North Stradbroke - Pt Lookout Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into the 16-day outlook for the region.

We’re looking at a pretty drawn-out run of so-so conditions, with only a couple of windows that’ll get the blood pumping. The first notable surf is a solid pulse from Monday the 20th, but it comes with a catch. The water temp is sitting right on 21°, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The standout is North Stradbroke – Pt Lookout on Monday the 20th. We’ve got a chunky ESE swell pushing 12 ft early, with a 10-second period and very strong wave energy (2477). That’s a lot of power, but the wind is a strong cross-off at 28 mph. It’s going to be a battle to get out, and the sets will be heavy. Honestly, this is expert territory – over 8 ft means it’s only for the very skilled. The swell direction (ESE) is a good match for the optimum E direction, so the lines should be there, but you’ll be earning every wave. By the afternoon, it drops to 10 ft but the wind stays strong. This is the biggest, most powerful period of the whole forecast, but it’s not for the faint-hearted.

The next small window is Saturday the 25th. That morning, we see a cleaner setup: 5 ft from the SSE (9 seconds) with a moderate wave energy (514), and a light cross-off from the SSW at 9 mph. That’s a nice, clean look. The swell is small enough for intermediates, but the period is only 9 seconds, so it’s a bit more windswell-like. Not a world-beater, but probably the most user-friendly session of the whole run.

After that, surf drops right off. From Sunday the 26th right through to the end of the first week and into the start of August, we’re looking at a blank stretch. Swell heights drop below 3 ft, wave energy is weak (mostly under 100), and the conditions are either poor or tiny. There’s a whole week of nothing worth paddling for.

Then, right at the back end of the outlook, things perk up again. Monday the 3rd of August brings a new pulse: 6 ft from the SSE (9 seconds), with moderate wave energy (515). The wind is a light cross-on from the NE, so the surface won’t be glassy, but the swell is there. The real interest is Monday afternoon, when the period jumps to 14 seconds – that’s proper groundswell. Swell height is 5 ft from the SE, and wave energy climbs to 955. That long period will make for some well-shaped, powerful lines, especially at a point break like Pt Lookout. The wind is still cross-on, though, so it won’t be perfect. Still, it’s a promising sign after a long dry spell. Keep an eye on that date – it’s a week and a half away, so treat it as a hopeful long-range call rather than a lock.

Crowds at Pt Lookout can be a thing, especially when it’s on, but given this patchy forecast, you might find a bit more room. The break is fairly exposed and consistent, so it’ll pick up the scraps when others don’t. For the week of the 20th, Monday is the big day, but only for the brave. The 25th is the best bet for a solid, clean session that won’t beat you up. The 3rd of August is the one to watch if you’re a fan of longer-period groundswell.

Rusty out.

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