North Stradbroke - Pt Lookout Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here with a look at what's coming up for our local stretch.

Alright, let’s be honest, the start of this run is a bit of a write-off. We’re looking at a solid gap from now until Thursday the 16th of July with nothing to even bother paddling out for. Tiny dribbles and no energy to speak of, so save the wax for later.

Things, however, are about to get very, very interesting, and a bit wild. Thursday the 16th kicks off a proper event, but it’s not for the faint-hearted. We’ve got a building swell, but it’s getting hammered by some serious, nasty wind. That southeast swell jumps from nothing to a solid 7ft, but the period is a short, lumpy 8 seconds and the wind is screaming offshore at 31 mph. The combined energy is moderate (547), but the surf will be a mess. It’s big and it’s on, but only for the absolute experts.

This pattern of big, wind-affected surf hangs around right through to Sunday the 19th. The swell peaks on Sunday morning with a 13ft easterly swell and a very high, unstable combined energy (3235). The wind is still howling at 34 mph from the southeast. This is not a paddle situation; the setup is far more interesting for kite surfing than for a regular board.

We finally get a window of cleaner conditions starting Monday the 20th of July. The swell is still a solid 10ft from the east-southeast with a longer period of 11 seconds, and while the wind is strong from the southeast at 28 mph, it's cross-offshore. The combined energy is still very strong (2300). This is big, powerful surf and still not for the casual surfer.

The real standout, the one to circle on your calendar, is Thursday the 24th of July here at North Stradbroke - Pt Lookout (Point-Lookout-Q-L-D). This is the best on offer by a long shot. We’ve got a clean 5ft swell from the east-southeast, with a nice, long period of 11 seconds. The wind is a sweet offshore from the south at 16 mph, which will groom the point beautifully. The combined energy is moderate (685), meaning it’s got punch but isn’t overwhelming. This is a great size for intermediates, and the point setup will handle that long-period groundswell well. It’s looking *real* good.

Friday the 25th of July is also a day to have a board in the car. Again, clean 5ft surf from the east-southeast, a long 12-second period, and only a gentle breeze. The combined energy is solid (745). Similar quality to the day before, just a touch less wind. Expect crowds here as it's a known spot that can get busy when it's good.

After that little window of magic, it starts to fade. Saturday the 26th still has some clean 5ft waves, but the energy drops off, and by Sunday the 27th we’re back to strong, messy winds and a fading swell. The run is effectively over by then, with only small, blown-out dribble for the last few days of the period.

So, for my call: The 24th and 25th of July at the Point are your best bets. Clean, long-period groundswell, offshore breezes, and proper surf. Get out there.

- Rusty

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