Bar Beach surf report
Patrolled Newcastle beach with consistent banks.
New region (beta): these break settings are still being checked by locals. Spot something off? Tell us.
Tomorrow at Bar Beach (Sun, 4 Oct) · best 6am–3pm
Fun.
Glassy, no wind, chest-high waves. Rated for a beginner.
- Barely any wind (3 kn), so it'll be glassy and smooth.
- Waves around chest high (1.0m faces), a good size for a beginner.
- East-north-easterly swell at 6 seconds, an angle this spot likes.
- Mid tide and rising at 10am, which suits this spot.
- Wind swings easterly 9 kn around 3pm, so it'll get choppy.
Forecast checked Sat, 3 Oct, 9:13 pm Gold Coast time.
When is Bar Beach good?
- Best wind
- West-north-westerly (offshore) or none
- Best swell
- North-east to south
- Best tide
- Mid tide
- Suits
- Beginner+
Who it suits depends on the size: learners up to about 0.7m, beginners up to about 1.1m, intermediates up to about 1.7m. Bigger than 1.7m it is for advanced surfers. Long-period groundswell hits harder, so it counts as bigger.
It gets most of the open-ocean swell, so there is usually something to ride. A west-north-westerly wind blows offshore here, so mornings before the sea breeze are usually cleanest. Get Frothin’ checks the wind, swell, tide and the live wave buoys every hour and tells you, in plain English, whether it's worth paddling out at Bar Beach for your level.
Watch out
Rips near the rocks.
Surf schools at Bar Beach
Lessons mean more people in the water. The app flags when a school is out, so you know it'll be busy.
- Newcastle Surf School. Lessons usually start at 7am, 9am, 11am, 2pm.
Frequently asked
What are the best conditions for surfing Bar Beach?
Bar Beach is best with a west-north-westerly (offshore) wind or no wind, a north-east to south swell and mid tide. It gets most of the open-ocean swell, so there is usually something to ride.
What wind is offshore at Bar Beach?
A west-north-westerly wind (WNW) blows straight offshore at Bar Beach, holding the waves up and keeping them clean. Light winds are good too. Onshore winds make it choppy.
Is Bar Beach good for beginners?
It can be. Bar Beach suits beginners on small, clean days. On bigger days it is better left to more experienced surfers.
What should I watch out for at Bar Beach?
Rips near the rocks.
Are there surf lessons at Bar Beach?
Yes: Newcastle Surf School. Lesson times bring more people into the water, and Get Frothin’ shows when lessons are on, so you can plan around the busy times.
Nearby breaks
- Merewether 1.8 km
- Redhead 9.5 km
- Terrigal (The Haven) 63.7 km