Surf Forecasts:
Burleigh Heads surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 30 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 10s period, SSE swell with 551 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 26 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 7s period with ENE 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 Wednesday (Aug 26) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 9s. 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 1.7m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.8m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 30) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Sun 30th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Burleigh Heads over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaking over the next couple of weeks for the Gold Coast.
We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but the main event is shaping up for later in the first week and into the start of September. The water temp is sitting right around the seasonal average for Burleigh Heads at 69°, so nothing unusual there.
Right now, on Wednesday the 26th, Burleigh Heads is a bit ordinary. We’ve got 4ft of short-period ENE windswell coming in with a light WNW breeze. It’s surfable but the conditions are very ordinary – the energy is weak, only 133. The afternoon is a write-off with a cross-on breeze. Nothing to rush out for.
Thursday the 27th sees a bump in size. The swell jumps to 5ft from the SSE, but the period is still short at 7 seconds. A moderate SSE breeze keeps it clean, but the quality is just questionable. The energy climbs to 316, which is moderate. It’s not totally flat but you’ll want to be picky.
Friday the 28th morning is the first real standout. This is where Burleigh Heads comes alive early. We’ve got 4ft of swell from the SSE with a period of 8 seconds, and the wind has dropped to glassy. Dead calm, clean conditions. The energy sits at 250, a solid moderate push. This is the moment to get a sneaky session in before the afternoon turns cross-on. This is clean, lined-up point-break goodness.
Saturday the 29th morning keeps the run going with 4ft SSE swell, now with a longer 10-second period, and a light cross-off breeze. The energy is a bit better at 275. The conditions are good, real good. But keep an eye on the afternoon – that SSE breeze picks up and makes it less inviting.
Sunday the 30th sees the biggest wave height of the period, hitting 6ft in the morning from the SSE, but the period drops back to a short 7 seconds. That wind is a moderate 25 km/h cross-off, and the energy hits 395, which is solidly moderate. It’s a bit rough around the edges though – surfable but borderline.
Monday the 31st is quality again. Morning brings 5ft of SSE swell with a 9-second period and a light 10 km/h southerly. The energy is 346, and the report says to expect good surf. This is a dawny session all the way.
Tuesday the 1st of September drops right off. The swell fades to under 3ft, the wind turns onshore, and it’s a total write-off. From here, looking through to the 9th of September, it’s grim. We’ve got alternating onshores and very little swell to work with. The 5th of September morning has a bit of 2ft and a cross-off breeze, but it’s really not enough to get wet for.
There is a flicker of something on the 10th of September – a 5ft northerly windswell with a really short 6-second period. But that’s accompanied by an onshore wind. That is not a paddle option; that’s a kiter’s chop.
The best call for this region is Friday the 28th morning at Burleigh Heads. Glassy conditions, a clean 4ft, and that beautiful point. It won’t be massive, it won’t be heavy, but it will be surfing. Get in before the crowds turn up – they will be there.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Wed afternoon, min 16°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun morning, min 15°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 7 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SE 17 | SSE 8 | E 10 | E 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
127 | 124 | 108 | 232 | 195 | 163 | 167 | 169 | 331 | 223 | 235 | 425 | 328 | 551 | 355 | 295 | 197 | 86 | 83 | 98 | 71 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:03PM1.64m | 7:19AM1.15m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:29PM0.17m | 1:37AM0.14m | 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 | ||||||||
6:07 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | |
— | 5:29 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 24 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 17 |
Feels °C | 19 | 23 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | E 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | E 9 | E 8 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | S 8 | E 10 | S 9 | E 10 |
127 | 124 | 108 | 84 | 113 | 118 | 167 | 169 | 331 | 223 | 54 | 51 | 67 | 60 | 41 | 39 | 71 | 60 | 75 | 83 | 71 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 8 | S 9 | NE 13 | NE 6 | NE 12 | NE 12 | ENE 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 12 | NE 13 | SE 18 | SSE 18 | E 11 | E 5 | E 10 | SSE 9 |
11 | 6 | 7 | 20 | 6 | 6 | 73 | 43 | 50 | 52 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 30 | 86 | 13 | 98 | 62 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | NE 8 | NE 13 | NE 12 | NE 12 | S 16 | SE 16 | SE 14 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | — | — | NE 15 | N 15 | S 19 | NE 13 | E 12 | SE 17 | SSE 16 | E 5 | E 5 |
6 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 52 | 5 | 2 | — | — | 8 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 75 | 25 | 13 | 14 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 3 | — | SSE 3 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | — | — | — | — | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 7 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SE 6 | SSE 8 | — | — |
3 | — | 11 | 232 | 195 | 163 | — | — | — | — | 235 | 425 | 328 | 551 | 355 | 295 | 197 | 92 | 83 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 14 | 3 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 5 | 11 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 12 | 160 | 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.











