Surf spot

Old Bar

Forecast conditions and map view for Old Bar in Australia, NSW, Mid North Coast. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: Australia, NSW, Mid North Coast
Coordinates: -31.9708, 152.5933

Metric
Metric	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00
Wave height (m)	1.1	1	1	1	1	1.1	1.1	1.1	1.1	1.1	1	1	0.9	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.7	0.8	0.9	0.9	0.8	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.5	0.4	0.7	1	1.1	1	1.2	1.5	1.6	1.8	1.7	1.7	1.3	1.2	1.2	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.1	1.1	1	1.3	1.2	0.9	1
Wave direction	SE	SE	SE	SSE	SE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SE	SSE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	SSE	S	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	S	SSE	SSE	SE	SE	SE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SE	SE	SSE	SE
Wave period (s)	6	6	7	8.8	7.7	8.4	8.8	9.1	8.5	8.2	8.3	8.3	8.9	9.3	9.3	8.1	9.3	8	8	8	9.1	7.7	4.7	4.4	4.4	4.3	4.3	4.3	4.3	4.2	4	4.3	4.8	6.4	7	7.8	8.3	8.6	8.3	8	7.9	8	8	8.8	8.3	8.1	7	7.1	7	7.4	7.8	7.8	7	6.8	7.4	6.4
Wave energy (kJ)	82	69	108	143	123	165	190	198	188	155	142	134	128	122	110	79	89	62	56	52	52	40	19	22	29	29	22	19	15	11	9	10	8	38	106	135	149	197	290	332	395	357	357	267	201	174	226	239	209	123	140	132	156	123	93	79
Wind speed (km/h)	6.4	6.8	7.1	2.5	11.5	13.6	6.4	6.5	5.8	4.6	3.2	9.4	16.3	18.4	13.4	7.2	7.2	5.4	5	7.1	12.9	15.7	11.9	8	6	5.9	3.8	6.2	18.6	12	3.1	6.5	16.9	18.7	18.4	22.1	23.6	22.8	20	19.2	20.9	14.9	17.4	19.1	11.3	13.9	9.4	5.4	6.1	6.8	7.6	5.1	8.1	12.2	6.7	5.7
Wind direction	WNWOffshore	WNWOffshore	WNWOffshore	EGlassy	EOnshore	ENECross-on	NECross-on	NCross	NCross-off	NNWGlassy	NNWGlassy	NECross-on	ENECross-on	ENECross-on	NECross-on	NNECross	NCross	NNWCross-off	NCross-off	NECross-on	ENEOnshore	NECross-on	NECross-on	NCross	NNWCross-off	NCross-off	NNWGlassy	SWCross-off	SSECross-on	SEOnshore	SEGlassy	WSWCross-off	SSWCross	SSWCross	SWCross-off	SSWCross	SSWCross	SSWCross	SSWCross	SSWCross	SCross	SSWCross	SSWCross	SCross	WSWCross-off	SCross	SSWCross	WOffshore	WOffshore	WOffshore	WOffshore	SWCross-off	SEOnshore	EOnshore	NNECross	NWCross-off

Old Bar, NSW (Mid North Coast) — surf spot description

Old Bar is a long, beachbreak surf spot on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, set in a relaxed coastal town with a laid-back vibe. It’s known for its open stretch of sand, generally uncrowded lineup compared with more famous NSW points and beach breaks, and waves that work best with the right swell and sandbank setup.

Wave type

Predominantly beach break
Can offer lefts and rights
Sandbanks shift with tides, swell, and storms, so the quality changes seasonally and after major weather events

Best conditions

Swell: Picks up plenty of South and Southeast swell
Wind: Best in light offshore to west/southwest winds
Tide: Usually more reliable around mid tide, though this depends on the sandbanks

Wave quality

Can range from mellow, beginner-friendly peaks to stronger, punchier beachbreak when conditions line up
On a good day, it can produce fun, hollow sections
Often better for surfers who enjoy a bit of variety rather than highly consistent, mechanically perfect waves

Crowd and vibe

Generally more relaxed and less crowded than major nearby surf destinations
Local atmosphere is easygoing, with a family-friendly beach town feel
Still worth respecting local surfers and checking where the better peaks are forming

Hazards and considerations

Shifting sandbars can create variable takeoff zones
As with many beach breaks, watch for rips, especially after bigger swell or on larger tides
Conditions can change quickly, so it’s good to inspect the beach before paddling out

Overall

Old Bar is a classic Mid North Coast beachbreak: simple, scenic, and often rewarding when the sand and swell align. It’s a solid option for surfers looking for a less hectic session in a relaxed NSW coastal setting.