Surf Forecasts:
Elliott Heads surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 17 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s period, ENE swell with 110 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Elliott Heads this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Elliott Heads in the next 16 days are 0.9m 8s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 13) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Elliott Heads over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, it’s Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: the next couple of weeks are looking pretty grim for a proper paddle. The models are showing a whole lot of small, short-period slop for the region, mostly from the ENE. We’re looking at a run of days where the energy just isn’t there, and when there is a puff of swell, the wind is usually messing it up.
The best of it, and I’m using that term loosely, is a little window around the 23rd into the 24th of August. Even then, we’re only talking about ankle to knee-high dribble from the ENE, bumpy and cross-onshore. It’s not going to be pretty. The energy readings are weak, mostly struggling to get into triple digits, like a max of `103` on the Sunday afternoon, which tells you how desperate things are. Honestly, for the first week and a half, you're looking at a whole lot of nothing with a couple of tiny, wind-blown lumps. The swell heights barely crack `2ft`, with periods of 4 to 7 seconds, just a mess.
Now, there is one thing poking its head up on the radar for the 26th of August, a Wednesday. The energy jumps up to `252` on the morning, which is a big jump from the weak stuff before it. The swell is still only `3ft` from the ENE with a 9-second period, and the wind is a light cross-onshore. It’s a bit more promising, but it's a long way out, so treat it as a "maybe" rather than a "hell yes". The water is running a touch colder than normal for this time of year, about `2°F` colder, so a steamer isn’t a bad idea if you do go out.
For the featured spot, Elliott Heads (August Coast), it’s a reef break that’s inconsistent. With the swell this small and wind this bad, it’s not going to be doing anything worthwhile. The setup looks way more interesting for a kiteboarder than a surfer on most days. There’s a brief moment on the Wednesday morning the 12th when the wind goes glassy with a tiny `1ft` NE swell, but the period is only 7 seconds, so it’ll be soft and weak. With crowds sometimes around, it’s not worth jostling for that. The long-range blip on the 26th is your best bet, but even then, keep the expectations pinned to the floor. It’s a poor stretch, but with the spot being fairly exposed, it doesn’t usually stay this flat for long.
Anyway, I’d keep the board in the car and maybe bring a book. There’s nothing here that’s going to get the heart pumping.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Tue afternoon, min 12°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sun morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri afternoon, min 14°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ESE 5 | SE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 5 | ESE 4 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | E 5 | ENE 8 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 18 | 18 | 13 | 29 | 13 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 27 | 23 | 35 | 20 | 33 | 42 | 64 | 38 | 37 | 87 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 7:49PM3.11m | 8:04AM2.41m | 8:31PM3.14m | 8:45AM2.50m | 9:09PM3.09m | 9:24AM2.54m | 9:45PM2.97m | 10:03AM2.54m | 10:19PM2.80m | 10:42AM2.49m | 10:53PM2.60m | 11:23AM2.41m | 11:27PM2.38m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:18AM0.41m | 2:04PM0.23m | 2:56AM0.35m | 2:46PM0.22m | 3:31AM0.34m | 3:26PM0.28m | 4:05AM0.37m | 4:05PM0.41m | 4:38AM0.44m | 4:44PM0.58m | 5:12AM0.54m | 5:25PM0.78m | ||||||||
 |  | | |  | | | |  | | | | | |  | | | | |  | |
 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — |
 | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 4 |
Temp °C | 23 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 21 | 20 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 15 |
Feels °C | 21 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 9 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 9 | NE 7 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ESE 4 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | NE 7 | ENE 6 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 |
| kJ | 18 | 18 | 13 | 8 | 13 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 34 | 87 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | — | ENE 9 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 9 | E 4 | — | NE 9 | ENE 9 | — | NE 10 | — | ENE 6 | — | NE 8 | — | — |
| kJ | 8 | 8 | 8 | — | 8 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 3 | — | 3 | 8 | — | 4 | — | 8 | — | 18 | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 4 | — | — | — | NW 4 | — | NE 7 | NE 7 | — | — | E 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNW 3 | — | NNE 7 | S 3 | S 3 | — | SSE 2 | SE 4 | ESE 3 | ESE 5 | SE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 5 | ESE 4 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | E 5 | SSE 4 |
| kJ | — | 1 | — | 29 | 8 | 3 | — | 1 | 4 | 3 | 27 | 23 | 35 | 20 | 33 | 42 | 64 | 38 | 37 | 7 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 84 | 84 | 84 | 84 | 173 | 86 | 376 | 173 | 376 | 376 | 95 | 416 | 376 | 370 | 173 | 173 | 173 | 173 | 173 | 173 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Queensland North Coast | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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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