell with a short period and cross-on breeze. Water temp is about 64°, right on average for this time of year. Combined energy is 338 (moderate) – it’s marginal. Saturday afternoon and the rest of the weekend stay poor, with swell dropping to just 3ft by Sunday morning – that Sunday morning does turn glassy with a light NNE wind, so if you’re really keen it’ll be clean but barely worth the paddle.

Monday stays undersized, with a long-period 16-second S groundswell but only 2ft – all bark, no bite. The energy reading is 266 (moderate) and the cross-shore wind doesn’t help. Tuesday brings a little more size, 3 to 3ft S swell, but periods are short and wind is messy. Nothing to get excited about.

Wednesday 2 September is a small bump – 2ft S swell in the morning with a clean offshore NW wind, but the energy’s weak at 133. That’s surfable but ordinary. Thursday 3 September is even smaller, 2ft S swell with a 10-second period and clean offshore WNW wind in the morning, but energy is a measly 80 (weak). That’s a paddleboard day, not surf.

From Friday 4 September through to Sunday 6 September, swell stays in the 1 to 3ft range, mostly short-period S swell, with poor conditions and weak energy – mostly under 100. There’s a gap of nearly a week with nothing worth chasing.

Then on Monday 7 September the wind gets strong and swell builds. Monday morning has 4ft S swell with a screaming 45 km/h NW offshore – clean but nearly impossible to paddle into, with moderate energy of 244. Monday afternoon jumps to 6ft S swell, 9-second period, and Tuesday has 5 to 6ft S swell. Wind is strong offshore or cross-off, and by Tuesday afternoon the combined energy climbs to 814 (strong). Conditions are clean but that wind is howling at 35 to 40 km/h – tough going.

Wednesday 9 September brings the biggest swell of the run: 8ft S swell with a 12-second period and combined energy of 1616 (very strong). The wind is cross-shore at 25 km/h, so it’s choppy. That’s for experts only – too big and messy for most.

Now here’s the standout: Thursday 10 September morning. Shelley Beach turns on with a great 6ft SSE swell, 12-second period (groundswell), and glassy conditions – barely any wind, and the combined energy is a strong 1071. This is the pick of the outlook. Water temp is still about 64° – average for the time of year. It’s worth the wait, but it’s only for experienced surfers at that size.

Friday 11 September morning is another solid option: 4ft SSE swell, 12-second period, glassy again, with 593 combined energy (moderate). Clean and inviting.

After that, the swell fades fast through the weekend of 12-13 September back to tiny, ordinary waves. So your best bet is Thursday and Friday morning, 10 and 11 September. Thursday morning is the true standout.

– Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon morning, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Wed morning, min 14°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
Friday
4
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
2
2
0
2
1
0
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
1
1
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.2
SSE
10
1.3
SSE
10
0.9
SSE
10
0.8
SSE
10
0.9
S
9
1
S
9
0.9
S
9
0.8
S
8
0.8
S
9
0.6
S
11
0.9
S
11
0.8
S
10
0.7
S
10
0.6
S
10
0.5
S
10
0.5
S
10
0.5
S
12
0.4
SSE
10
0.6
S
10
0.5
S
8
0.4
S
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
275
302
161
117
117
164
127
84
110
89
188
141
96
71
50
47
73
33
65
28
31
Wind (km/h)
10
S
10
SE
5
WSW
5
NNE
10
E
5
WSW
5
NE
20
ENE
5
NNW
10
NNE
20
N
15
NW
15
NW
10
WNW
15
NW
10
WNW
10
ESE
5
WSW
5
NNE
15
E
15
NW
Wind State
cross-on
on
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
off
off
on
glassy
cross-off
cross-on
off
High Tide
8:50PM1.54m
9:24AM1.38m
9:27PM1.47m
10:01AM1.42m
10:07PM1.38m
10:41AM1.45m
10:52PM1.27m
11:26AM1.45m
11:44PM1.14m
12:20PM1.44m
00:50AM1.03m
1:25PM1.43m
2:14AM0.96m
Low Tide
2:39PM0.26m
3:14AM0.10m
3:21PM0.25m
3:46AM0.12m
4:05PM0.26m
4:20AM0.17m
4:55PM0.29m
4:58AM0.24m
5:52PM0.33m
5:42AM0.32m
7:01PM0.37m
6:37AM0.40m
8:22PM0.37m
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:16
6:15
6:13
6:13
6:11
6:09
6:09
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:32
5:34
5:35
5:35
5:36
5:37
5:37
 mm
Temp °C
15
15
14
15
15
15
17
16
16
23
26
20
27
27
22
26
24
17
19
21
21
Feels °C
14
13
13
12
13
15
14
13
14
18
21
16
23
24
19
24
22
17
15
18
17
  • 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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