Surf Forecasts:
Broken Head surf forecast from 31 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 8s period, SSE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 5 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 12s period, SSE swell with 248 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 8s period with SSE 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 Tuesday (Sep 01) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 15s. 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 0.9m 12s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 05) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 7s period and expected on Friday (Sep 04) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Tue 1st Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Tue 1st Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Broken Head over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, I’m Rusty, and I’ve got a look at the coming weeks at Broken Head. It’s a pretty bleak start, I’ve gotta be honest—nothing worth wetting a leg rope for in the first week. The first sniff of proper swell doesn’t kick in until Wednesday, September 10th, so we’re talking a solid 10-day wait with only tiny, blown-out or just ordinary waves in between. The water temp is sitting at about 69°, which is pretty average for this time of year, no drama there.
Now to the good stuff. The real standout arrives around Thursday, September 12th. Through Wednesday the 10th and into Friday the 12th, a big SSE groundswell rolls in with a long period of 12 seconds, pushing wave heights up to 15 ft. That’s big—only for experienced surfers, no doubt. The combined energy is massive, hitting 4286 on the Wednesday, then 4100 on the Thursday, and still 4100 on Friday morning. Winds are cross-offshore from the SSE, 12-16 mph, keeping the face clean. This is where the point comes alive. The swell direction (SSE to SE) lines up nicely with the break’s optimum from the ENE, so expect some solid lines wrapping in.
If you’re skilled, the best on offer is Friday morning, the 12th. Wait, let me sort that—clear your schedule for Thursday the 10th and Friday the 11th, but for the absolute pick, I reckon Saturday the 13th morning is the one. The swell eases a touch to 12 ft (still a big, powerful wave), but the period drops to 9 seconds, making it a bit more manageable for strong surfers, and we’ve got light S winds at 6 mph—almost glassy. Combined energy is 1819, still serious. That’s a session that’ll get your heart pumping, with clean conditions and that cross-off wind. The point will be working its magic.
Crowds are listed as ‘often’ at Broken Head, so expect company out there, especially on a Saturday. It’s a fairly consistent spot, but don’t rock up late thinking you’ll have it to yourself.
The rest of the period fades out. Sunday the 14th morning has 6 ft E swell at 8 seconds with light cross-off winds, but it’s nothing compared to the big blow. Monday the 15th drops to 5-5 ft, still cross-off but less power. By Tuesday the 16th it’s down to 4 ft with onshore cross-chop—not worth the paddle.
So there you go: ride the waiting game, then charge that big SSE groundswell from the 10th to the 13th. The 13th morning is the crown jewel for clean, powerful point waves. Stay safe out there.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Thu morning, min 14°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sat morning, min 18°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | ||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | N 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NE 6 | SSE 12 | N 6 | NNE 6 | N 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | E 10 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
190 | 134 | 167 | 117 | 68 | 70 | 48 | 45 | 53 | 60 | 45 | 35 | 39 | 248 | 117 | 164 | 116 | 47 | 36 | 33 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | off | on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 9:49PM1.47m | 10:23AM1.40m | 10:29PM1.32m | 11:12AM1.39m | 11:15PM1.16m | 12:11PM1.38m | 00:16AM1.01m | 1:25PM1.38m | 1:39AM0.89m | 2:48PM1.42m | 3:16AM0.87m | 4:05PM1.52m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:09AM0.07m | 4:29PM0.24m | 4:45AM0.13m | 5:26PM0.34m | 5:27AM0.20m | 6:40PM0.42m | 6:22AM0.27m | 8:17PM0.45m | 7:35AM0.32m | 9:55PM0.40m | 9:00AM0.30m | 11:06PM0.29m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:01 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | |
5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 28 | 27 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 28 | 26 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 20 |
Feels °C | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 21 | 18 | 16 | 25 | 23 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 17 | SSE 8 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | E 10 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | NNE 5 | S 10 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | S 7 | SSE 12 | NNE 5 | S 9 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 5 |
94 | 134 | 167 | 117 | 68 | 116 | 85 | 58 | 27 | 53 | 45 | 35 | 59 | 248 | 46 | 41 | 72 | 47 | 36 | 24 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | SSE 15 | E 10 | ENE 10 | S 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | S 11 | ENE 9 | S 10 | SSE 10 | E 10 | NNE 5 | S 10 | SSE 12 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 13 |
22 | 91 | 73 | 102 | 65 | 70 | 48 | 45 | 58 | 29 | 53 | 35 | 28 | 17 | 96 | 29 | 50 | 25 | 23 | 87 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 12 | E 11 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | NE 4 | NNE 4 | NE 11 | NE 11 | E 9 | NE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSE 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 |
3 | 36 | 82 | 84 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 45 | 4 | 28 | 29 | 21 | 27 | 27 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 30 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 8 | — | — | ENE 5 | NNW 3 | N 4 | NNE 4 | N 5 | N 5 | NNE 5 | — | ESE 4 | NE 6 | N 5 | N 6 | NNE 6 | N 6 | — | — | NNE 5 |
190 | — | — | 9 | 4 | 12 | 24 | 21 | 53 | 60 | — | 5 | 39 | 25 | 117 | 164 | 116 | — | — | 33 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 8 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 2 | 2 | 185 | 19 | 2 | 48 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 153 | 2 | 0 | 45 | 21 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Coast - New South Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











