Shelley Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.36° S 151.51° E

Shelley Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 pm 24 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Shelley Beach sea temperature is
18.4° C
0.2° 

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 24 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 13s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 13s period, S swell with 1,173 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 25 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 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 Saturday (Jul 25) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 9s. 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 1.9m 13s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 25) at 10AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4AM (Sat 25th Jul)6ft (1.9m) 13s
Best Surf 4AM (Sat 25th Jul)6ft (1.9m) 13s
Most Powerful 4AM (Sat 25th Jul)6ft (1.9m) 13s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a yarn about what's coming up at Shelley Beach.

Right off the bat, we've got some solid action on the cards. The first real standout kicks off this Saturday morning, July 25th. We're looking at a clean 6 ft south swell, with a nice 11-second period, so there's plenty of energy in the water (714). The wind is a light cross-offshore breeze from the WNW. That's a great combo – clean, lined-up waves with a bit of push. This is the pick of the bunch for the weekend.

Sunday morning, July 26th, is looking very similar, with a touch more size at 6 ft from the south and the same clean cross-off wind. The wave energy is pumping up a notch (781). It's going to be another fantastic session.

Now, for the rest of the week, things get a bit tricky. The swell drops right off, and the wind gets messy. We've got a bit of a lull from Monday afternoon through to the end of the first week. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing to write home about.

Hold on to your boards, because the forecast for Saturday, August 8th, is a monster. We're seeing a massive 20 ft south-southeast swell, with a very long 12-second period. The combined energy is off the charts (10825). But here's the catch – that's way too big for Shelley Beach. This is expert territory only, and even then, it's going to be a wild, dangerous beast. The wind is offshore, so it'll be clean, but it's a big, powerful groundswell. For most of us, this is a day to watch from the beach or take up kite surfing. The next day, Sunday the 9th, is still huge at 15 ft but with a crappy cross-onshore wind, so that one's a write-off.

The best bet is to get out there this Saturday and Sunday morning. After that, there's a long stretch of small, poor surf until that massive swell hits, but it's one for the brave.

Stay stoked,
Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat afternoon, min 7°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Tue afternoon, min 10°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
25
Sunday
26
Monday
27
Tuesday
28
Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
4
3
1
1
3
1
2
2
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2
S
14
1.7
S
11
1.3
S
10
1.3
S
11
1.8
S
11
1.7
S
10
1.3
S
9
1.1
S
9
1
S
8
0.8
S
8
0.5
S
8
0.4
S
9
0.3
S
8
0.3
S
7
1.6
S
6
1.7
S
8
1.8
S
7
1.5
S
8
1.6
SSE
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1527
701
361
401
778
609
300
194
147
78
28
24
12
8
188
359
352
270
551
Wind (km/h)
15
WNW
10
WNW
10
ENE
20
WSW
10
WSW
15
SE
5
WSW
5
W
15
ENE
10
NNW
10
WNW
5
NNW
20
WNW
15
WSW
25
S
15
SW
20
SSW
15
S
15
WSW
Wind State
off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
on
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
off
off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
5:13AM0.89m
5:26PM1.40m
6:08AM0.93m
6:12PM1.46m
6:53AM0.97m
6:53PM1.52m
7:33AM1.02m
7:32PM1.57m
8:10AM1.07m
8:08PM1.60m
8:46AM1.11m
8:43PM1.60m
Low Tide
11:38PM0.44m
10:34AM0.49m
00:26AM0.38m
11:27AM0.47m
1:07AM0.32m
12:14PM0.43m
1:44AM0.26m
12:57PM0.39m
2:19AM0.21m
1:38PM0.36m
2:52AM0.17m
2:16PM0.34m
3:24AM0.14m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:50
6:50
6:48
6:48
6:48
6:47
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:09
5:09
5:10
5:12
5:12
5:13
 mm
1
Temp °C
12
17
18
15
16
15
15
14
16
15
19
20
15
14
14
14
14
14
13
Feels °C
8
14
15
11
13
12
14
12
14
12
16
17
10
9
8
9
9
11
11
  • 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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