Shelley Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty, and here’s how the surf’s shaping up for Shelley Beach over the next couple of weeks.

We’re looking at a bit of a quiet start before things start cooking. Right now and through this weekend there’s a little pulse of surf but it’s nothing to get excited about—small stuff, mostly under 3 feet, with a bit of a bump from the SE. The water temp’s about average for this time of year, so no dramas there.

Saturday morning’s your best early call: Shelley Beach has clean 4 ft waves from the SE with light offshore northwesterlies, making for some tidy little lines. The energy’s weak though, only 345 (moderate wave energy). By the afternoon it drops a touch to 3 ft from the ESE, still clean with a cross-off breeze. Decent if you’re itching for a paddle but nothing to write home about.

Sunday and Monday see the swell fade away fast. Sunday morning’s 2 ft gets blown by a fresher westerly, and from Sunday arvo through Tuesday it’s all tiny—0.7 ft to 2 ft—with poor conditions. That’s a solid gap of no real surf for a few days.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Wednesday the 15th of July—that’s a week away—Shelley Beach gets a sudden thump of 10 ft swell from the south, with a 10-second period. The combined energy rockets to 3252 (very strong wave energy). That’s a big, powerful swell. But here’s the catch: it’s too big for this spot—it’s really only for experts who know how to handle a heavy beachie, and the cross-shore wind from the SW is going to make it lumpy. Thursday and Friday drop down to more manageable 4 ft to 7 ft, but winds are messy and the period drops short, so it’s choppy and ordinary.

The standout window? Come Sunday the 20th of July. That Monday morning gives you 4 ft from the east, 9-second period, with a gentle offshore from the NNW—clean conditions, energy at 408 (moderate). The arvo steps it up: 5 ft from the ENE, same period, still clean with a cross-off breeze, energy hitting 786 (moderate to strong). That’s your best session across the whole outlook—good size, clean, and the wind playing ball.

Tuesday the 21st looks okay at 4 ft but cross-shore winds muck it up. Then Wednesday the 22nd morning—another gem—glassy conditions with 5 ft from the south, 11-second period, energy 554 (moderate to strong). Absolutely glassy, which is rare and beautiful. That one’s a standout for clean, lined-up waves.

From the 23rd onward it backs off again, dropping below 3 feet by the 24th, with a long 19-second period swell on the 23rd afternoon that’s more for reefs than beachies. The last few days fizzle out to tiny, weak swell and bumpy winds.

If you’re picking the best, aim for Monday the 20th (morning and arvo) and Wednesday the 22nd morning. Shelley Beach can get occasional crowds, so if you’re keen on those clean windows, get in early.

Rusty.

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