Surf Forecasts:
Burleigh Heads surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 30 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 7s period, SSE swell with 499 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 26 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 7s period with ENE 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 Wednesday (Aug 26) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 7s period. 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 2.2m 7s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) 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 1.9m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 30) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Burleigh Heads over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s break down the next couple weeks at Burleigh Heads. It’s a bit of a waiting game, so don’t rush. The first proper session worth getting up for isn’t until the morning of Saturday, 29 August, and everything before that is mostly flat or a write-off. Water temp’s about 69°, which is normal for this time of year.
From now through the 28th, it’s a rough patch. Wednesday morning 26 August is clean but tiny – 4ft from the ENE (7 sec) with a light cross-off WNW breeze at 6 mph. Wave energy is weak (144), and it’s just ordinary. Thursday morning 27 August has stronger SSE wind at 12 mph, but the swell drops to 3ft from the E (8 sec) – clean, but barely breaking. Thursday afternoon turns messy with 5ft SSE swell and even stronger wind. Friday morning 28 August is clean but average with 4ft SSE swell (8 sec) and light S wind at 3 mph, though energy is moderate at 217. The afternoon picks up a slight cross-chop.
Finally, Saturday morning 29 August brings the first real good surf. Swell comes in at 3ft from the SSE (10 sec period), with a light SSE breeze at 6 mph making it perfectly clean. Combined energy is solid at 274, and the wave comment says it – expect good surf. It’s not huge, but the longer period (10 sec) gives you nice shape and a bit of drive. Crowds are often at Burleigh, so beat the rush.
Sunday morning 30 August sees a bigger, chunkier 7ft SSE swell, but the period drops to 7 sec and the wind is a moderate SSE at 12 mph. That’s expert-only territory due to size, and the short period will make it dumpy. The energy is strong at 566, but it’s marginal. Sunday afternoon gets worse with 15 mph wind and rain.
Monday morning 31 August offers another clean shot with 5ft from the SE (6 sec) and lighter S wind at 6 mph. Clean, but short period and moderate energy (289). Still a solid session for anyone comfortable with size.
Tuesday 1 September and Wednesday 2 September drop off into poor, onshore junk. Flat and messy.
Now the real standout – the best session by far – is Monday morning, 7 September. This one’s a proper event. Swell cranks up to 10ft from the SSE (8 sec) with a light SSE breeze at 6 mph, making it glassy and clean. Combined energy is massive at 1116 – that’s powerful, heavy surf. This is strictly for experienced surfers only (over 8ft), and with an 8-second period, expect fast, hollow waves. The cross-off wind keeps the faces clean, but the paddle-out will be a battle. Crowds are often at Burleigh, but on a day like this, only the hardcore will be out. If you’re an expert, mark it.
After that, Tuesday and Wednesday (8–10 September) fizzle into small, onshore slop, with the morning of 10 September showing glassy 3ft from the E (8 sec) – surfable but nothing exciting.
Bottom line: wait until the 29th for a clean, fun session, and then lock in Monday 7 September for the big one if you’ve got the skills. For everyone else, the mornings around the 29th and 31 August are your window. Keep an eye on the charts – things can change. Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Wed afternoon, min 16°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon morning, min 15°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | E 8 | SSE 6 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | E 9 | SE 6 | SE 6 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
138 | 124 | 94 | 84 | 151 | 214 | 163 | 177 | 254 | 205 | 201 | 408 | 499 | 348 | 57 | 170 | 164 | 114 | 98 | 94 | 192 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:03PM1.64m | 7:19AM1.15m | 7:35PM1.70m | 7:52AM1.23m | 8:06PM1.71m | 8:26AM1.30m | 8:39PM1.68m | 9:01AM1.35m | 9:12PM1.60m | 9:39AM1.40m | 9:48PM1.49m | 10:21AM1.42m | 10:29PM1.34m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:29PM0.17m | 1:37AM0.14m | 1:06PM0.11m | 2:06AM0.08m | 1:42PM0.08m | 2:35AM0.05m | 2:19PM0.07m | 3:05AM0.03m | 2:58PM0.10m | 3:35AM0.05m | 3:40PM0.15m | 4:07AM0.08m | 4:28PM0.23m | ||||||||
6:07 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | |
— | 5:29 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 22 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 17 |
Feels °C | 19 | 21 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | E 9 | E 8 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | S 8 | E 10 | E 6 | E 10 |
138 | 124 | 94 | 84 | 113 | 81 | 163 | 177 | 254 | 205 | 94 | 51 | 67 | 61 | 57 | 39 | 37 | 103 | 98 | 39 | 192 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 8 | S 9 | NNE 6 | NE 7 | NE 12 | NE 7 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | NE 7 | NE 10 | NE 15 | NE 15 | NE 13 | S 9 | SE 18 | E 11 | S 9 | E 10 | S 9 |
11 | 6 | 30 | 27 | 6 | 13 | 54 | 61 | 66 | 69 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 42 | 86 | 114 | 76 | 94 | 61 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | NE 8 | S 9 | N 5 | S 16 | NE 12 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | NE 10 | NE 6 | — | — | — | SSE 20 | E 12 | SE 16 | SSE 15 | S 9 | NE 12 |
6 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | 38 | 11 | 67 | 21 | 60 | 5 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 3 | — | SSW 2 | S 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 8 | — | — | — | — | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | — | — |
3 | — | 1 | 59 | 151 | 214 | — | — | — | — | 201 | 408 | 499 | 348 | 208 | 170 | 164 | 50 | 40 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 12 | 0 | 49 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 5 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 5 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gold Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











