Surf Forecasts:
Burleigh Heads surf forecast from 16 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 21 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 9s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 11s period, SE swell with 5,292 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 21 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 9s period with E 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 Tuesday (Jul 21) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 10s. 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 5.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 16) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Tue 21st Jul) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Tue 21st Jul) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 16ft (5.0m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Burleigh Heads over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Listen up, I’m Rusty, and here’s the straight talk on Burleigh Heads for the next couple of weeks. There’s plenty of swell on the menu, but the wind is gonna be the deciding factor. It’s not all clean and easy, but the energy is there if you can handle the conditions.
Water temp is about 70°, which is right where it should be for this time of year.
We kick things off with some serious size. Thursday the 16th, we’re looking at a 13ft SSE swell with a 9-second period. That’s a ton of water moving – the combined energy is clocked at 2403 (moderate to strong). The wind is a cross-off from the south at 19 mph, so expect a bumpy ride. This is strictly for the advanced crew.
Friday the 17th and Saturday the 18th, the swell holds between 7ft and 13ft, still SSE, but the wind stays cross-off or cross. The energy stays solid, from 657 to 2547, but the conditions are flagged as poor to marginal.
Sunday the 19th and Monday the 20th, we’ve got 11ft to 15ft swells shifting SE to ESE, with 9-10 second periods. Energy readings are strong, hitting over 3600. But the southerly winds are howling at 22-25 mph. It’s heavy, messy, and a full-on battle.
Tuesday the 21st sees the swell drop to about 8ft, E/SE, with the wind easing to 12 mph. Still a cross-off, so not clean, but the energy is moderate (1139).
Now, for the good part. Wednesday morning the 22nd: swell is down to 6ft from the E, and it’s clean with a light SSE breeze at 6 mph. The energy is a moderate 514. This is way more user-friendly.
The real standout is Thursday morning the 23rd. Swell is 4ft from the ENE, and the wind is glassy – NNW at 3 mph. Dead flat. The period is 9 seconds, so there’s shape. Energy is lighter at 280, but the clean, glassy surface makes it the best session of the whole forecast.
After that, it fades out. Friday the 24th and Saturday the 25th are small and choppy. Sunday the 26th is tiny (3ft) and weak. Monday the 27th is barely a ripple.
We get a little bump on Tuesday the 28th, but Wednesday morning the 29th is flat again – glassy but useless at 1ft.
Looking way ahead, Thursday the 30th has a tiny 0.3ft swell with a super long 18-second period – just not enough height. Friday morning the 31st shows a pulse: 4ft from the S, 9 seconds, with light winds. It’s marginal, but it’s the only hope for the second week.
To sum it up: Thursday the 23rd morning is your best shot – glassy and clean at Burleigh Heads. Wednesday the 22nd is your backup. The rest is either too big and windy or too flat.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 37mm), heaviest during Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat morning, min 14°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon morning, min 17°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSE on Sun afternoon, light winds from the SSE by Wed morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thu 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 2403 | 1242 | 650 | 539 | 927 | 1041 | 2524 | 5292 | 3579 | 2546 | 2320 | 2274 | 2702 | 1928 | 1115 | 872 | 639 | 481 | 422 | 318 | 270 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | off | glassy |
High Tide | 9:39PM1.90m | 10:02AM1.19m | 10:21PM1.78m | 10:51AM1.21m | 11:01PM1.61m | 11:42AM1.22m | 11:41PM1.43m | 12:37PM1.22m | 00:22AM1.25m | 1:36PM1.22m | 1:09AM1.09m | 2:40PM1.23m | 2:09AM0.97m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:18AM0.02m | 3:47PM0.05m | 4:58AM0.05m | 4:35PM0.18m | 5:36AM0.10m | 5:26PM0.32m | 6:14AM0.15m | 6:22PM0.47m | 6:54AM0.21m | 7:29PM0.58m | 7:39AM0.27m | 8:54PM0.63m | 8:33AM0.32m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  |  |  | | |  | | |  |  | | |  | | |  | | |
 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 |
 | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:10 | — | 5:10 |
mm | 13 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 20 |
Feels °C | 12 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 9 | NE 8 | NE 7 | ENE 6 | S 16 | — | SE 20 | S 21 | S 20 | SE 19 | S 17 | — | S 13 | S 12 | S 10 | SSE 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 |
| kJ | 3 | 11 | 9 | 51 | 20 | — | 16 | 35 | 67 | 14 | 53 | — | 55 | 75 | 8 | 20 | 639 | 481 | 422 | 318 | 270 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 19 | S 19 | NE 8 | — | — | E 20 | — | S 24 | S 24 | S 18 | — | — | — | S 12 | S 12 | SSE 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 |
| kJ | — | 7 | 7 | 9 | — | — | 7 | — | 11 | 11 | 6 | — | — | — | 11 | 66 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 7 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | S 19 | — | — | — | — | — | S 23 | — | — | — | — | S 16 | S 15 | SE 13 | S 15 | S 15 | E 12 | E 12 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 4 | 6 | 17 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 2403 | 1242 | 650 | 539 | 927 | 1041 | 2524 | 5292 | 3579 | 2546 | 2320 | 2274 | 2702 | 1928 | 1115 | 872 | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 559 | 444 | 194 | 560 | 5 | 5 | 331 | 444 | 656 | 444 | 285 | 149 | 63 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gold Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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