Broken Head Surf Break

Lat Long: 28.71° S 153.62° E

Broken Head Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 pm 11 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Broken Head sea temperature is
20.4° C
0.2° 

Broken Head surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Broken Head surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 14 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 6s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 17 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 8s period, ESE swell with 734 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 9s period with E swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Broken Head this week:

The surf forecast for Broken Head over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 9s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Broken Head in the next 16 days are 2.4m 8s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 7s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 1PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4AM (Wed 12th Aug)2.5ft (0.7m) 9s
Best Surf10PM (Fri 14th Aug)5ft (1.6m) 6s
Most Powerful 7PM (Mon 17th Aug)8ft (2.4m) 8s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Broken Head over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here, and I’m lookin’ straight at Broken Head for the next couple weeks. It’s a point break, beginner-friendly, fairly consistent, and open to the swell. The water’s sittin’ at 69°, which is pretty much right where it should be for this time of year—no surprises there.

Honestly, the first week is a bit of a struggle. We’ve got a gap from now up until Saturday the 15th where the surf is either tiny or pretty ordinary. Wednesday the 12th morning offers a scrap of 2ft east swell with a clean offshore WSW breeze, but with only 92 units of combined energy, it’s barely a knee-high dribbler. Thursday the 13th morning is similar, 2ft east swell, clean again with a SW offshore, but the energy’s only 61. It’s surfable, but you won’t be telling your mates about it.

Then things get weird. Saturday the 15th afternoon sees the swell jump to 6ft from the SSE, but the period is a short 7 seconds, and the energy leaps to 314. The problem? It’s rain and a cross-off breeze, and the conditions are described as marginal. It’s not clean enough to get excited about. Sunday the 16th through to Tuesday the 18th keep pumping out swell between 4ft and 7ft, but it’s all short-period, cross-shore wind, and mostly rain or storms. The energy climbs from 111 up to 604, but the quality is poor. That’s more of a kite-surfing setup, truth be told.

Finally, we get a proper window. Thursday the 20th morning is the first real standout. Swell is 6ft from the SE with a 9-second period, and a cross-off S breeze keeps it clean. The energy is a solid 651, and the guidance says “expect very good surf conditions.” That’s the one to circle. Friday the 21st morning is also worth a look: 6ft SE swell again, light cross-off S breeze at 6 mph, and 695 units of energy. Clean, punchy point surf for the early crew.

From Saturday the 22nd through to Monday the 25th, the swell holds in the 5ft to 7ft range, but the wind starts to get a bit messy—cross-shore and cross-onshore. Sunday the 23rd afternoon is another highlight though: 7ft of east swell, clean and cross-off with a 9-second period, and 840 units of energy. That’s got some grunt, and with a gentle SSE breeze, the point should be peeling nicely. The best of the whole run is that Sunday the 23rd afternoon session.

After that, Tuesday the 25th has the swell dropping and the wind turning onshore, so the window closes. Overall, the real quality is packed into the last ten days of the forecast, with Thursday the 20th, Friday the 21st, and Sunday the 23rd being the ones to chase. The rest is a waiting game.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 21°C on Tue afternoon, min 13°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 46mm), heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon morning, min 14°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Tue
11
Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Friday
14
Saturday
15
Sunday
16
Monday
17
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
1
0
1
1
0
1
1
0
1
0
1
1
0
0
2
0
1
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
E
9
0.7
E
9
0.7
E
9
0.7
E
9
0.7
E
9
0.6
E
9
0.5
E
9
0.5
E
9
0.5
E
9
0.4
ENE
9
1.6
SSE
7
0.4
ENE
9
1.7
SSE
7
1.4
SSE
6
1.1
ESE
6
1.3
ESE
6
1.5
ESE
7
1.6
ESE
7
2.1
ESE
8
2.3
ESE
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
59
87
83
85
83
61
43
43
43
28
212
28
285
160
94
136
212
252
522
696
Wind (km/h)
10
NE
20
WSW
10
WSW
15
NNE
15
W
15
SW
20
SSE
15
SSW
20
SSW
20
S
15
SSW
25
SSW
25
S
15
SSE
15
S
20
SE
10
SSE
20
SE
20
ESE
15
ESE
Wind State
on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
High Tide
7:05PM1.87m
7:24AM1.13m
7:50PM1.91m
8:08AM1.21m
8:32PM1.88m
8:51AM1.27m
9:11PM1.78m
9:34AM1.31m
9:48PM1.64m
10:16AM1.33m
10:23PM1.46m
11:00AM1.32m
10:58PM1.28m
Low Tide
1:49AM0.04m
1:10PM-0.04m
2:28AM-0.00m
1:57PM-0.05m
3:05AM-0.01m
2:42PM-0.02m
3:40AM0.01m
3:26PM0.07m
4:12AM0.05m
4:11PM0.18m
4:44AM0.11m
4:57PM0.32m
clear
clear
clear
cloud
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
thunderstorm
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:20
6:20
6:18
6:18
6:16
6:16
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:20
5:20
5:21
5:21
5:22
5:22
5:22
 mm
1
1
4
6
17
6
4
5
3
2
6
Temp °C
21
17
21
17
14
18
18
16
17
17
17
17
17
16
17
17
17
18
18
17
Feels °C
18
13
19
14
9
13
14
12
13
13
15
13
13
14
15
14
14
14
14
13
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Broken Head Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Broken Head provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Broken Head can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Broken Head 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 (Broken Head) 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 Broken Head 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.

Broken Head is 19 km (12 miles) from Ballina. If you plan a holiday in North Coast - New South Wales, look for hotels and other accommodation in Ballina. Ballina has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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