Newcastle Harbour's famous break, normally only rideable for a short period each year, is also tipped to become more consistent.

Research into wave size changes over the past 45 years shows waves of three metres or more were increasing as severe storms become more frequent and intense, particularly on Australia's southern coast.

Australia, the world's driest inhabited continent, is experiencing an accelerated version of global warming, climate scientists say, leading to extreme droughts and sudden severe storms.

Editor of the popular surfing site Coastalwatch.com editor Ben Horvath said the past winter had been rated as seven out of 10 for its swell and consistency.

"It's been an above average winter, which came after good conditions last Christmas and New Year," he said.

Mr Horvath said last year's famous series of east-coast lows, which included the famous June Pasha Bulker storm, had marked a new chapter in Australia's surfing annals.

"Last winter was the new benchmark; it was the best winter surf in memory," he said.

"We had eight low-pressure systems in five weeks it was incredible, a lot of people are comparing it to May '74, which was the biggest recorded swell on the east coast."

And from a surfer's perspective, the good times are expected to keep on rolling.

"Newcastle Harbour will break more often and the left-hand breaks at Newcastle and Dixon Park will have more quality to them," Mr Horvath said.

Climate change minister Penny Wong said more active surf could also help Australia harness the power of waves to generate electricity, but it also posed risks.

"Large waves can also be destructive, leading to coastal inundation, erosion and the disturbance of marine habitats,"she said.