Burleigh Heads Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up.

Right off the bat, the next few days are a bit of a write-off. Thursday July 30th through Saturday August 2nd is a tough stretch—tiny swell, shifty cross-offs, and marginal energy. You’re looking at ankle-to-knee high dribble with combined energy way down in the 65 to 248 range. Not worth paddling out for.

Then we hit Sunday August 3rd morning, and that’s where it gets interesting. Burleigh Heads (Gold Coast) finally gets a pulse. It’s a clean, glassy morning with the wind swinging SW at just 3 mph. The swell jumps to 5 ft from the SE with a long 12-second period, and the combined energy hits a solid 684 (moderate). This is the standout of the first week. The water temp is 69°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year. This is a proper point break that loves a SSE to SE groundswell, and it’s consistent. You might have to share it with a few others—crowds can be a thing here—but for a Sunday morning glass-off, it’s hard to go past.

Monday August 4th and Tuesday August 5th drop off again with smaller stuff and onshore or cross-shore winds. Nothing to get excited about. Wednesday August 6th through to Monday August 11th stays marginal—mostly waist-high or smaller, with poor conditions and cross-off or cross-on breezes. The energy ticks up a little on the 11th morning (421 combined energy), but the swell is only 3 ft and the wind is cross-shore, so it’s still not a standout.

Now, hold onto your board. Wednesday August 12th morning is the big one. Burleigh Heads sees a solid 10 ft swell from the SSE, with a 9-second period and a massive combined energy of 1325 (strong). The wind is light S at 3 mph, clean and cross-off. This is big, powerful groundswell—definitely for experienced surfers only. Over 8 ft is expert territory, and this is packing some serious grunt. If you’re not comfortable in heavy, lined-up point surf, sit this one out. The afternoon eases to 8 ft but picks up an onshore component, so the morning is the window.

Thursday August 13th morning drops to 6 ft from the SSE, with glassy conditions and no wind. Combined energy at 453 (moderate). Clean, fun-sized, and far more manageable. A good follow-up day for those who missed Wednesday’s big session.

Friday August 14th morning is another glassy one, with 7 ft from the SSE and 665 combined energy. The wind is dead calm from the north. This is solid, punchy stuff, but again, it’s pushing into expert swell heights. The afternoon jumps to 8 ft and onshore, so hit it early.

So the real standout is Wednesday August 12th morning at Burleigh Heads—big, clean, cross-off, and pumping. The secondary standout is Sunday August 3rd morning for a cleaner, more user-friendly wave. If you have to pick one session across the whole 16 days, Wednesday 12th morning is the one to circle—just bring your big-wave board and your best nerves.

Rusty.

Read more