
Surf Forecasts:
Shelley Beach surf forecast from 10 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 15 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, S swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 15 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, S swell with 1,922 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 11 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 10s period with SE 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 11) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 15s. 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 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 15) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 12) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Sat 11th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Wed 15th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Wed 15th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Shelley Beach over the next 16 days.
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.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon afternoon, min 10°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Fri night, fresh winds from the WNW by Sun night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue morning, min 12°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Wed morning, light winds from the ESE by Thu afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Fri 17 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | SE 9 | SSW 8 | S 12 | S 8 | S 11 | S 10 | SSW 6 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 8 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | S 6 | S 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
373 | 172 | 193 | 194 | 83 | 50 | 21 | 21 | 25 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 85 | 1922 | 936 | 782 | 541 | 292 | 187 | 102 | 94 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross |
High Tide | 4:57AM1.05m | 5:23PM1.64m | 6:06AM1.07m | 6:19PM1.74m | 7:08AM1.11m | 7:13PM1.82m | 8:03AM1.14m | 8:04PM1.86m | 8:55AM1.18m | 8:54PM1.85m | 9:44AM1.21m | 9:42PM1.79m | 10:32AM1.23m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:11PM0.30m | 10:38AM0.30m | 00:15AM0.17m | 11:38AM0.29m | 1:13AM0.06m | 12:36PM0.26m | 2:06AM-0.02m | 1:30PM0.24m | 2:56AM-0.06m | 2:23PM0.23m | 3:43AM-0.06m | 3:15PM0.24m | 4:28AM-0.02m | 4:07PM0.28m | |||||||
— | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | |
— | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:01 | — | — | 5:01 | — | — | 5:02 | — | — | 5:02 | — | — | 5:04 | — | — | 5:05 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 14 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 18 | 19 | 12 | 19 | 19 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 16 |
Feels °C | 13 | 14 | 14 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 13 | 14 | 7 | 14 | 14 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 8 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | SE 9 | SSW 8 | S 12 | S 8 | S 7 | S 7 | S 11 | S 10 | S 9 | S 10 | S 8 | S 14 | E 9 | ESE 6 | E 6 |
373 | 172 | 129 | 194 | 83 | 50 | 21 | 21 | 25 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 21 | 1330 | 627 | 539 | 324 | 4 | 6 | 33 | 30 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 15 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 6 | ESE 9 | SSW 7 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | E 10 | — | — | — | — | — | S 12 | E 9 | E 9 |
21 | 169 | 193 | 47 | 17 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 27 | 14 | 24 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | S 15 | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 | — | S 12 | E 10 | SE 8 | — | E 10 | S 17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 9 | S 12 | S 11 |
5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | — | 3 | 2 | 3 | — | 2 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | 11 | 23 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NNE 2 | NNW 3 | W 4 | W 4 | W 4 | WNW 3 | — | WNW 3 | WNW 3 | WSW 3 | SSW 6 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 8 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | S 6 | S 6 |
— | — | 1 | 3 | 13 | 9 | 13 | 7 | — | 3 | 5 | 3 | 85 | 1922 | 936 | 782 | 541 | 292 | 187 | 102 | 94 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 84 | 91 | 9 | 19 | 161 | 228 | 161 | 13 | 125 | 41 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Newcastle | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











