Surf Forecasts:
Shelley Beach surf forecast from 30 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 31 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 11s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 31 Jul, 4PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 9s period, S swell with 771 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 31 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 11s 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 Friday (Jul 31) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 11s period. 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 2.1m 9s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 31) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 5s period and expected on Monday (Aug 03) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Fri 31st Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Fri 31st Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Fri 31st Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Shelley Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.
The first good surf worth paddling out for hits on Sunday, August 2nd, and trust me, it’s the standout of the whole run. We’ve got some smaller, cleaner options that follow, but the real magic is that Sunday morning session.
Sunday, August 2nd – Morning
Shelley Beach is calling. The swell is a solid 5.6 ft out of the SSE with a very long period of 14 seconds. That’s groundswell energy, and it’s packing a punch with a combined energy of 1028 (moderate wave energy). The wind is light from the north, blowing cross-offshore, which makes for a clean face. The water temp is sitting at 64.8°, which is basically average for this time of year – nothing weird going on. This is an exposed beach break, so that long period will make for some nice, lined-up sets, but it might wall up a bit. For experienced surfers, this is the pick of the fortnight. Crowds are sometimes a problem, so expect a few locals out.
Sunday, August 2nd – Afternoon
The afternoon turns sour. The wind swings to the NE and cranks up to 15 mph, making it a messy cross-shore. The swell drops to 4.6 ft and the period shortens up. Leave it for the afternoon.
Monday, August 3rd – Morning
Still some clean fun to be had. The swell drops to 3.3 ft out of the SE with an 11-second period. The wind is light offshore from the NNW. Combined energy is 258 (weak). It’s not going to blow your mind, but it’s clean and rideable for the small-wave crew.
Monday, August 3rd – Afternoon
Dropping further. 2.6 ft from the SE, 11 seconds, clean but small. Very ordinary.
Tuesday, August 4th – Morning
Flat. 0.7 ft. Don’t bother.
Tuesday, August 4th – Afternoon
Poor. 3.0 ft from the SSW with a short 6-second period and cross-onshore wind. Messy.
Wednesday, August 5th – Morning
A slight pulse. 4.9 ft from the S, 9 seconds. Clean with a light cross-offshore wind from the west. Combined energy is 343 (weak). It’s okay, but not a standout.
Wednesday, August 5th – Afternoon
Marginal. Same size, but the wind flips to a light cross-onshore from the east. Tides might be an issue.
Thursday, August 6th – Morning
Clean again but small. 3.6 ft from the S, 8-second period. Combined energy 171 (weak). Just ordinary.
Thursday, August 6th – Afternoon
Poor. Wind picks up from the ENE, making it choppy.
Friday, August 7th – Morning
Tiny. 1.6 ft from the SSE. Clean but not worth a paddle.
Friday, August 7th – Afternoon
The wind is on it. 19 mph from the SW. Leave the board at home.
Saturday, August 8th – All Day
Poor. Swell is small, wind is strong from the SW and SSW. Lumpy, messy conditions.
Sunday, August 9th – Morning
A glimmer. 3.0 ft from the SSE with clean offshore wind from the NNW. Combined energy 163 (weak). It’s surfable, but nothing special.
Sunday, August 9th – Afternoon
Clean, but small. 3.0 ft, 8-second period. Still just ordinary.
Monday, August 10th – All Day
The wind is moderate from the WNW, keeping it clean, but the swell is tiny (2.3 ft to 3.3 ft). Not enough to get excited about.
Tuesday, August 11th – Wednesday, August 13th
A long stretch of flat and poor conditions. The swell barely cracks 2.0 ft for days. The wind is offshore, but there’s just no energy. Combined energy readings are as low as 28 (very weak). This is a dead spell.
Thursday, August 14th – Morning
A sudden pulse back up. 6.6 ft from the S, 9-second period. The wind is strong from the WSW at 15 mph, but it’s cross-off, so it’s clean. Combined energy is 603 (moderate). It’s a big, clean wave, but for Shelley Beach, 6.6 ft is getting into the expert-only zone. It’s a promising long-range call, but we’re a week and a half out, so keep an eye on it.
Thursday, August 14th – Afternoon
This is a big red flag. The forecast shows 9.8 ft from the S with a combined energy of 1317 (strong), but the wind is cross-onshore from the south. The file actually says it’s predicted to be too big for this break. At 9.8 ft, this is only for the brave, and the wind is going to make it a chaotic, washing-machine lineup. For kite surfers, this setup might be a dream, but for paddle surfing, it’s a miss.
So, the bottom line: the absolute best is Sunday, August 2nd morning
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun morning, min 11°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Mon morning, min 9°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | ||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 11 | SE 12 | SSE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SSE 10 | E 7 | SSW 6 | S 6 | S 10 | S 11 | S 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 723 | 753 | 771 | 505 | 391 | 294 | 244 | 441 | 604 | 456 | 237 | 165 | 43 | 10 | 29 | 35 | 311 | 546 | 408 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:22AM1.16m | 9:17PM1.58m | 9:58AM1.20m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:24AM0.14m | 2:56PM0.34m | 3:55AM0.13m | 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 | |||||||
 |  | |  | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 21 | 21 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 18 | 13 |
Feels °C | 11 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 6 | 13 | 14 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 11 | SE 12 | SSE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SSE 10 | E 7 | S 6 | S 6 | S 10 | S 11 | S 10 |
| kJ | 723 | 541 | 565 | 505 | 391 | 294 | 244 | 441 | 604 | 456 | 237 | 165 | 43 | 9 | 18 | 35 | 311 | 546 | 408 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NE 7 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NE 7 | SE 13 | SSE 13 | SE 14 | SE 14 | NE 5 | NE 5 | E 15 | ESE 8 | SSE 10 | ESE 7 | S 11 | E 9 | E 13 | E 9 |
| kJ | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 44 | 209 | 276 | 189 | 17 | 8 | 5 | 21 | 10 | 5 | 20 | 6 | 29 | 6 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | NE 7 | SE 15 | NE 9 | E 17 | S 21 | S 21 | S 20 | SE 14 | E 14 | SSE 10 | E 9 | E 13 | E 18 | E 18 |
| kJ | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 107 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 6 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 10 | S 9 | — | — | — | NE 6 | — | NE 8 | NNE 5 | — | W 3 | WNW 3 | W 3 | SSW 6 | WSW 3 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 753 | 771 | — | — | — | 2 | — | 3 | 33 | — | 2 | 2 | 4 | 29 | 3 | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 11 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 219 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
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.
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