Shelley Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.36° S 151.51° E

Shelley Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 pm 09 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Shelley Beach sea temperature is
17.7° C
0.6° 

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 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 12 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 10s period, S swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 10s period, S swell with 1,131 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s 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 Wednesday (Aug 12) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Shelley Beach in the next 16 days are 2.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 4s period and expected on Monday (Aug 10) at 7PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4AM (Wed 12th Aug)3ft (0.9m) 8s
Best Surf10AM (Wed 12th Aug)2.5ft (0.7m) 10s
Most Powerful 1PM (Thu 13th Aug)8ft (2.5m) 10s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a good hard look at what’s on offer at Shelley Beach over the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, and honesty is the best policy, so I’m calling it as I see it.

The water temperature is sitting at 64°, which is about average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there to worry about.

Right off the bat, Sunday the 9th isn’t a complete write-off. You’ve got 3ft of swell from the ENE with a period of 9 seconds, pushing in with moderate wave energy (116). The wind is a moderate offshore from the NNW, so it’ll be clean. It’s surfable, but ordinary. Not the day to get too excited.

Monday the 10th through the middle of the month looks pretty average. Monday morning has a bigger push of 6ft from the ENE, but the wind is a fresh 22 mph offshore. That’s a strong, clean wind but it’ll be hard to paddle into. By Tuesday afternoon the 11th, a new S swell at 4ft with a 12-second period shows up, and the combined energy jumps to a moderate 531, but the wind goes cross-offshore, so it’s messy and questionable. We get a little window Wednesday morning the 12th with a gentle offshore, but only 2ft of S swell. The conditions are good, but the waves are small.

From the 13th through the 16th, it’s a bit of a rough patch. The swell picks up to 6ft on the 13th, but the wind is cross-shore or onshore, making it choppy and poor. The 14th has a similar story: clean conditions in the morning with 4ft but poor form by afternoon as the onshore kicks in. The weekend of the 15th and 16th is dominated by onshore winds and small, messy 3ft to 2ft swell. Not much to recommend here.

Now, heading into the back half of the forecast, there are a couple of things that catch the eye. Tuesday morning the 18th looks glassy with 2ft of S swell, but the energy is weak (91). It’s just ok, barely surfable. Then, Friday morning the 21st is glassy again, with 4ft from the ESE and a 7-second period. The combined energy is a moderate 144, and it’s clean. That’s a decent, small-wave option.

The real standout, and the one to circle on your calendar, is Sunday the 23rd in the morning. This is the best on offer across the whole run. We’ve got a solid 7ft swell from the ENE, with a 9-second period, and the combined energy is a hefty 1107. That’s a strong pulse of energy. The wind is a moderate offshore from the WNW, keeping the surface clean. This is proper wave height, excellent conditions for experienced surfers. For beginners, 7ft is a bit on the big side, so know your limits. The afternoon of the 23rd is still good with 6ft, but the morning is the call. The optimum direction for Shelley Beach is SE, and this is ENE, so it’s not dead on, but with that size and clean wind it’s still going to offer up plenty.

After that, Monday the 24th the swell drops back and the onshore wind returns, finishing the run on a quieter note.

So, to sum it up: there are gaps of very poor surf from the 13th to the 17th, and again around the 19th and 20th. The one true standout is the morning of Sunday the 23rd. Get on it. Otherwise, keep an eye on the glassy morning of the 21st for a smaller session.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NW on Mon afternoon, light winds from the W by Tue morning).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed afternoon, min 10°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Sun
9
Monday
10
Tuesday
11
Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Friday
14
Saturday
15
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
1
0
0
0
2
1
2
1
0
0
0
2
2
0
2
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)
0.8
ENE
9
1.9
NE
6
1.7
ENE
9
1.3
ENE
9
0.8
ENE
10
0.7
ENE
9
1.3
S
12
1
S
9
0.7
S
10
0.6
S
9
0.5
ENE
10
1.8
S
8
1.9
S
9
1.7
S
8
1.3
S
8
1.8
S
8
1.2
SSE
7
1
SSE
6
1
SSE
6
0.9
SSE
6
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
108
240
484
272
115
73
485
159
98
56
51
443
641
392
206
454
164
85
77
49
Wind (km/h)
20
NNW
40
NNE
35
NW
40
NW
35
W
20
W
20
WNW
15
W
15
WNW
10
W
25
WSW
20
SW
15
SSE
15
WSW
10
WSW
20
SSE
15
SW
15
SSW
20
S
20
S
Wind State
off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
on
cross-off
cross-off
on
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
5:11PM1.61m
6:03AM1.06m
6:09PM1.71m
6:59AM1.13m
7:01PM1.78m
7:49AM1.20m
7:50PM1.80m
8:34AM1.27m
8:36PM1.76m
9:17AM1.32m
9:19PM1.68m
9:58AM1.36m
10:01PM1.54m
Low Tide
00:08AM0.16m
11:31AM0.33m
1:02AM0.07m
12:29PM0.27m
1:49AM-0.00m
1:22PM0.22m
2:33AM-0.03m
2:12PM0.20m
3:13AM-0.02m
3:01PM0.20m
3:50AM0.03m
3:50PM0.23m
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:37
6:37
6:35
6:35
6:33
6:33
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:20
5:21
5:21
5:22
5:22
5:22
5:23
 mm
3
1
1
Temp °C
18
16
16
15
16
19
20
12
17
19
13
16
15
14
15
16
15
17
16
16
Feels °C
13
9
8
6
9
15
15
6
12
15
8
11
11
11
11
12
12
13
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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