Burleigh Heads Surf Break

Lat Long: 28.09° S 153.46° E

Burleigh Heads Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 am 27 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 27 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 8s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 30 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 9s period, SSE swell with 505 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 8s period with SSE 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 Thursday (Aug 27) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 8s. 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 1.8m 9s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 10PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10PM (Thu 27th Aug)5.5ft (1.7m) 8s
Best Surf10PM (Thu 27th Aug)5.5ft (1.7m) 8s
Most Powerful 1PM (Sun 30th Aug)6ft (1.8m) 9s

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


The Lowdown

Righto, let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Burleigh Heads over the next couple of weeks. Straight up, the first few days are pretty grim—nothing worth paddling out for. Thursday the 27th is a write-off with sloppy 5ft to 5ft SSE swell and a messy cross-off breeze that’s just not doing it any favours. The water’s sitting at 69°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Then Friday morning the 28th, we get a little glimmer. The wind drops right out to glassy, the swell settles to 5ft from the SSE, and the wave energy is moderate (302). It’s not huge, but it’ll be clean and fun for a few. That’s about the best we’ve got in the first week. Saturday the 29th morning is also clean with 4ft SSE swell and light cross-off wind, but the energy is a bit weaker (310). Still, if you’re keen, that’s your window.

After that, it goes quiet again. Sunday the 30th morning has a bit of size—6ft from the SSE—but it’s wind-affected, and the period is short at 7 seconds, so it’ll be lumpy and messy. From Monday the 31st all the way through to Tuesday the 8th of September, it’s flat to tiny, with hardly any energy and mostly onshore winds. That’s a solid nine-day stretch of nothing much.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Thursday the 10th of September, we see a decent pulse of swell: 7ft from the SSE, period 9 seconds, and strong wave energy (824). The morning is clean with a cross-off breeze, but it’s a bit on the bigger side for beginners. Still, a standout for the more experienced crew.

But the real standout is Friday the 11th of September. That morning, we’ve got a 5ft groundswell from the SSE, but the period jumps to 15 seconds—that’s very long period. The energy is massive (1683), and the wind is light cross-off, keeping it clean. This is a long-period groundswell, so it’ll be better shaped, with more power and longer gaps between sets. At Burleigh, a point break, that’s perfect. It’ll be a ripper of a morning, but it’s still two weeks out, so keep an eye on it. The afternoon gets a bit cross-shore, so morning is the go.

Crowds at Burleigh are often, so expect a few locals out on the standouts, especially Friday the 11th. The swell direction (SSE) lines up nicely with the optimum direction for the break (SSE), so the waves should swing in sweet.

Overall, the first week is a wash, but the second week has a couple of crackers, with Friday the 11th being the pick of the bunch. Get in early.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Warm (max 20°C on Thu morning, min 14°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun morning, min 15°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
27
Friday
28
Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
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
0
2
1
0
2
2
1
1
1
0
2
1
0
1
0
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)
1.4
SSE
7
1.6
SSE
8
1.5
SSE
8
1.4
SSE
8
1.2
SSE
9
1.3
SSE
11
1.2
SSE
10
1.3
SSE
10
1.8
SSE
6
1.9
SSE
8
1.7
SSE
9
1.5
SSE
7
1.6
SSE
9
0.2
SSE
17
1.2
SSE
7
0.9
SSE
8
0.8
SSE
9
0.6
E
10
0.6
E
10
0.6
E
10
0.5
E
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
175
276
284
250
225
372
275
312
253
498
454
249
363
29
129
105
110
68
68
68
47
Wind (km/h)
20
SSE
25
SE
15
S
5
ESE
15
ESE
10
S
15
SSE
25
SSE
20
S
20
SSE
25
SE
15
SSW
20
SSE
25
SE
10
SSW
10
SE
10
NNE
10
WNW
15
NNW
20
NNE
15
NW
Wind State
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
off
cross-off
cross
off
cross
on
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross
High Tide
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
11:09AM1.41m
11:16PM1.17m
Low Tide
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
4:43AM0.14m
5:25PM0.33m
clear
clear
cloud
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:05
6:05
6:03
6:03
6:01
6:01
6:00
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:29
5:30
5:30
5:30
5:30
5:31
5:31
 mm
1
1
Temp °C
20
19
17
19
18
17
18
17
16
19
19
16
19
19
16
19
19
18
23
21
18
Feels °C
17
15
15
18
16
16
16
13
14
14
14
14
16
15
15
17
17
17
20
18
17
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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