Burleigh Heads Surf Break

Lat Long: 28.09° S 153.46° E

Burleigh Heads Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 am 18 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Burleigh Heads sea temperature is
19.9° C
0.8° 

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 18 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 8s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 11s period, SE swell with 617 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 8s period with ESE 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 Tuesday (Aug 18) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 13s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 13s is also forecast. 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 1.6m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 7s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 10PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10PM (Tue 18th Aug)6.5ft (2.0m) 8s
Best Surf10PM (Tue 18th Aug)6.5ft (2.0m) 8s
Most Powerful10AM (Wed 19th Aug)5ft (1.6m) 11s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve gotta be straight with you: the next couple of weeks are shaping up to be a bit of a mixed bag for our stretch of coast. It’s not a complete write-off, but you’re gonna have to pick your moments, and there’s a fair gap early on where it’s not worth getting your feet wet.

We start off on Tuesday the 18th with a 7ft SE swell rolling in, but the wind is a messy cross-shore at 12 mph, and there’s rain showers around. The energy is moderate at 598, but honestly, the surface is going to be a chop-fest. Not a pretty sight. The afternoon cleans up a touch with a cross-offshore, but it’s still marginal and the tide is questionable. A surfer’s patience is tested here.

Wednesday the 19th sees the swell drop to 5ft but the period jumps up to 11 seconds, which is a bit of a groundswell. The morning has a clean cross-off breeze, and while only 5ft, there’s a bit of push. Still, it’s a marginal call. The energy is 739, the most we see for a while, which is promising, but the wave comment says it’s questionable. You could get a few, but it’s not the day to skip work for.

Thursday the 20th is a bit of a tease. Morning brings in a clean 4ft wave with some decent energy at 310, and the comment is “expect good surf conditions.” That’s the first real green light. The breeze is light and cross-off. It’s small, but it might be the best of a pretty ordinary bunch. The afternoon turns cross-onshore and bumpy with a 6ft ESE swell, so get on it early if you’re keen.

Then we hit the doldrums. From Friday the 21st, the swell just crumbles. We’re looking at sub-3ft waves, onshore winds, and a whole lot of nothing. The energy tanks into the 100s and even down to double digits. This stretch runs until the morning of Sunday the 30th. That’s over a week of flat, messy, or just plain unrideable conditions. There might be a morning of glassy 3ft on Sunday the 23rd, and a glassy 2ft on Wednesday the 26th, but with energy that low, you’d be struggling to catch a ripple. It’s a proper blank run. Don’t even bother checking the cam.

Finally, on Sunday the 30th, there’s a glimmer. The morning is glassy with a 5ft ENE swell and energy at 238. It’s still small and ordinary, but it’s the most life we’ve seen in a week. It’s surfable, but just barely. From the 31st onwards, the swell stays small and the wind starts to come from the south, setting up a cross-off at Burleigh Heads. But the size just isn’t there—mostly 2ft to 2ft. It stays that way through to Wednesday the 2nd of September. Clean, but tiny.

So, the standout? Honestly, nothing here is a real standout. If you’re desperate, Thursday the 20th morning is your best bet for the whole window. The energy is moderate at 310, the water is 68°, which is normal for this time of year, and it’s the only time we get a “good” call. But it’s small. Don’t expect barrels.

The other one to keep half an eye on is the 5ft, 11-second swell on Wednesday the 19th morning. The longer period gives it more shape and grunt, and with the clean cross-off wind, it could surprise. But the forecast score is low, so treat it as a promise, not a certainty. Given the long run of flatness, this is a spot where patience is a virtue. The forecasts can change, but as it stands, don’t hold your breath.

That’s the long and short of it. Keep the board waxed, but maybe leave it in the car for a bit.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue morning, min 15°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 21°C on Sat morning, min 16°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
1
3
2
1
1
2
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.2
SE
8
2.2
SE
8
1.9
ESE
8
1.6
SE
11
1.4
SE
11
1.2
SE
8
1.3
SE
8
1.7
ESE
8
0.8
SE
8
0.9
ENE
7
1
E
7
0.9
ENE
7
1
ENE
7
1.1
ENE
8
1
ENE
8
0.9
ENE
8
0.9
ENE
8
0.9
ENE
8
0.7
E
8
0.7
E
8
0.7
E
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
558
587
512
617
441
191
250
318
90
73
100
84
111
135
116
102
81
81
64
64
66
Wind (km/h)
20
SE
25
SSE
15
SSE
15
SSE
15
SE
15
SSW
15
SSE
10
E
0
NW
5
N
15
NNE
10
NW
15
NW
20
N
10
NNW
0
ENE
10
ESE
5
SSW
10
N
15
N
15
NW
Wind State
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
on
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
off
cross-on
cross-on
cross
High Tide
11:47AM1.30m
11:34PM1.13m
12:41PM1.25m
00:21AM0.99m
1:48PM1.21m
1:30AM0.88m
3:04PM1.21m
3:06AM0.83m
4:14PM1.27m
4:29AM0.86m
5:09PM1.36m
5:26AM0.92m
5:52PM1.46m
Low Tide
5:47PM0.46m
5:53AM0.26m
6:51PM0.57m
6:38AM0.35m
8:20PM0.62m
7:39AM0.42m
10:02PM0.59m
8:58AM0.44m
11:12PM0.50m
10:11AM0.40m
11:58PM0.40m
11:06AM0.33m
00:34AM0.31m
rain showers
clear
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
thunderstorm
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:15
6:13
6:13
6:11
6:11
6:09
6:09
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:24
5:24
5:25
5:25
5:27
5:27
5:28
 mm
2
1
2
2
1
2
1
1
Temp °C
18
18
16
18
18
16
18
18
17
19
19
17
21
20
18
20
19
18
21
20
18
Feels °C
14
13
13
16
16
14
16
16
17
17
17
15
18
17
18
21
19
18
19
18
17
  • 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)
Map placeholder
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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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