
Surf Forecasts:
Broken Head surf forecast from 5 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 9 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 11s period, SE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 7 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 12s period, SSE swell with 3,826 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 9 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 11s period with SE 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 Thursday (Jul 09) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 2.2m and 10s. 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 4.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 07) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 9s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 12) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Thu 9th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Thu 9th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Tue 7th Jul) | 13ft (4.0m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Broken Head over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming our way.
Alright, we’ve got a bit of a slow burner this forecast period. The first week is going to test your patience, but there’s definitely some light at the end of the tunnel, especially for the experienced crew.
The action kicks off Monday the 6th of July but honestly, it’s a write-off. We’ve got a solid 12 ft swell at Broken Head but it’s coming from the SSE with a short 9-second period, and a moderate to fresh S breeze is blowing cross-off. The combined energy is strong at 1770, but the surf is labelled marginal due to questionable tide conditions. Not worth getting the board wet.
Tuesday the 7th picks up a bit. The SSE swell holds at 12 ft, but the period stretches out to 11 seconds, which is a proper groundswell. The energy jumps to 2562 in the morning and a hefty 3087 in the afternoon. Still, the wind is cross-off and fresh, so it’s a bit of a battle, and the rating is still marginal. This is expert territory – anything over 8 ft is for the skilled crew only.
Wednesday the 8th is more of the same: 10 to 12 ft, long-period SSE swell, strong energy (3078 in the morn, 2861 in the arvo), but wind stays a messy cross-off. It’s clean on the surface but the sheer size and bumpy wind won’t make it a classic.
Now, Thursday the 9th of July is where you want to point the car. The swell drops to a more manageable 8 ft early, coming from the SSE with a lovely 11-second period. The wind shifts to a light offshore from the SSW at 9 mph. Gentle offshore and clean – that’s the ticket. The combined energy is still strong (2354), but the conditions are listed as excellent for experienced surfers. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so a 3/2mm steamer should do. Morning session is the pick. The afternoon drops to 8 ft with a light S breeze, still clean. This is the standout of the first week.
Friday the 10th stays good. 7 ft SE swell, 10-second period, with a light SW offshore breeze in the morning. It’s gentle offshore and clean. The energy drops to 998, but the quality is rated very good. A solid call for a dawny.
Saturday the 11th morning is absolutely worth a look. The swell has eased to 5 ft from the SSE with a 10-second period, and the wind is glassy – a light WSW at 3 mph. Perfect, smooth conditions. The energy is moderate at 625. This is a window of pure, clean fun. Don’t sleep on it. The afternoon turns to junk with a NNE onshore breeze and a long 12-second period from the ESE that’ll make it fat and weak.
From Sunday the 12th through to the morning of Friday the 17th of July, it’s a long, flat spell. Swell drops below 3 ft, energy plummets, and some days are barely 3 to 15 units. There are a few moments with offshore wind but no swell to back it up. It’s a proper dead period.
Friday the 17th afternoon shows a sudden spike: 7 ft from the SSE with a 10-second period, energy at 853, but the surf is called marginal. Worth a look but don’t expect perfection.
The real recovery kicks off Saturday the 18th of July. Morning has a clean 7 ft SSE swell at 11 seconds, with a light SW offshore. Energy at 974 and conditions rated very good. The afternoon is similar but with a light cross-off. This is your second standout window – a great weekend prospect for experienced surfers. By Sunday the 19th the swell backs off and the wind turns onshore, so get it while you can.
Monday the 20th and Tuesday the 21st are blown out or tiny, wrapping things up on a whimper.
So, the best on offer? Thursday the 9th of July morning for the clean, punchy 8 ft sets with light offshore wind. Saturday the 18th of July morning is your second pick for a slightly smaller but equally clean 7 ft session.
Stay patient, and don’t miss those windows.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Sun night. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun night, min 15°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat morning, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sun 12 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SSE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 11 | SSE 10 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SE 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1529 | 1569 | 1757 | 2280 | 2483 | 3059 | 3654 | 2904 | 2504 | 1756 | 1344 | 1092 | 815 | 918 | 936 | 716 | 439 | 421 | 396 | 305 | 212 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | glassy | on | cross-off | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 11:28PM1.51m | 12:15PM1.08m | 00:10AM1.41m | 1:12PM1.14m | 1:01AM1.30m | 2:15PM1.22m | 2:03AM1.18m | 3:21PM1.33m | 3:16AM1.08m | 4:26PM1.47m | 4:32AM1.02m | 5:27PM1.63m | 5:42AM1.01m | 6:24PM1.77m | |||||||
Low Tide | 6:13AM0.16m | 5:50PM0.39m | 6:55AM0.17m | 6:53PM0.45m | 7:42AM0.18m | 8:12PM0.48m | 8:35AM0.18m | 9:41PM0.45m | 9:34AM0.18m | 11:05PM0.36m | 10:34AM0.15m | 00:15AM0.24m | 11:33AM0.09m | ||||||||
— | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | |
— | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:01 | — | — | 5:01 | — | — | 5:02 | — | — | 5:02 | — | — | 5:04 | |
mm | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | — | — | 3 | — | — | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 21 | 21 |
Feels °C | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 17 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 13 | ESE 14 | E 13 | E 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | — | SE 15 | ESE 13 | SE 11 | SSE 11 | S 23 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 11 | SSE 10 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SE 10 |
176 | 198 | 123 | 76 | 79 | 28 | — | 174 | 357 | 534 | 1344 | 11 | 815 | 918 | 936 | 716 | 439 | 421 | 396 | 305 | 212 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 14 | NE 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 24 | — | S 21 | SE 15 | S 20 | SE 15 | ESE 13 | SSE 10 | S 9 | SSE 9 | S 9 |
63 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | — | 9 | 80 | 7 | 9 | 186 | 214 | 81 | 82 | 40 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 18 | S 20 | — | S 19 | S 21 | S 19 | S 18 | S 17 | S 17 |
64 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 8 | — | 7 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | — | — | — | — | WSW 3 | — | N 3 | NW 3 | N 4 |
1529 | 1569 | 1757 | 2280 | 2483 | 3059 | 3654 | 2904 | 2504 | 1756 | 1010 | 1092 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 3 | 2 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 221 | 60 | 721 | 7 | 7 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 19 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Coast - New South Wales | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











