Broken Head Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, let’s have a look at Broken Head. This is a point break that works best when the swell comes from the ENE, and it’s generally a consistent, beginner-friendly wave, but you’ll often find a few other surfers in the water here.

This first week is rough. Monday the 17th and Tuesday the 18th bring some chest-to-head-high swell, around 6ft to 6ft, out of the ESE and SE mainly, but the wind is a problem – cross or cross-on breezes keep it all choppy and messy. The combined energy is moderate, around 365 to 531, but the quality is poor. Not worth getting wet for.

Wednesday morning the 19th is the real highlight of the whole outlook. The swell drops to a clean 5ft, but the period stretches to a nice long 11 seconds, and we get a light south wind at 3 mph that’s cross-offshore – that means clean, glassy faces. The combined energy is solid at 582 (moderate to strong). For a point break, long-period groundswell like this brings power and shape. But it’s just a one-session deal; by afternoon the wind shifts and it goes marginal.

Thursday the 20th morning looks clean again with an offshore southwest breeze at 3 mph, and swell is 6ft from the ESE with an 8-second period. Energy is moderate at 327. It’s surfable and clean, but the swell direction isn’t ideal for this spot’s best angle (ENE). It’s a decent but not peak session. Then it falls apart in the afternoon with onshore wind.

From Friday the 21st through to the 24th, we hit a dead patch. Swell drops under 3ft, winds are mostly cross-on or onshore, and energy numbers drop to weak (81 to 160). There’s a brief glassy moment on the morning of the 23rd, but with only 3ft and short period, it’s more of a longboard day. That near-flat spell lasts several days.

From the 25th to the 28th, the size stays tiny – mostly under 3ft – with short period. There are some clean mornings with offshore or cross-off winds, but the waves lack any real push. Energy stays below 183 (weak to low-moderate). Not worth the drive unless you’re just keen for a paddle.

Then on the 29th of August, we see a pulse: 7ft from the NNE hits in the morning, but the period is a short 7 seconds and the wind is cross-onshore – total mess. By afternoon it drops to 5ft from the north, still short period, and still cross-shore with chop. Combined energy is strong at 517, but the quality is junk.

From the 30th of August through to the 1st of September, we get consistent chest-high swell (4ft to 4ft) from the ENE – the right direction – but the east-northeast wind blows 12 to 16 mph onshore or cross-onshore, wrecking any chance of clean surf. Energy is moderate at 204 to 263, but it’s all blown out.

The standout: No doubt it’s Wednesday morning the 19th of August. Clean, long-period groundswell, light offshore wind, and chest-high sets. For beginners, nothing here gets too big (mostly under 7ft), but the quality is scarce. If you’re just starting out, that tiny glassy Sunday the 23rd morning could be fun for a paddle.

The water temp is around 68°, which is about average for this time of year.

Rusty.

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