Shelley Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.36° S 151.51° E

Shelley Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 am 01 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Shelley Beach sea temperature is
18.2° 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 1 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 2 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 9s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 2 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 13s period, SSE swell with 737 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 2 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 9s period with SSE 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 Sunday (Aug 02) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 13s. 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 1.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 5s period and expected on Monday (Aug 03) at 1AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Sun 2nd Aug)4.5ft (1.3m) 9s
Best Surf 1AM (Sun 2nd Aug)4.5ft (1.3m) 9s
Most Powerful 7AM (Sun 2nd Aug)5ft (1.5m) 13s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, let’s get into it. It’s Rusty here, and I’ve been staring at the charts for your stretch of coast. The next couple of weeks are a mixed bag, but we’ve got a few windows where it’ll be well worth paddling out.

We start off with a bit of a lull right now, but the first real action kicks off on Saturday, August 1st. Shelley Beach is the spot to look at, and it’s showing some promise. Saturday morning, we’ve got a solid 5ft SSE swell rolling in with a 9-second period. The wind is a light cross-off from the west, which will keep the faces clean. The water temp is sitting at 65°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year. The combined swell energy is a moderate 396 – there’s enough push to get you moving. Expect some fun, clean waves. Saturday afternoon, the wind swings onshore and the quality drops, so make it a morning session.

Then, Sunday, August 2nd is the real standout of this first week. Sunday morning is looking prime. The swell drops to 5ft, but it’s a clean SSE groundswell with a lovely 11-second period. The energy jumps to a solid 719 (moderate/strong). The wind is a light cross-off from the NNE. It’s going to be clean, lined-up, and have some proper push. This is the session to circle. The afternoon gets messy with a strong cross-shore, so get in early.

Monday, August 3rd is worth a mention. The swell drops to 3ft from the SE, but the period is a nice 11 seconds again. The wind is offshore from the NW. It’ll be clean, but smaller. Good for a grovel board or a longboard to get a few easy ones. The energy is a moderate 246.

After that, the surf takes a real dive. From Tuesday the 4th through to Friday the 7th, we’ve got a prolonged flat spell with tiny, weak waves, poor wind, and generally messy conditions. It’s a bit of a write-off for a few days.

Things start to look interesting again on Saturday, August 8th. The morning is glassy – zero wind – with a 4ft SSE swell. The period is a short 8 seconds, so it won’t have the same punch, but with glassy conditions, it’ll be a fun, clean session. The energy is a weak 166, so it’s small, but the lack of wind makes it worthwhile for a quiet paddle.

Sunday, August 9th morning is another decent call. The swell picks up to 4ft from the SSE with a 9-second period. The wind is a light cross-off from the north. It’s clean and the energy is a moderate 281. It’s not a world-beater, but it’s good surf.

Now, be warned. From Monday, August 10th, the wind really cranks up. We’re looking at 30 km/h (19 mph) offshore winds, which might sound good, but the swell is short-period and a bit wonky. The energy is moderate to strong (459-591), but the wind is fresh and the conditions are marginal. This is more of a kite-surfing setup than a clean paddle surfing day.

The biggest swell of the forecast shows up Thursday, August 13th and into Friday, August 14th. Thursday afternoon brings a 10ft SE swell with a short 8-second period. The energy is a very strong 1209. This is too big for most folks, and the wind is a moderate cross-shore, creating a chop. This is expert-only territory, and even then, it’s messy. Friday morning is similar, with a 10ft ESE swell and a very strong 1222 energy. Again, only for the very experienced, and it’s going to be a battle.

The final week, from the 15th and 16th, sees strong winds and big, lumpy swell. The energy is through the roof (over 1000), but the wind is a strong cross or cross-onshore, making it a total mess. The waves are big, but the quality is poor. Not a good time for a paddle.

So, to sum it up: Sunday morning, August 2nd is the absolute best bet of the whole outlook. Get out there early for clean, 5ft SSE groundswell with a nice 11-second period. Saturday morning, August 1st is a solid second choice. The rest of the window is a mix of flat spells, onshore wind, or swell that’s too big and messy for a good time.

Stay safe, and keep your eyes on the horizon.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Mon morning, min 11°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue afternoon, min 9°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
1
Sunday
2
Monday
3
Tuesday
4
Wednesday
5
Thursday
6
Friday
7
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
3
3
1
2
2
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
0
3
2
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)
1.6
SSE
9
1.4
SSE
9
1.3
SSE
9
1.4
SSE
11
1.4
SSE
12
1.3
SSE
12
1
SE
11
0.8
SE
11
0.6
SE
10
0.3
ESE
7
0.3
E
7
0.6
S
5
0.3
E
10
1.3
S
8
1.3
S
8
1.2
S
8
1.3
S
8
1.7
S
9
1.8
S
9
1.6
SSE
9
1.5
SSE
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
391
308
244
433
518
449
229
159
67
10
9
20
17
241
217
187
241
495
541
413
286
Wind (km/h)
10
W
5
ESE
10
NNE
10
NNE
25
NE
10
NNW
10
NW
10
NW
15
W
20
W
5
ESE
20
W
15
W
20
SSW
10
W
5
NW
15
E
5
W
5
SW
15
SE
10
WSW
Wind State
cross-off
on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
off
cross-on
cross-off
cross
on
cross-off
High Tide
9:52PM1.53m
10:36AM1.25m
10:28PM1.45m
11:16AM1.29m
11:09PM1.35m
12:01PM1.32m
11:57PM1.24m
12:52PM1.35m
00:56AM1.12m
1:51PM1.39m
2:10AM1.03m
2:58PM1.44m
3:35AM0.98m
Low Tide
3:36PM0.35m
4:26AM0.13m
4:19PM0.37m
4:59AM0.16m
5:08PM0.40m
5:35AM0.19m
6:03PM0.43m
6:16AM0.25m
7:10PM0.45m
7:05AM0.31m
8:28PM0.44m
8:05AM0.36m
9:50PM0.38m
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:46
6:45
6:43
6:43
6:41
6:41
6:41
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:14
5:15
5:15
5:15
5:16
5:17
5:17
 mm
Temp °C
13
15
15
15
16
15
21
21
17
17
18
12
16
17
12
15
15
14
14
15
15
Feels °C
12
13
12
11
11
10
17
18
13
14
15
6
12
11
8
12
12
12
11
12
14
  • 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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