Shelley Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.36° S 151.51° E

Issued: 9 am 03 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Shelley Beach sea temperature is
19.6° C

1.0°C warmer than normal for this time of year

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 3 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 4 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 12s period, S swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 5 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 11s period, SSE swell with 1,880 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 4 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 7s 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 04) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s. 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 3.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 05) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Friday (Jul 03) at 4PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Sat 4th Jul)2ft (0.6m) 7s
Best Surf10AM (Sat 4th Jul)3.5ft (1.0m) 12s
Most Powerful 7PM (Sun 5th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 11s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Alright mate, Rusty here. Let’s have a proper look at what Shelley Beach has got cookin’ for us over the next couple of weeks. Gotta say, it’s a bit of a slow starter, so don’t get your hopes up for the next few days.

Right now, Friday the 3rd, the swell is tiny at 1 ft from the NE with a short, weak 7-second period. The combined swell energy is a measly 13 – barely a ripple. Winds are howling offshore at 16 mph, but there’s just nothing to ride. It’s a write-off.

Saturday the 4th is where things start to get a little bit interesting. For the morning session, a clean, 3 ft groundswell from the south rolls in, packing a 12-second period. The energy jumps way up to 283 (moderate) and the wind goes glassy-light from the NW at only 3 mph. That is a serious window of clean, workable waves. Get in there early Saturday morning because it’s the best on offer in the short term.

Sunday the 5th turns nasty. That southerly swell pumps up to 8 ft, but the wind howls onshore from the SSW at 19 mph, turning the ocean into a lumpy mess. The energy reads a massive 1734, but with those conditions, it’s a washing machine. Not worth paddling out.

Monday the 6th and Tuesday the 7th stay big, with swell hanging around 8 ft to 8 ft from the SSE and SE, but the wind stays cross or cross-onshore, and the forecast keeps calling it poor. The energy is high (up to 2138 on Monday afternoon) but the quality just isn’t there. There’s a small window on Tuesday morning (July 7th) with a cross-shore wind, but it’s only marginal.

We get a bit of a drop on Wednesday the 8th as the swell backs off to 7 ft, but it’s still plagued by cross-shore breezes. By Friday the 10th, the swell drops to 4 ft in the morning with a 9-second period, but the wind stays messy. There’s a window on Saturday the 11th morning – a clean 4 ft from the SE with a light cross-offshore wind from the west. That’s a solid pick for a mellow weekend session.

The middle of next week is tiny again. The real standout, and I mean the *real* standout, comes on Wednesday the 15th of July. The morning sees a clean 7 ft south swell with a 10-second period and light cross-offshore winds. That’s good. But the afternoon is where it gets heavy – 10 ft of south swell with a long, powerful 13-second period. The energy hits 3200 (very strong). That is a serious, powerful groundswell. However, at that size (over 8 ft) it’s strictly for experienced surfers only. It will also be breaking a bit straight at a beach break with that long period, but if you can find a bank, it’ll be on.

The next day, Thursday the 16th, is even bigger, with 12 ft swell in the morning. The energy is a monstrous 4419. Same caveat – too big for most.

After that, the swell slowly fades, but Friday the 17th morning still has a clean 8 ft south swell before the wind goes to absolute hell with heavy rain and 25 mph onshore winds on Friday afternoon. The following weekend (July 18th and 19th) is a complete washout with onshore gales and massive storm surf.

So, to sum it up: best on offer are Saturday morning the 4th of July for clean, friendly 3 ft waves, and Wednesday the 15th of July afternoon for a huge, powerful groundswell that only experts should even think about. The water temp is 67°, which is 2° warmer than usual for this time of year – a nice little bonus to keep you warm.

Stay safe.
Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri morning, min 10°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon morning, min 11°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
3
Saturday
4
Sunday
5
Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
1
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
0
3
2
0
2
2
1
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
NE
7
0.4
ENE
8
0.6
S
7
1
S
12
1
S
9
1.2
S
8
2.5
S
11
2.5
S
9
3
SSE
10
2.4
SSE
9
2.5
SSE
10
2.3
SSE
10
2.2
SSE
10
2.4
SE
10
2.2
SE
11
2
SE
10
1.8
SE
10
1.6
SE
10
2.1
S
9
2.1
S
12
1.8
S
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
12
24
34
266
166
196
1704
1236
1455
990
1230
1001
964
1288
1069
804
653
476
691
1167
614
Wind (km/h)
25
WNW
30
W
15
W
5
NW
5
E
10
SSW
30
SSW
30
S
25
SSE
25
SE
20
SSE
25
SSW
25
SW
25
SSW
15
SW
15
SW
15
SSE
15
WSW
20
SW
20
SSW
15
WSW
Wind State
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
10:30AM1.07m
10:18PM1.52m
11:11AM1.10m
10:55PM1.46m
11:55AM1.14m
11:35PM1.38m
12:42PM1.19m
00:21AM1.30m
1:34PM1.25m
1:18AM1.20m
2:29PM1.33m
2:25AM1.12m
3:27PM1.43m
3:41AM1.07m
Low Tide
3:52PM0.43m
5:06AM0.19m
4:36PM0.46m
5:41AM0.19m
5:25PM0.50m
6:18AM0.20m
6:23PM0.52m
6:59AM0.22m
7:29PM0.53m
7:46AM0.24m
8:44PM0.49m
8:39AM0.27m
10:00PM0.41m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
light rain
light rain
light rain
light rain
cloud
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:58
6:58
6:58
6:58
6:58
6:56
6:56
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
4:57
4:58
4:58
4:59
4:59
5:00
5:00
 mm
2
2
3
1
1
2
2
Temp °C
19
18
12
14
15
15
14
15
15
16
16
15
15
16
15
15
15
15
14
14
13
Feels °C
12
11
7
12
14
13
8
9
10
11
11
10
11
11
12
12
11
12
9
10
9
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
NE
7
0.4
ENE
8
0.6
S
7
1
S
12
1
S
9
0.9
S
8
0.3
E
8
0.6
SSE
15
0.2
E
13
0.1
E
14
2.2
SSE
10
2.3
SSE
10
2.2
SSE
10
2.4
SE
10
2.2
SE
11
2
SE
10
1.8
SE
10
1.6
SE
10
1.8
SSE
9
2.1
S
12
1.8
S
10
Energy kJ
12
24
34
266
166
108
11
184
13
4
904
1001
964
1288
1069
804
653
476
528
1167
614
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
N
4
0.2
E
12
0.4
ENE
8
0.4
NE
7
0.2
ENE
7
0.5
S
12
0.2
E
8
0.2
E
13
0.2
E
13
0.1
E
14
0.1
E
14
0.2
E
12
0.6
SE
13
0.8
S
11
0.5
S
11
0.3
S
10
0.2
ESE
13
0.9
SE
10
0.8
SE
9
0.2
ESE
9
Energy kJ
1
11
22
14
5
66
5
13
14
4
4
12
142
143
61
17
17
163
103
8
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
E
8
0.1
E
8
0.2
E
12
0.1
E
13
0.2
E
12
0.3
ENE
7
0.2
E
13
0.1
S
18
0.1
S
16
0.1
S
15
0.1
S
23
0.6
S
14
0.4
SE
10
0.1
S
16
Energy kJ
1
1
11
3
12
10
14
6
5
5
11
142
28
5
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
WNW
3
0.7
W
4
0.3
W
3
1.2
S
8
2.5
S
11
2.5
S
9
3
SSE
10
2.4
SSE
9
2.5
SSE
10
0.3
WSW
3
2.1
S
9
Energy kJ
7
14
2
196
1704
1236
1455
990
1230
2
691
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
2
2
2
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
4
3
3
3
2
3
4
3
Distance (km)
42
161
0
0
11
0
125
434
294
166
166
11
11
11
0
0
11
11
11
11
11
Best forecast wave conditions in Newcastle
Rating
(10 max)
1
2
2
2
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
4
3
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia
Rating
(10 max)
5
3
4
4
5
8
4
5
7
4
9
9
8
4
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
9
5
9
5
6
8
5
9
7
5
9
9
8
6
5
9
9
9
5
5
6
  • 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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