Shelley Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.36° S 151.51° E

Shelley Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 am 09 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Shelley Beach sea temperature is
18.4°C
0.1° 

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 9 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 10 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, S swell with cross-shore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 10 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, S swell with 2,291 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 10 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 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 Thursday (Sep 10) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 2.5m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 10s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Shelley Beach in the next 16 days are 3.5m 10s 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 1.3m 6s period and expected on Monday (Sep 14) at 1AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7AM (Thu 10th Sep)10ft (3.0m) 10s
Best Surf 7AM (Thu 10th Sep)10ft (3.0m) 10s
Most Powerful 1AM (Thu 10th Sep)11ft (3.5m) 10s

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


The Lowdown

Right off the bat, the next couple of days are a bit of a washout for Shelley Beach. We’ve got some swell pushing in, but the wind is all over the shop, mostly cross and cross-on, and that’s going to chop things up fierce. Wednesday morning’s got a small 3ft south pulse, but it’s short-period and that light cross-breeze will have it looking messy. The afternoon is a full-on blowout with 25 mph southerlies, so don’t even bother. The combined energy is moderate at 202, but the quality just isn’t there.

The rest of the first week is looking pretty average. Thursday and Friday have some size, 8ft and 6ft, but the wind stays cross-shore, making it lumpy and hard to ride. Saturday morning is the first real glimpse of hope. It drops to 4ft, the wind goes glassy with a light ENE breeze, and the water is clean. That’s a proper window, a 372 on the energy scale, and for a beach break, the conditions will finally line up. It’s the standout of the first week, for sure. The water temp is 65°, which is right on the money for this time of year, so a good 3/2 will do ya.

After that, things go quiet. The swell drops right off into Sunday and Monday, with waves below 3ft. We’re looking at a gap of a few days with nothing worth paddling out for. The long-period energy from the south is still there, but it’s weak, and the wind is mostly cross or cross-on, making it a frustrating, gutless couple of sessions.

Towards the middle of the month, around the 19th and 20th, we see another pulse. The 20th (Sunday) morning looks promising again – a clean 4ft south swell with a cross-offshore breeze and clear skies. That’s another good window, with an energy reading of 380. The 19th has some size in the afternoon, hitting 7ft, but it’s cross-on and messy, only for the desperate or those who love a battle. This is a beach and reef setup, so with that much chop, it’s going to be a kite-surfing show more than anything.

The second week looks like more of the same – nothing magical. There’s a bit of a pulse on the 24th, with 6ft and 6ft south swells, but the winds are cross-on and the conditions are marginal at best. It’s a long way out, so don’t get too excited. The all-around best bet is the Saturday morning (12th) and the Sunday morning (20th). They aren’t huge, but they’ll be clean, and that’s what counts. For Shelley Beach, it’s all about picking those windows.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed morning, min 10°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the S on Wed afternoon, calm by Fri night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Mon morning, min 14°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
Friday
11
Saturday
12
Sunday
13
Monday
14
Tuesday
15
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
0
2
0
2
2
0
1
2
0
1
0
0
1
1
0
1
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
S
8
2.5
SSE
7
3.5
S
10
2.3
S
9
2.1
S
10
2
S
10
1.7
SSE
10
1.6
SSE
9
1.3
SSE
9
1.1
SSE
10
1
S
11
0.8
S
10
0.8
S
10
0.8
S
11
0.7
S
10
0.7
S
11
0.6
S
11
0.9
ENE
6
0.4
SSE
9
1.1
SSE
5
1.6
SSE
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
133
611
2291
885
809
816
551
400
295
235
247
120
115
143
100
114
82
56
28
64
413
Wind (km/h)
10
SW
40
S
35
S
20
SSW
20
S
15
WSW
10
SSW
15
SSE
10
SW
5
ENE
20
ENE
20
NNE
10
NE
20
NE
10
NNW
10
NE
25
NE
10
W
25
S
25
SSE
15
SSE
Wind State
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross
on
cross
glassy
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-on
on
on
High Tide
6:46PM1.66m
7:28AM1.31m
7:31PM1.65m
8:07AM1.40m
8:14PM1.59m
8:44AM1.46m
8:54PM1.50m
9:21AM1.49m
9:34PM1.38m
9:57AM1.49m
10:13PM1.25m
10:34AM1.46m
10:54PM1.12m
Low Tide
12:24PM0.28m
1:23AM0.04m
1:14PM0.21m
2:00AM0.03m
2:01PM0.17m
2:35AM0.06m
2:47PM0.17m
3:07AM0.11m
3:31PM0.19m
3:39AM0.19m
4:15PM0.24m
4:10AM0.28m
5:01PM0.31m
clear
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:01
6:01
5:58
5:58
5:56
5:54
5:54
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:40
5:40
5:42
5:43
5:43
5:44
5:45
 mm
Temp °C
16
15
15
13
15
15
15
16
16
16
17
16
18
18
17
22
19
21
17
16
15
Feels °C
13
7
6
9
11
12
12
15
16
16
14
13
14
15
15
17
15
19
14
12
12
  • Map Icons:
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  • 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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