North Stradbroke - Pt Lookout Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – the next couple of weeks are a real mixed bag for North Stradbroke – Pt Lookout. We’ve got some serious wind issues for the first week or so, and it’s going to feel like a long wait before things come together. But if you’re patient, there’s a genuine standout on the horizon that’ll make it all worthwhile.

Right now, through to the end of July and into the first few days of August, it’s pretty grim. Tuesday the 28th is flat and messy, with tiny 1 ft ESE swells, and the next few days don’t get any better. Wednesday the 29th is cross-shore junk, and Thursday the 30th morning has clean conditions with a 19 mph southerly offshore, but the swell is just a pathetic 2 ft from the ENE – hardly worth the paddle. By Friday the 31st, we’ve got a solid 16-19 mph cross-off breeze from the SSE, but still only 2 ft of weak, short-period E swell (combined energy of only 72-76). It’s clean but tiny. The first of August is much the same – fresh offshore winds but barely a ripple (0.7 ft to 1 ft). Don’t bother.

Then comes Sunday the 2nd of August. Things start to stir. We get a jump in swell to 4 ft from the east, combined energy hits 201 – moderate – and the wind is a gentle 9 mph cross-off from the SE. The catch? It’s only scored as “surfable but very ordinary conditions”. So while there’s a bit more push, the quality isn’t there yet. Monday the 3rd morning offers up a 2 ft SE groundswell with a 14-second period and combined energy of 249, but it’s still not clean enough to get excited about. That afternoon, the wind picks up again and kills it.

From Tuesday the 4th through to Friday the 7th of August, we’re getting hammered by strong to near-gale force offshore winds – 25-31 mph from the south and SSE. The swell is there, up to 5 ft, and it’s clean, but you won’t be able to paddle into a thing. It’s a classic case of the wind being too strong of a good thing. Honestly, kites would be loving it more than surfboards.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Saturday the 8th of August – watch out. We’ve got a 6 ft ESE swell with a 9-second period, combined energy of 698 (strong), and a fresh 22 mph SSE offshore wind. It’s scored as marginal, but the size and power are there, and the wind is clean offshore. This is early days for the big stuff.

But the real standout is Sunday the 9th of August. This is the one. Pt Lookout is set to pump. Expect a 8 ft ESE swell (over 8 ft, so it’s for experts only – if you’re a beginner, stay out of the way) with a 10-second period and combined energy of a massive 1835 – very strong. The wind is a moderate 16 mph southerly offshore, meaning clean, lined-up waves. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. The swell direction (ESE) matches the optimum (E) well enough, and the quality rating backs it up. It’s a point break, so that longer-period groundswell energy (10 seconds is a solid swell period) will wrap in beautifully. Expect some size, power, and clean faces. With crowds listed as "sometimes", you can expect company, but it won’t be a circus. This is your window.

Monday the 10th of August still has good leftovers: 5 ft to 6 ft from the ESE (energy around 615-690), with a gentle offshore from the south in the morning. Good, but not as epic as Sunday. Tuesday the 11th keeps the party going with a 6 ft easterly swell, 11-second period, and combined energy of 720, with light cross-off winds. Very good conditions. Wednesday the 12th is similar, with 5 ft to 5 ft and a clean 9 mph offshore. Solid, but the real peak was Sunday.

So, to sum it up: the first ten days are a write-off. Wind, tiny surf, or too much wind. Don’t bother until Sunday the 9th of August. That’s the one clear standout – big, clean, powerful, and for the experienced crew. After that, the week that follows has decent waves but nothing that’ll top that Sunday. Keep an eye on the forecasts, but for now, mark that date.

Rusty.

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