Burleigh Heads Surf Break

Lat Long: 28.09° S 153.46° E

Burleigh Heads Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 pm 02 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Burleigh Heads sea temperature is
20.6°C
0.4° 

Burleigh Heads surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Burleigh Heads surf forecast from 2 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 4 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period, N swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 8 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 10s period, S swell with 220 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 4 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period with N swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Burleigh Heads this week:

The surf forecast for Burleigh Heads over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Burleigh Heads in the next 16 days are 1.1m 10s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 08) 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 1.7m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 4PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Fri 4th Sep)4.5ft (1.4m) 6s
Best Surf 1AM (Fri 4th Sep)4.5ft (1.4m) 6s
Most Powerful 7AM (Tue 8th Sep)3.5ft (1.1m) 10s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Burleigh Heads over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a proper look at what’s cooking over the next couple of weeks for our stretch of coast. We’ve got a bit of a quiet start, but there might be a late run of energy to keep an eye on.

Right off the bat, the early days are a bit of a write-off. For the first week and a bit, conditions are just messy. We’ve got a mix of onshore and cross-shore winds, short-period slop, and generally poor surf. There’s a real flat spot from the 2nd right through until the morning of the 12th of September – over a week where you’re better off doing something else. The water temp is sitting at a very average 69°F, nothing unusual for this time of year.

The first real flicker of life shows up on the morning of Saturday the 12th of September. The wind will be light and cross-offshore, making for clean conditions at Burleigh Heads. We’re looking at tiny 2ft of swell from the SSE, with a period around 10 seconds. The combined energy is a weak 106, so don’t expect much push. It’s surfable, but it’s very ordinary – a knee-high dribbler on the points. Maybe a longboard session if you’re desperate.

Things pick up a notch from the 13th into the 16th, but the wind stays a problem – mostly cross-on or onshore. However, the morning of Wednesday the 16th of September is a standout. The swell bumps up to 5ft from the ENE, with a combined energy of 381, which is moderate to strong. The wind is light and cross-on, but the bigger issue is the period is short at 7 seconds – so it’s a bit of a choppy, wind-swell mess. It’s a marginal call, but the size is there.

The best bet in the whole run looks like Thursday the 17th of September. The morning at Burleigh Heads should see clean, cross-offshore winds from the SSE at 16 mph. The swell holds at a solid 5ft from the ENE with an 8-second period, and combined energy at 319. That’s moderate energy, decent size, and the wind will be cleaning it right up. For advanced surfers, that’s the pick of the fortnight – proper head-high lines with a bit of push. Be aware, though, that 5ft can be a bit too much for beginners, and crowds are often a factor at Burleigh, so get in early.

The afternoon of the 17th drops off a bit with cross-shore winds and a choppier vibe. After that, the window closes out, and there’s nothing showing in the back half.

So, to wrap it up: slog through a quiet first week, keep an eye on the 16th for size, but lock in the morning of Thursday the 17th for the cleanest, most worthwhile waves of the period.

Stay wet.
Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Thu morning, min 17°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Tue morning. Warm (max 28°C on Sun morning, min 16°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Wed
2
Thursday
3
Friday
4
Saturday
5
Sunday
6
Monday
7
Tuesday
8
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
E
10
1.2
N
5
0.5
E
9
1.2
N
5
1.4
N
6
0.4
E
10
0.4
E
9
0.4
E
9
0.5
S
10
1.2
N
5
1.4
N
6
1.1
N
6
0.3
E
10
0.3
E
10
0.7
S
8
0.7
S
10
0.6
S
9
0.4
E
10
0.4
ENE
10
1.1
SSE
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
49
63
45
70
121
28
28
28
51
73
138
78
17
16
58
92
61
31
30
110
Wind (km/h)
20
N
15
NNW
20
NNW
25
N
10
WNW
15
SE
10
E
5
WSW
10
N
25
N
15
NW
10
NNW
15
SE
20
SSE
10
E
15
NE
10
SSW
20
SE
20
SE
10
SSW
Wind State
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross-on
off
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-on
on
off
cross
cross
cross-off
High Tide
11:16PM1.17m
12:08PM1.40m
00:17AM1.01m
1:22PM1.39m
1:41AM0.90m
2:46PM1.44m
3:17AM0.88m
4:04PM1.53m
4:35AM0.95m
5:06PM1.64m
5:34AM1.06m
5:58PM1.73m
Low Tide
5:25PM0.33m
5:25AM0.22m
6:39PM0.42m
6:20AM0.29m
8:17PM0.45m
7:34AM0.34m
9:55PM0.39m
9:01AM0.32m
11:06PM0.29m
10:18AM0.24m
11:57PM0.18m
11:20AM0.14m
00:40AM0.09m
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:58
5:56
5:56
5:54
5:54
5:52
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:31
5:32
5:32
5:32
5:34
5:34
5:35
 mm
1
Temp °C
21
18
27
24
21
23
22
19
26
23
21
28
21
18
21
20
18
20
19
17
Feels °C
18
16
23
20
20
21
21
19
23
20
20
26
20
16
19
19
19
17
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 Burleigh Heads Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Burleigh Heads provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Burleigh Heads can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Burleigh Heads 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 (Burleigh Heads) 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 Burleigh Heads 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.

Burleigh Heads is 10 km (6 miles) from the city of Surfers Paradise. If you plan a holiday in Gold Coast, look for hotels and other accommodation in Surfers Paradise. Surfers Paradise has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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