Burleigh Heads Surf Break

Lat Long: 28.09° S 153.46° E

Burleigh Heads Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 am 07 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Burleigh Heads sea temperature is
20.4° 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 7 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 14 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 11s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 14 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 11s period, S swell with 757 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 7 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 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 Friday (Aug 07) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Burleigh Heads in the next 16 days are 1.8m 11s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 14) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 6s period and expected on Monday (Aug 10) at 10AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7PM (Fri 7th Aug)2.5ft (0.8m) 7s
Best Surf 4AM (Fri 14th Aug)6ft (1.8m) 11s
Most Powerful 4AM (Fri 14th Aug)6ft (1.8m) 11s

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


The Lowdown

Righto, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the Burleigh Heads stretch over the next couple of weeks.

We’re looking at a pretty quiet, drawn-out period to start. The first real surf action doesn’t kick off until Thursday the 13th of August, and even then it’s modest. The water temp is sitting at 69°, which is basically bang on normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Friday the 7th of August is a write-off – tiny, short-period swell with the wind on it, just not worth paddling out. That flat, ordinary pattern hangs around for days. The odd morning might look glassy, like Tuesday the 11th, but the swell is only 2 ft with a weak 9-second period, and barely any energy behind it (combined energy of 81). You’ll be bobbing around for nothing.

The first flicker of something decent comes on Thursday the 13th of August in the afternoon. Clean, glassy conditions with a 2 ft SSW swell, but it’s short-lived. The real standout is Friday the 14th of August morning. Burleigh Heads (Gold Coast) wakes up to a clean 5 ft south-southeast swell, with a 10-second period and a cross-off breeze. The combined energy jumps to 417, which is moderate, and the waves should have a bit of shape. That’s your best window in the first week – a solid, clean session with enough push for the banks.

From there, the swell sticks around but the wind gets messy. Saturday the 15th of August morning has 5 ft from the SSE but with a stronger 20 km/h cross-off, still clean but a bit lumpy. The afternoon sees the wind howling at 30 km/h, so that’s game over. Sunday the 16th and Monday the 17th see a drop in period (6 to 7 seconds) and a lot of rain showers, so the quality tanks.

The second week is a bit of a mixed bag. The swell builds again through Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th of August, with 7 ft to 7 ft from the ESE and E, but the period is short (8 seconds) and the wind is cross-off or onshore. The combined energy numbers are strong (511 to 630), but the short period and wind chop will make it lumpy. This is more of a kite-surfing setup than a clean paddle session, honestly. The waves are too crumbly for most.

The 20th of August still has some energy but the swell drops to 4 ft, and by the 21st and 22nd, it’s all cross-shore chop and sub-5 ft slop. Not much to write home about.

So, if you’re chasing a paddle, you’ve got one real standout: Friday the 14th of August morning. The rest is either flat, blown out, or too short-period to be fun. It’s a long, quiet stretch for Burleigh, but that one morning should redeem it.

- Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Warm (max 23°C on Wed morning, min 10°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
7
Saturday
8
Sunday
9
Monday
10
Tuesday
11
Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
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
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
1
1
1
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
ENE
7
0.8
ENE
7
0.8
ENE
7
0.9
ENE
7
1.1
E
8
1.2
E
9
1.1
E
9
1
E
9
1
E
9
0.8
E
9
0.8
E
9
0.7
E
9
0.7
E
9
0.7
E
9
0.7
E
10
0.8
E
10
0.7
E
10
0.6
E
9
0.6
E
9
0.7
SSW
9
1.3
S
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
57
54
54
78
173
229
185
146
146
94
96
78
81
83
88
117
88
63
61
80
295
Wind (km/h)
5
ENE
10
ENE
10
WSW
5
SE
10
ESE
5
SW
5
N
20
N
25
NNW
15
W
20
W
15
W
5
NNE
10
NE
10
WNW
15
NNW
20
WNW
10
WNW
15
W
5
SSE
10
SSW
Wind State
glassy
on
cross-off
cross
cross-on
off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
on
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
High Tide
2:57PM1.40m
3:08AM0.94m
4:13PM1.52m
4:32AM0.94m
5:18PM1.66m
5:39AM0.99m
6:14PM1.80m
6:34AM1.07m
7:04PM1.89m
7:22AM1.16m
7:49PM1.92m
8:07AM1.24m
8:30PM1.89m
Low Tide
9:46PM0.45m
9:08AM0.26m
11:11PM0.34m
10:21AM0.21m
00:13AM0.22m
11:25AM0.12m
1:04AM0.11m
12:20PM0.02m
1:47AM0.04m
1:10PM-0.04m
2:26AM-0.00m
1:57PM-0.06m
3:03AM-0.01m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:24
6:24
6:22
6:22
6:20
6:20
6:20
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:19
5:20
5:20
5:21
5:21
5:22
5:22
 mm
3
Temp °C
18
19
16
18
17
16
19
19
17
18
19
14
17
17
15
23
17
15
20
21
14
Feels °C
16
18
15
16
15
16
17
16
14
13
13
9
14
14
13
18
13
11
16
19
10
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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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