Broken Head Surf Break

Lat Long: 28.71° S 153.62° E

Broken Head Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 am 17 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Broken Head sea temperature is
20.6° 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 17 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 21 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 10s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 10s period, SE swell with 4,084 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 21 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 10s 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 Tuesday (Jul 21) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.4m 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 4.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) 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 3.5m 9s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 18) at 4PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7AM (Tue 21st Jul)8ft (2.4m) 10s
Best Surf 7AM (Tue 21st Jul)8ft (2.4m) 10s
Most Powerful10PM (Sat 18th Jul)15ft (4.5m) 10s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Broken Head. It’s a point break, beginner-friendly, fairly consistent and exposed to the swell. The optimum direction is from the ENE, so that’s what we’re hoping for.

The water is sitting at 69°F with a temperature anomaly of -0.4°F, so it’s about average for this time of year – nothing to write home about, just standard winter water.

We’ve got a bit of a wait though. The start of the period is a write-off. Friday the 17th through to Monday the 20th are all ruled out by strong winds and messy, lumpy conditions. There’s a fair bit of swell energy running, hitting 874 (moderate) on Friday morning and building to over 2300 (strong) by Sunday, but it’s all cross-off or cross-shore winds in the 18-28 mph range, and the period is mostly 8-9 seconds. That’s short-period wind swell, all bumpy and blown out. The water’s clean, but the wind ruins it. The setup would be more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing this weekend.

The first real chance of a decent surf comes on Tuesday the 21st. The morning sees a 7ft swell from the E, with a 10-second period and a gentle cross-off breeze from the SE at 9 mph. The combined energy is 967 (moderate but solid). The conditions are clean and the forecast says expect very good surf. This is the standout. The afternoon drops a little to 6ft, still clean, still good. It’s a point break, so that longer period will offer some nice lines.

Wednesday the 22nd morning is still worth a look – 5ft from the E, 9-second period, and a light offshore wind from the SW at 6 mph. Clean, but the energy drops to 373 (moderate-low). It’s a smaller, cleaner day. The afternoon fades with a cross-shore breeze and not much push.

From Thursday the 23rd through to the end of the month, the surf drops off steadily. Heights fall from 4ft down to 0.7ft, with short periods and very ordinary conditions. There’s a small bump on Saturday the 25th morning with a 2ft swell and glassy conditions, but it’s barely worth a paddle. The energy is only 67 (weak). Several days of flat, poor surf follow.

Then, looking into the first week of August, there’s a promising sign on Saturday the 1st. The morning brings a 6ft swell from the SSE, 10-second period, with glassy conditions and a light WNW air. The combined energy is 621 (moderate), and the forecast says expect very good surf. The afternoon drops to 5ft, still clean with a cross-off breeze. That’s a solid weekend option, but being more than a week out, treat it as promising but not locked in.

So, the best on offer is Tuesday the 21st – that’s your go-to. Clean, solid 7ft easterly swell, gentle side-offshore breeze, and the point will handle that period well. After that, the weekend of the 1st of August looks like a good second call, but we’ll have to see how the forecast firms up.

Stay patient, keep the wax soft.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 42mm), heaviest during Fri morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun night, min 17°C on Fri morning). Mainly strong winds.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon morning, min 14°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
17
Saturday
18
Sunday
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
2
1
1
1
2
2
2
1
1
2
3
3
3
2
2
1
2
1
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)
2.5
SSE
8
3
SSE
8
2.5
SSE
8
3
SSE
8
3
ESE
11
4
SE
10
3.5
SE
9
3.5
SE
9
3.5
ESE
9
3
ESE
10
2.5
ESE
10
2.5
E
10
2.2
E
10
1.9
E
10
1.6
E
9
1.5
E
9
1.4
E
9
1.3
E
9
1.1
E
9
1.1
E
9
1
E
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
832
1067
899
1091
1747
3060
2274
2082
1781
1635
1365
1275
967
682
434
373
320
275
199
189
162
Wind (km/h)
30
SSE
30
SSE
30
S
35
S
45
S
35
SSE
35
SSE
35
SSE
30
SE
30
SE
25
SE
15
SE
15
SE
15
SSE
10
SSE
10
SW
5
ESE
5
W
10
SSW
10
SSE
10
SSW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross
glassy
off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
10:03AM1.16m
10:23PM1.77m
10:51AM1.18m
11:04PM1.60m
11:42AM1.19m
11:44PM1.42m
12:36PM1.20m
00:25AM1.23m
1:35PM1.20m
1:11AM1.07m
2:40PM1.22m
2:09AM0.94m
3:45PM1.25m
3:24AM0.86m
Low Tide
3:46PM0.05m
5:00AM0.06m
4:35PM0.16m
5:38AM0.11m
5:26PM0.30m
6:16AM0.16m
6:22PM0.44m
6:55AM0.22m
7:31PM0.56m
7:39AM0.28m
8:57PM0.61m
8:30AM0.32m
10:27PM0.59m
thunderstorm
rain showers
light rain
light rain
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
clear
cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:35
6:35
6:35
6:35
6:35
6:33
6:33
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:06
5:07
5:07
5:07
5:07
5:08
5:08
 mm
5
4
1
2
3
12
5
4
6
2
2
Temp °C
18
17
18
17
17
18
18
18
19
19
19
19
18
18
18
18
18
17
17
17
16
Feels °C
13
11
12
10
10
12
13
13
15
15
15
15
15
16
16
17
18
17
15
16
16
  • 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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