Burleigh Heads Surf Break

Lat Long: 28.09° S 153.46° E

Burleigh Heads Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 am 11 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Burleigh Heads sea temperature is
21.0° C
0.2° 

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 10 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 11 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 10s period, SE swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 16 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 10s period, SSE swell with 3,100 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 11 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 10s period with SE 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 Saturday (Jul 11) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 13s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Burleigh Heads in the next 16 days are 4.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 16) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 15) at 4PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10AM (Sat 11th Jul)4.5ft (1.4m) 10s
Best Surf10AM (Sat 11th Jul)4.5ft (1.4m) 10s
Most Powerful 4AM (Thu 16th Jul)13ft (4.0m) 10s

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


G’day, Rusty here, looking at what’s coming up for Burleigh Heads. The next few days are flat as a tack, but hold on—there’s a big pulse of energy on the way that’ll light things up for a decent stretch. The water temp is sitting right on average for this time of year, around 70°, so nothing unusual there.

Right now, Saturday the 11th of July starts off with a clean, glassy 5ft SE swell, period around 10 seconds—that’s a nice little wave, not too big, and the combined energy is a solid 578 (moderate). It’s a good one for the heads, but the crowd factor is there, so expect company. By Saturday afternoon the wind shifts and the swell drops a touch, so it gets a bit ordinary.

Sunday the 12th is smaller again, 4ft from the SE with a 15 km/h cross-offshore breeze, which keeps it clean but the energy’s dropping to 309. Not a standout. Monday the 13th is tiny, under 3ft, and barely worth paddling out.

Then we hit a lull. Tuesday through Wednesday are dead, with swell under 1ft and energy readings in the teens and single digits. Nothing happening.

But then—Thursday the 16th of July, it all changes. A big SSE swell slams in, 12ft, period 10 seconds, and the energy rockets up to 2467 (strong). That’s a serious wall of water. The wind is a fresh 35 km/h cross-offshore, which’ll hold it up but it’s big. Over 8ft—this is for experts only. Friday the 17th is even bigger, 13ft SE swell with 2451 energy, again only for the brave. Saturday the 18th holds around 12ft with energy still over 2300, and the wind turns cross-shore, making it a bit lumpy. By Sunday the 19th, it’s still 10ft from the ESE with a 20 km/h cross-offshore, energy at 1765—still big, but maybe a little more manageable.

The standout in this whole run? If you’re a seasoned surfer, Thursday the 16th is the peak—big, powerful 12ft SSE swell with clean conditions thanks to the cross-offshore breeze. It’s a raw, heavy day at Burleigh, and not for the faint-hearted. For the more average punter, Monday the 20th of July looks like the sweet spot as the swell drops to 6ft from the ESE, energy 745, with light cross-offshore winds and clean conditions. That’s a proper, fun wave.

Tuesday the 21st is smaller again, 4ft, then Wednesday the 22nd picks up a bit with a 5ft SE swell, period 12 seconds, and good clean conditions—that’s a nice groundswell that’ll run well down the point. The crowd will be there, but it’s worth it.

Thursday the 23rd of July is a real gem—morning glass, 7ft from the SSE, energy 870, and clean. That’s a ripper. Friday the 24th holds 5ft with glassy conditions again, perfect for a long session. After that, the swell fades through the weekend.

Overall, the best of the bunch is that Thursday the 16th for the big stuff, but for the everyday surfer, Monday the 20th and Thursday the 23rd are your days. The long gap of near-flat conditions from Tuesday the 14th through Wednesday the 15th is a bummer, but it’s worth waiting for the juice that follows.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu morning, min 13°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue morning, fresh winds from the SSE by Thu morning).

Saturday
11
Sunday
12
Monday
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Friday
17
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
2
1
1
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
3
2
2
2
2
2
3
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
SE
10
1.1
SE
12
1.3
ESE
11
1.1
SE
11
0.9
SE
10
0.7
SE
10
0.6
ESE
9
0.6
ESE
9
0.5
S
8
0.4
S
9
0.2
ESE
10
0.2
ESE
10
0.2
ESE
10
0.2
ESE
9
3.5
SSE
9
3.5
SSE
10
3.5
SSE
9
3.5
SSE
9
4
SE
9
3.5
SE
10
3.5
SE
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
392
325
396
258
148
98
56
54
32
25
10
10
9
8
2009
2467
2100
2140
2451
2495
2374
Wind (km/h)
0
NW
5
NNE
10
WNW
15
WNW
15
WNW
10
W
0
ENE
5
ENE
10
W
5
SSW
10
E
10
SW
10
S
25
S
25
SSW
35
SSE
35
SSE
30
SSE
30
SSE
30
SSE
20
SSE
Wind State
glassy
on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
on
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
5:26PM1.66m
5:42AM1.01m
6:23PM1.81m
6:42AM1.03m
7:17PM1.92m
7:36AM1.07m
8:07PM1.98m
8:26AM1.12m
8:54PM1.98m
9:14AM1.16m
9:39PM1.90m
10:02AM1.19m
10:21PM1.78m
Low Tide
10:33AM0.16m
00:16AM0.23m
11:31AM0.09m
1:15AM0.13m
12:27PM0.02m
2:06AM0.05m
1:19PM-0.03m
2:53AM0.01m
2:10PM-0.06m
3:37AM0.00m
2:58PM-0.03m
4:18AM0.02m
3:47PM0.05m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:37
6:37
6:37
6:37
6:35
6:35
6:35
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:05
5:06
5:06
5:06
5:07
5:07
5:07
 mm
1
1
1
2
2
3
Temp °C
17
17
15
21
22
18
17
18
15
17
17
15
18
17
16
19
18
17
19
18
17
Feels °C
16
16
14
17
18
15
15
16
13
14
14
13
12
12
11
12
12
12
13
12
13
  • Map Icons:
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  • 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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