Burleigh Heads Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you—this 16-day stretch for Burleigh Heads is a slow burn. We’re looking at a fair bit of small, average surf for the first week or so, and honestly, there’s nothing worth scrambling for until we get deep into the window. The first few days are pretty much a write-off. From the 11th through the 13th, we’ve got tiny, weak waves—around 2ft to 2ft—with just not enough push or shape to get you excited. The energy is weak, with values mostly in the 70s and 80s (combined energy of all swells directed here). It’s clean, but it’s flat and ordinary.

Then things start to rumble a bit. On Thursday the 14th, a new SSE swell kicks in, bumping the size to around 6ft with a period of 8 seconds. The energy jumps to 401 (moderate wave energy). The morning looks clean with a cross-offshore wind, but it’s still a bit marginal. Friday the 15th holds similar size (5ft to 6ft) and conditions, but the period drops to 7 seconds, so it’s a bit more disorganized. The real problem is the wind picks up—25 km/h from the south—making it choppy and less appealing. The weekend is just a letdown, with size dropping back to 3ft to 5ft on the 16th. Not worth it.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The second week holds the key. From Monday the 17th, the swell starts to build properly. We’re talking 7ft to 8ft from the SE, with periods around 8 to 10 seconds. The energy goes through the roof—values hitting 741, then 607, then 666, and by Tuesday afternoon the 18th, it’s a whopping 1176 (strong to very strong wave energy). This is the real deal. The wind is cross-offshore, keeping it clean, but with that size, this is one for the experienced crew. It’s not beginner territory at all—anything over 8ft is expert-only, and we’re right on that edge.

The standout window is the 20th and 21st of August. Thursday the 20th morning looks superb: 8ft of ESE swell with a 9-second period, cross-off wind, and an energy reading of 820. The water’s still warm for this time of year, sitting at 69°F with only a -0.9°F anomaly—basically average, so no drama there. Then Friday the 21st is the real gem. The wind goes glassy—basically zero—with a 6ft E swell and a 9-second period. Morning and afternoon both look like magic. Energy is still strong at 591 and 529. For a point break like Burleigh Heads, this is as good as it gets. Clean, powerful, and with that long-period groundswell feel, even if it’s not super long period. The direction is E, which is a bit off the optimum SSE, but the quality and conditions more than make up for it.

After that, it starts to ease off. The 22nd and 23rd drop back to 5ft to 5ft, and the wind turns cross-shore, so it’s just average again. The last day of the window, Monday the 24th, shows a glimmer—5ft with a longer 11-second period and glassy conditions in the morning. That could be a nice little finisher, but it’s not the standout.

So, if you’re picking your moment, you’re looking at Thursday the 20th and Friday the 21st. Burleigh Heads is a consistent spot, so it’s not often totally flat, but this run has a lot of average filler. The good stuff is worth the wait. The crowds are likely on a Saturday, but on that Friday morning, you might just have it a bit more to yourself. Get on it.

Rusty.

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