Frenchmans reef 59.4
#3642 of 5753 surf spots in the world · 🇦🇺 Australia · New South Wales · near Newcastle
Works almost every day, wind is the enemy here, no off season.
Works all yearIntermediate
Surf score59.4 /100
Surfable days96% of the year
Clean days8% groundswell + friendly wind
Groundswell12% period 11 s+
Typical size1.0 m 3.3 ft median
Water21°C a 2 mm shorty
Best time to surf Frenchmans reef
The best time to surf Frenchmans reef is April, June, August. It rarely works. In April the water sits around 23°C, so pack a rash vest or 2 mm, and the typical wave is 0.9 m. The nearest airport is SYD (104 km) and the nearest town is Newcastle (21 km).
| Month | Surfable | Clean | Size | Water | Suit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 100% | 2% | 1.0 m | 23°C | vest |
| Feb | 99% | 3% | 1.2 m | 24°C | vest |
| Mar | 99% | 4% | 1.2 m | 23°C | vest |
| Apr | 93% | 17% | 0.9 m | 23°C | vest |
| May | 94% | 13% | 0.9 m | 21°C | 2mm |
| Jun | 90% | 15% | 1.0 m | 19°C | 2mm |
| Jul | 94% | 14% | 1.1 m | 18°C | 3/2 |
| Aug | 90% | 15% | 1.0 m | 18°C | 3/2 |
| Sep | 98% | 6% | 1.0 m | 19°C | 3/2 |
| Oct | 100% | 6% | 1.0 m | 20°C | 2mm |
| Nov | 98% | 2% | 1.0 m | 21°C | 2mm |
| Dec | 99% | 1% | 1.0 m | 22°C | vest |
Why 59.4
Seven parts, each normalised 0 to 1 and weighted; the sum is scaled so the best spot in the world is 100.
Consistency 26%
26.0
Clean days 24%
4.0
Groundswell 12%
2.0
Season spread 10%
10.0
Wave size 8%
2.1
Water comfort 10%
5.6
Access 10%
8.1
The detail
Faces 94° with 50% open water around it. Friendly morning wind 64% of days. Mean peak period 8.4 s. Days over 3 m: 0%. Mellow days (0.4 to 1.2 m): 68%. Months that work: 12 of 12. Coordinates -33.098, 151.660 (OpenStreetMap).
Spots nearby
Crabbes Creek🇦🇺 Australia · score 59.4Frenchmans Beach🇦🇺 Australia · score 59.2Moon island🇦🇺 Australia · score 59.5Caves point🇦🇺 Australia · score 59.1
Compare Frenchmans reef with 5,700 other spots
Filters by month, level and water, map, side by side comparison and a trip planner.
Open the interactive profileMore spots good in AprilFilters by month, level and water, map, side by side comparison and a trip planner.