Surf Forecasts:
Shelley Beach surf forecast from 25 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 11s period, SSE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 9s period, S swell with 1,111 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 25 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period with NE 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 Tuesday (Aug 25) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s is also forecast. 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 9s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1PM (Tue 25th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Shelley Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what's on the menu for the next couple of weeks at Shelley Beach. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, with a few sessions that could be absolute crackers, but you'll have to be patient and pick your windows.
Right out of the gate, we’ve got a bit of a flat start. Nothing worth paddling out for until later in the week.
The first real glimmer of hope shows up on Friday, August 28th, in the morning. Shelley Beach is looking at a clean 1.5m swell from the SSE, with an 11-second period. The real kicker here is the wind – it’s glassy, dead calm. For a beach break, that’s a major positive; you’ll get some nice, clean lines. The combined wave energy is sitting in a solid moderate range (563), so there’s enough push to make it fun without it being a washing machine. This is the standout window in the first week.
After that, things get messy again with some strong southerly winds blowing out the swell. We get a few pulses of bigger energy, but the wind just ruins it. Then, roll on to Monday, August 31st, in the morning. It’s a smaller day, only 0.8m, but listen to this – a 18-second period from the SSE. That’s a very long period groundswell. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the NNE, keeping the surface clean. The combined energy is strong (532). This long period will mean long, clean walls, but at a beach break it might roll in a bit flat. Keep your eyes peeled for the sets.
Now, the real standout of the whole forecast looks to be Thursday, September 3rd, in the morning. We’re talking a solid 1.2m swell from the SSE with a huge 20-second period (combined energy a hefty 1361). This is excellent surf for experienced folk. The wind is a light cross-off from the north, just glassing it up. The water temp is around 18°, which is about average for this time of year – no wetsuit drama.
The following weekend also has some juice. Saturday, September 5th, in the morning we see 2.1m from the south with a 12-second period and clean cross-offshore winds from the north. Combined energy is strong at 1232. It’s an excellent option for more experienced surfers as it’s well overhead.
Overall, there are some gems in here if you're willing to wait. The Friday morning and the Monday morning in week one, and then that Thursday, September 3rd and Saturday, September 5th in week two are the ones to circle on the calendar. It’s not wall-to-wall perfection, but the good sessions look very, very good.
Stay stoked, and see you in the water.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue morning, min 12°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Wed afternoon, calm by Thu night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri morning, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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) | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 7 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | S 9 | SSE 10 | S 10 | S 9 | SE 9 | SSE 19 | SSE 18 | S 16 | S 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 91 | 107 | 123 | 95 | 80 | 251 | 463 | 340 | 215 | 494 | 432 | 433 | 992 | 627 | 301 | 152 | 159 | 203 | 432 | 267 | 261 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off |
High Tide | 6:27PM1.49m | 7:06AM1.09m | 7:04PM1.54m | 7:41AM1.17m | 7:40PM1.57m | 8:15AM1.25m | 8:15PM1.57m | 8:49AM1.32m | 8:50PM1.54m | 9:24AM1.38m | 9:27PM1.47m | 10:01AM1.42m | 10:07PM1.38m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:56AM0.43m | 1:11AM0.24m | 12:39PM0.37m | 1:43AM0.18m | 1:19PM0.32m | 2:14AM0.13m | 1:59PM0.28m | 2:44AM0.10m | 2:39PM0.26m | 3:14AM0.10m | 3:21PM0.25m | 3:46AM0.12m | 4:05PM0.26m | ||||||||
 | |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — |
 | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — |
mm | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 |
Feels °C | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | NE 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 8 | SE 8 | SSE 18 | S 16 | S 14 |
| kJ | 91 | 107 | 123 | 95 | 80 | 55 | 463 | 340 | 215 | 494 | 432 | 16 | 790 | 627 | 301 | 152 | 142 | 95 | 432 | 267 | 261 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 15 | S 15 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 11 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | ENE 9 |
| kJ | 28 | 27 | 14 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 41 | 34 | 43 | 38 | 25 | 39 | 15 | 25 | 137 | 134 | 159 | 107 | 57 | 44 | 17 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | S 16 | S 16 | S 16 | — | — | S 15 | S 15 | SSE 14 | SSW 12 | S 13 | — | — | — | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SSE 19 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 6 |
| kJ | 20 | 20 | 21 | 19 | — | — | 19 | 38 | 36 | 31 | 30 | — | — | — | 16 | 16 | 17 | 203 | 43 | 27 | 5 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | N 3 | NW 2 | SW 3 | S 5 | S 7 | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 9 | S 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 3 | NE 4 |
| kJ | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 71 | 251 | — | — | — | — | — | 433 | 992 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 7 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 166 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 205 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 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.
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