Surf Forecasts:
Elliott Heads surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 18 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s period, ENE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 21 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 9s period, E swell with 436 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 18 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s period with ENE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Elliott Heads this week:
The surf forecast for Elliott Heads over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 4s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Elliott Heads in the next 16 days are 1.6m 9s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Tue 21st Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Elliott Heads over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey, Rusty here again. Same story, different numbers. Elliott Heads has nothing going on for the next 16 days – from Saturday July 18 all the way through to Sunday August 2, every session is rated "poor surf conditions." That's a complete blank for a break that's already inconsistent. It's a reef setup, best for beginners, but there's no swell to speak of.
Water temp on Saturday morning is 66°F, which is about 5°F colder than normal – so a noticeable chill. Winds are mostly cross or cross-on from the SSE or SE at 9–22 mph, making it choppy and lumpy. Swell heights are tiny – most under 3 ft, with a few peaks up to 5 ft on Monday July 20 and Tuesday July 21, but those come with short periods (5–10 seconds) and onshore winds, so the waves are messy. Combined energy is low, mostly under 200 (e.g., 50 on Saturday, 153 on Monday), except for a spike to 512–623 on Tuesday July 21, but with cross-on wind and poor conditions, it's just wasted energy.
The optimum swell direction for Elliott Heads is ENE, and we do see some ENE pulses on Sunday July 19 (2 ft, 10s) and Wednesday July 22 (3 ft, 9s), but the wind is always cross-on or cross, never clean offshore. The best wind we get is a light cross-off on Monday July 27 morning, but by then the swell is only 1 ft and fading. Nothing worth paddling for. If you're into kite surfing, the stronger wind days could be fun, but for a surfboard, leave it. The forecast might turn around, but for now, it's a no-go.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 21°C on Sat afternoon, min 17°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSW on Sat afternoon, fresh winds from the SSE by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 20°C on Wed morning, min 14°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 4 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | E 5 | ESE 5 | E 9 | E 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SE 4 | ESE 5 | ENE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 25 | 28 | 58 | 52 | 97 | 111 | 117 | 78 | 372 | 424 | 314 | 76 | 181 | 143 | 111 | 46 | 45 | 46 | 45 | 125 | 42 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 11:16AM2.31m | 11:33PM2.70m | 12:05PM2.26m | 00:16AM2.49m | 1:01PM2.20m | 1:03AM2.27m | 2:05PM2.17m | 1:58AM2.07m | 3:14PM2.19m | 3:02AM1.93m | 4:24PM2.26m | 4:12AM1.86m | 5:23PM2.37m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:11PM0.60m | 5:59AM0.60m | 5:59PM0.79m | 6:42AM0.69m | 6:53PM0.99m | 7:29AM0.77m | 7:58PM1.16m | 8:23AM0.84m | 9:19PM1.26m | 9:23AM0.87m | 10:48PM1.25m | 10:25AM0.85m | 11:59PM1.15m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — |
 | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:21 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 21 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 17 |
Feels °C | 16 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 13 | 12 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 6 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | E 6 |
| kJ | 7 | 28 | 58 | 52 | 97 | 111 | 36 | 75 | 34 | 88 | 295 | 76 | 181 | 143 | 111 | 46 | 45 | 46 | 14 | 25 | 32 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | E 5 | E 6 | E 18 | E 18 | E 4 | — | E 7 | — | — | ENE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 10 | — | ENE 9 |
| kJ | 15 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 1 | — | 4 | — | — | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | — | 42 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 9 | — | E 19 | E 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 3 | — | 7 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 4 | SE 4 | S 4 | S 4 | SE 4 | SE 5 | E 5 | ESE 5 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 5 | SE 3 | ENE 9 | SE 3 | SSE 2 | — | — | SE 4 | ESE 5 | SE 5 |
| kJ | 25 | 6 | 9 | 13 | 23 | 43 | 117 | 78 | 372 | 424 | 314 | 56 | 2 | 70 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 45 | 125 | 32 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1050 | 1062 | 982 | 982 | 788 | 509 | 607 | 509 | 376 | 173 | 173 | 173 | 132 | 132 | 86 | 84 | 132 | 86 | 376 | 376 | 173 |
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Information about the Elliott Heads Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Elliott Heads provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Elliott Heads can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Elliott 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 (Elliott 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 Elliott 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.
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