Burleigh Heads Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab your board and wax, let’s see what Burleigh Heads has on the menu over the next couple of weeks. I’m Rusty, and I’ll walk you through it.

Right now, the water temp is resting at around 68°, which is about 2° cooler than the long-term average for this time of year. So, it’s pretty much normal, nothing to worry about.

We’ve got a lean start, to be honest. The first few days from the 14th through to the 16th are a write-off for a proper surf. The swell is there, hitting around 5ft to 6ft from the SSE, but the wind is just messy – cross-shore and cross-off with moderate breezes, and the comments are calling it “poor surf conditions.” The wave energy is moderate, with readings around 460 to 440 (moderate energy), but the quality just isn’t there. It’s a pass.

Things start to look a little more promising from Sunday the 16th into Monday the 17th. The swell picks up a bit, hitting 8ft from the SE on Monday morning, with moderate wave energy climbing to 644. But again, the wind is cross-shore, and mixed with rain, it’s still looking shabby. The comments say “marginal surf forecast” at best. For beginners, that 8ft is getting a bit hefty; for the advanced crew, it’s fine, but the conditions just aren’t cooperating.

Now, let’s talk about a true standout. The pick of the entire forecast comes on Wednesday the 19th. We’ve got a nice 5ft to 5ft SSE swell rolling in with a long 11-second period – that’s a proper groundswell, and at a point break like Burleigh Heads, that longer period is a bonus, meaning better shaped waves with more push. The wind is cross-offshore from the SSE at 12 to 15 mph, keeping the faces clean. The wave energy is strong, reading 681 on Wednesday morning. This is the best on offer. The swell direction matches the optimum direction for this break (SSE). It’s not too big, just right for good sessions, though expect a few other surfers around – crowds are listed as “often” here, so you won’t be alone.

After that, we hit a lull. From Friday the 21st through to Sunday the 23rd, the swell drops right off to under 3ft, with weak wave energy (as low as 114). The wind goes glassy at times on Friday morning (NNE 5 mph), but with only 3ft of weak 7-second swell, there’s hardly any push. It’s more of a paddle and float day.

We get a little bump on Sunday the 23rd, with 5ft SSE swell returning and cross-off winds, but the period is short (6 seconds) and the energy is moderate at 279. It’s marginal, not a standout.

The second week, from the 24th onward, is pretty bleak overall. The wind stays on the stronger side (15 to 19 mph from the SE) and the swell is inconsistent, bouncing between 3ft and 6ft, but always with poor surf conditions noted. The wave energy on Tuesday the 25th spikes to 703 (strong energy), but with a cross-shore wind and 6ft from the S, it’s just a messy, lumpy mess. Definitely only for the experienced, and even then, it’s not inviting.

Honest truth: the first week has that one gem on Wednesday the 19th. The rest is mostly washouts. For the experts, maybe Sunday the 16th or Monday the 17th could offer something if you’re desperate, but the wind will fight you. If you can only paddle out once, make it Wednesday the 19th.

Rusty.

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