Broken Head Surf Break

Lat Long: 28.71° S 153.62° E

Broken Head Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 pm 11 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Broken Head sea temperature is
20.7° C
0.3° 

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 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 12 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 10s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 16 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 9s period, SSE swell with 2,283 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 12 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 10s 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 Sunday (Jul 12) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 10s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Broken Head in the next 16 days are 3.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 16) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 16) at 1AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10AM (Sun 12th Jul)3.5ft (1.1m) 10s
Best Surf10AM (Sun 12th Jul)3.5ft (1.1m) 10s
Most Powerful 7AM (Thu 16th Jul)11ft (3.5m) 9s

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


Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's check out what Broken Head is cooking up.

The good news is there's plenty to get excited about, but you're gonna have to be patient at the start and the middle of the run is going to get pretty rowdy. The very beginning is a nice little preview.

The first session worth paddling out for is Saturday afternoon, July 11th. We've got a clean 4ft swell rolling in from the ESE, and the wind is glassy out of the east at 3 mph. The water is sitting at 69°, which is about average for the time of year. It's a gentle start with moderate wave energy (622), and it's a nice way to kick off the weekend.

Sunday morning, July 12th, sees the swell drop a touch to 4ft from the SE, but the wind swings to the WNW at 9 mph, turning it cross-offshore and keeping the face clean. The energy drops to moderate (253), but it's still a fun little peak.

Then we hit a dry spell. From Sunday afternoon through to Wednesday, July 15th, the surf drops right off—3ft and smaller, with weak energy that just doesn't have any grunt. There's nothing worth getting wet for during that stretch. It's a proper dead patch in the forecast.

But hold on. Things change in a big way starting Thursday morning, July 16th. This is where the serious swell arrives, and it's not for the faint of heart. We've got a pulse of 12ft from the SSE on Thursday morning, and the combined energy rockets up to 2115—that's strong. The wind is a cross-off at 18 mph, so it's clean but powerful. This is big, expert-only territory. The same story holds through Friday and Saturday, with 10ft swells and very strong energy readings (2279, 2074, 1791). The wind stays cross-offshore, but the period is around 8 to 10 seconds, so it's a mix of wind and groundswell.

Now, the standout in this whole run is Sunday, July 19th, through Tuesday, July 21st. Sunday morning has a solid 10ft swell from the ESE with a 10-second period, and the wind is light and cross-off from the south at 6 mph—that's clean and lined up. The energy is still very strong (1581). Then Monday morning, July 20th, is nearly perfect: 10ft from the ESE, 11-second period (longer-period groundswell, so better shaped waves and longer lulls between sets), and the wind is barely a whisper from the west at 3 mph, making it glassy offshore. Energy is at 2117. Tuesday morning, July 21st, keeps that quality with 10ft from the ESE, a 12-second period, and a gentle offshore from the SW at 9 mph (2540 energy). That week-long window is the best on offer—big, clean, and powerful. Just remember, at that size it's a big, heavy wave, so it's for experienced surfers only. The crowds can be a factor here sometimes, so you might have some company.

After that peak, the swell gradually drops. By Wednesday, July 22nd, we're still seeing excellent 7ft surf from the ESE with a long 12-second period and a clean offshore breeze. Thursday and Friday are still good with 5ft and 3ft swells, respectively, still from the ESE, and the winds stay favorable. The energy is moderate but the quality holds. The very end of the run, Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th, sees smaller 4ft to 2ft swells, but Sunday afternoon, July 26th, ends the forecast on a lovely note: 3ft from the ESE, 13-second period, and glassy conditions.

So, to sum it up: there's a flat spot in the middle of the first week, then a massive swell hits around July 16th that's only for the brave. The real highlight is that window from July 19th morning through July 21st morning—big, clean, and the wind is on your side.

Stay safe out there.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu morning, min 13°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSW on Tue night, fresh winds from the S by Wed afternoon).

Sat
11
Sunday
12
Monday
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Friday
17
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
3
1
2
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.2
ESE
12
1.3
ESE
11
1.1
SE
10
0.9
SE
10
0.6
SE
9
0.5
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
0.3
ESE
10
0.2
ESE
10
0.2
ESE
10
0.2
ESE
10
0.2
SSE
14
0.1
N
10
3
S
8
3.5
SSE
9
3
SSE
8
3
SSE
8
3.5
SE
10
3
SE
10
3
SE
10
3
ESE
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
371
396
248
145
70
38
27
20
10
10
9
18
2
0
2111
1363
1030
2279
2074
1883
1791
Wind (km/h)
5
E
15
NNW
15
WNW
10
NW
15
W
10
SW
10
ENE
10
W
15
SW
15
SSE
15
WSW
20
SSW
30
S
30
S
30
SSE
30
SSE
25
SSE
25
SE
30
SSE
25
SSE
25
SSE
Wind State
glassy
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-off
off
on
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
5:27PM1.63m
5:42AM1.01m
6:24PM1.77m
6:43AM1.03m
7:18PM1.89m
7:38AM1.06m
8:08PM1.96m
8:28AM1.10m
8:55PM1.96m
9:16AM1.13m
9:40PM1.89m
10:03AM1.16m
10:23PM1.77m
10:51AM1.18m
Low Tide
00:15AM0.24m
11:33AM0.09m
1:15AM0.13m
12:28PM0.03m
2:07AM0.05m
1:20PM-0.03m
2:54AM0.01m
2:10PM-0.05m
3:39AM-0.00m
2:59PM-0.03m
4:21AM0.02m
3:46PM0.05m
5:00AM0.06m
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:37
6:37
6:37
6:37
6:37
6:35
6:35
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:02
5:04
5:04
5:05
5:05
5:06
5:06
5:07
 mm
2
4
1
2
2
4
1
Temp °C
17
16
21
22
17
18
16
17
16
16
16
16
16
16
18
18
17
18
18
17
18
Feels °C
16
14
17
20
13
17
14
15
12
13
14
10
10
10
12
12
11
12
13
12
13
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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