North Stradbroke - Pt Lookout Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, your local surf check for North Stradbroke Island. I’ll be straight with you – the next week and a half is a tough stretch for a decent paddle. We’ve got a long, drawn-out period of weak, small swell that’s just not doing much for the points.

Starting from Wednesday the 29th of July right through to Friday the 1st of August, it’s a bit of a non-event. We’re looking at tiny 1ft to 2ft windswell from the east-northeast, mostly with a short 6-7 second period that just won’t push any real energy. The combined energy is real weak, sitting between 23 and 92, so nothing is moving. Winds are all over the shop – cross, onshore – but even when it goes offshore on Thursday and Friday, that fresh 19 mph southerly just makes it a choppy, blown-out affair.

Saturday the 1st is more of the same with rain and fresh wind. On Sunday the 2nd of August, we finally see a bit of a pulse. The morning brings a 5ft swell from the east-southeast, but it’s still only a 6-second period, and the combined energy jumps up to 271. That sounds like something, but the swell quality is poor, and the cross-offshore wind at 16 mph isn't doing it any favours. The afternoon drops to 2ft but gets a very long 15-second period groundswell from the southeast, with energy at 280. That’s the kind of period that needs a proper reef or point, but at Pt Lookout that long period can make beach breaks weird and closey. Plus the rain and wind are still messy.

Monday the 3rd of August is the best we’ll see in this entire run, but it’s no world-beater. The morning is 2ft south swell with a 11-second period, right, and the winds swing to a gentle 9 mph south offshore. The combined energy sits at 262 – solid moderate energy. That afternoon cleans up even more: 4ft from the east-southeast, 7-second period, light 6 mph seabreeze, and the energy holds at 273. The water temp is about 70°, which is bang on average for this time of year. That Monday afternoon window is your only real shot at a clean, surfable wave. Expect ordinary conditions shape-wise, but at least it’s not a total write-off.

From Tuesday the 4th of August onwards, it’s back to tiny dribble. Sizes hover around 2ft to 3ft, periods stay short (6-8 seconds), and the combined energy drops into the 30s, 40s, and 50s – just nothing in the tank. Winds stay moderate to fresh, mostly cross-offshore from the southeast. There’s a little spike on the 12th and 13th of August around 3ft and 11-second period, with energy around 134-269, but the winds are cross or cross-onshore, messing it up. Honestly, the whole setup past Monday looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing for most of it.

So, the only true standout? It’s Monday the 3rd of August afternoon at Pt Lookout (North Stradbroke). 4ft east-southeast swell, light wind, clean conditions – it’s the best you’ll get, but keep expectations low. It’s still a small, average day.

Stay safe out there.

- Rusty

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