
Surf Forecasts:
Burleigh Heads surf forecast from 9 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 8s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 14 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 8s period, SSE swell with 574 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 10 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 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 Monday (Aug 10) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 9s period. 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 2.1m 8s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 14) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 6s period and expected on Monday (Aug 10) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Mon 10th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Thu 13th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Fri 14th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Burleigh Heads over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you—this 16-day stretch for Burleigh Heads is a slow burn. We’re looking at a fair bit of small, average surf for the first week or so, and honestly, there’s nothing worth scrambling for until we get deep into the window. The first few days are pretty much a write-off. From the 11th through the 13th, we’ve got tiny, weak waves—around 2ft to 2ft—with just not enough push or shape to get you excited. The energy is weak, with values mostly in the 70s and 80s (combined energy of all swells directed here). It’s clean, but it’s flat and ordinary.
Then things start to rumble a bit. On Thursday the 14th, a new SSE swell kicks in, bumping the size to around 6ft with a period of 8 seconds. The energy jumps to 401 (moderate wave energy). The morning looks clean with a cross-offshore wind, but it’s still a bit marginal. Friday the 15th holds similar size (5ft to 6ft) and conditions, but the period drops to 7 seconds, so it’s a bit more disorganized. The real problem is the wind picks up—25 km/h from the south—making it choppy and less appealing. The weekend is just a letdown, with size dropping back to 3ft to 5ft on the 16th. Not worth it.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The second week holds the key. From Monday the 17th, the swell starts to build properly. We’re talking 7ft to 8ft from the SE, with periods around 8 to 10 seconds. The energy goes through the roof—values hitting 741, then 607, then 666, and by Tuesday afternoon the 18th, it’s a whopping 1176 (strong to very strong wave energy). This is the real deal. The wind is cross-offshore, keeping it clean, but with that size, this is one for the experienced crew. It’s not beginner territory at all—anything over 8ft is expert-only, and we’re right on that edge.
The standout window is the 20th and 21st of August. Thursday the 20th morning looks superb: 8ft of ESE swell with a 9-second period, cross-off wind, and an energy reading of 820. The water’s still warm for this time of year, sitting at 69°F with only a -0.9°F anomaly—basically average, so no drama there. Then Friday the 21st is the real gem. The wind goes glassy—basically zero—with a 6ft E swell and a 9-second period. Morning and afternoon both look like magic. Energy is still strong at 591 and 529. For a point break like Burleigh Heads, this is as good as it gets. Clean, powerful, and with that long-period groundswell feel, even if it’s not super long period. The direction is E, which is a bit off the optimum SSE, but the quality and conditions more than make up for it.
After that, it starts to ease off. The 22nd and 23rd drop back to 5ft to 5ft, and the wind turns cross-shore, so it’s just average again. The last day of the window, Monday the 24th, shows a glimmer—5ft with a longer 11-second period and glassy conditions in the morning. That could be a nice little finisher, but it’s not the standout.
So, if you’re picking your moment, you’re looking at Thursday the 20th and Friday the 21st. Burleigh Heads is a consistent spot, so it’s not often totally flat, but this run has a lot of average filler. The good stuff is worth the wait. The crowds are likely on a Saturday, but on that Friday morning, you might just have it a bit more to yourself. Get on it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Tue morning, min 11°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Wed morning, min 14°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | N 6 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | S 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | S 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
185 | 146 | 119 | 193 | 94 | 96 | 78 | 78 | 85 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 60 | 103 | 574 | 373 | 547 | 353 | 285 | 286 | 241 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:18PM1.66m | 5:39AM0.99m | 6:14PM1.80m | 6:34AM1.07m | 7:04PM1.89m | 7:22AM1.16m | 7:49PM1.92m | 8:07AM1.24m | 8:30PM1.89m | 8:50AM1.31m | 9:09PM1.79m | 9:33AM1.35m | 9:46PM1.65m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:21AM0.21m | 00:13AM0.22m | 11:25AM0.12m | 1:04AM0.11m | 12:20PM0.02m | 1:47AM0.04m | 1:10PM-0.04m | 2:26AM-0.00m | 1:57PM-0.06m | 3:03AM-0.01m | 2:42PM-0.02m | 3:37AM0.00m | 3:26PM0.07m | ||||||||
6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | |
— | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 17 | 14 | 21 | 21 | 17 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 15 |
Feels °C | 17 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 14 | 10 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 20 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | N 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | S 6 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 |
185 | 146 | 119 | 119 | 262 | 91 | 66 | 78 | 85 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 22 | 42 | 44 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 34 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 9 | NE 8 | S 8 | NE 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 12 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | S 8 | S 9 | E 9 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 8 | NE 11 | NE 11 |
38 | 32 | 5 | 4 | 94 | 96 | 78 | 3 | 30 | 14 | 12 | 39 | 60 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | S 7 | E 13 | E 13 | S 10 | — | NE 12 | NE 11 | S 9 | SSE 10 | NNW 4 | S 9 | — | — | — | N 9 | S 18 | — | — | E 16 |
26 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | 5 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 5 | 13 | — | — | — | 2 | 6 | — | — | 5 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNE 3 | NNE 5 | N 6 | WNW 5 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | NNE 6 | SW 2 | W 2 | NNE 6 | SSW 4 | SSW 6 | S 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | S 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 |
— | 3 | 85 | 193 | 2 | 18 | 3 | 47 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 8 | 50 | 103 | 574 | 373 | 547 | 353 | 285 | 286 | 241 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 5 | 271 | 156 | 166 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 11 | 12 | 0 | 11 | 12 | 5 |
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.











