Mooloolaba Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – the next couple of weeks are a mixed bag for Mooloolaba. We’ve got some solid swell on the horizon, but the wind is gonna be a real pain in the arse for most of it. There’s a long gap of nothing surfable at the start, so don’t bother paddling out until later.

The first window of clean, surfable waves doesn’t open until Saturday morning, July 18th. That’s when we finally see some proper size push in, with a 8ft SE swell rolling in. The wind is blowing offshore from the S at 22 mph, which is a major positive – it’ll keep the surface clean. The wave energy is starting to kick off (1033), but it’s still a bit raw. The break is a bit inconsistent, and being a beginner-friendly spot, this 8ft+ stuff is getting into the ‘too big for learners’ territory. The water temp is about average for this time of year in the Mooloolaba area.

Saturday afternoon is where it starts to get interesting. The swell bumps up to 10ft from the SE, with a period of 10 seconds, and the offshore wind holds. The combined energy jumps to 1598, giving it some proper grunt. This is big, powerful surf – only for experienced surfers. The crowd factor is a thing here; it can get busy, so be ready for a pack.

Sunday July 19th and Monday July 20th see the swell peak. We’re talking 10ft to 12ft from the ESE with a period of 10-11 seconds. The energy readings are through the roof (1543 to 2806), meaning this is strong, heavy water. The problem? The wind swings cross-offshore from the SSE, which is not ideal. It’s still ridable, but it’s not the clean, groomed lines we want. At these sizes, Mooloolaba is a serious challenge, and with the winds being a bit messy, it’s more of a grunt session than a classic day.

If you’re holding out for the *best* day of the whole outlook, circle Saturday, July 25th on your calendar. The morning session shows a 8ft S swell, but the wind is offshore from the S at 12 mph, giving us those clean, offshore lines. The wave energy is strong (734), and the SE swell direction is a good match for the break. The surf will be clean and powerful, and it’s just under that 8ft barrier, so it’s still accessible for strong intermediates. This is the standout – a proper, clean day with solid waves.

Sunday July 26th and Monday July 27th see the swell drop back to 5ft to 6ft, with the wind staying cross-offshore. It’s surfable, but nothing special. The energy is moderate (322 to 433). Tuesday July 28th and Wednesday July 29th have some small, clean surf in the mornings with offshore winds, but the swell is tiny (3ft to 4ft) and the period is long (11 seconds), which can make it a bit straight at the beach break. The energy is low (227 to 362). By Thursday July 30th, the wind picks up again and it starts looking poor.

So, the long story short: avoid the first week. The real action is the big swell from the 18th to the 20th, but it’s wild and windy. The absolute best chance for a clean, solid surf is Saturday, July 25th. That’s the one to aim for.

Rusty.

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