
Surf Forecasts:
South Stradbroke surf forecast from 21 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 9s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 9s period, SSE swell with 647 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 22 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 9s period with E swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for South Stradbroke this week:
The surf forecast for South Stradbroke over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at South Stradbroke in the next 16 days are 2.1m 9s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.2m 2s period and expected on Friday (Jul 24) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1PM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for South Stradbroke over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks. Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s cooking for South Stradbroke. It’s a bit of a frustrating stretch, with one clear window to get out, and then a long dry spell.
The first real swell hits on Tuesday, July 21st, but it’s a no-go. Rain showers, a cross-on SE wind at 12 mph, and choppy conditions. The swell is a solid 7 ft from the ESE, with strong energy (1326), but it’s messy. Not worth the paddle.
Wednesday the 22nd is a little better. The morning has a 5 ft easterly swell with a light cross-shore, but it’s still rippled. The afternoon is similar, 4 ft from the east. Both sessions are marginal, but the energy is moderate (465 and 437). You could get wet, but it’s not the day.
Thursday the 23rd is the one. The morning is the standout. We’ve got a 4 ft easterly swell with an 8-second period, but the wind is glassy – 3 mph from the west. It’s clean as a whistle. The energy is moderate (295), and the forecast says “expect good surf conditions.” This is your best shot. The water temp is 69°, which is about average for this time of year, so no worries there.
After Thursday morning, it’s a slow fade. The afternoon gets a cross-on breeze, and by Friday the 24th, the wind is howling from the SSE at 15–19 mph, making a mess of the 3 ft to 4 ft swell. The energy drops to 102 and 245, but it’s lumpy and poor.
Saturday the 25th morning gives you a brief moment of glassy conditions again, with a west wind at 3 mph, but the swell is tiny at 2 ft from the SE. The period is long at 11 seconds, which is a groundswell, but it’s just too small. The energy is weak (185). The afternoon is clean but still small.
From Sunday the 26th right through the end of July, it’s flat and poor. The swell drops to 1 ft or less, the wind is often cross-on or cross-shore, and the energy is well under 100. It’s a long, quiet run.
The first few days of August don’t offer much. August 1st has a clean 2 ft ESE swell with a very long 16-second period in the morning, and the energy is moderate (237), but it’s still tiny. The wind is a cross-off from the south at 12 mph, so it’s clean, but you’d need a longboard. The afternoon gets a fresh cross-shore and turns lumpy. From the 2nd to the 5th, it’s all small, weak, and mostly poor.
So, to sum it up: if you’ve got one day to paddle, make it Thursday the 23rd of July, first light. The rest of the window is a struggle. It’s a tough stretch, but that’s the way it goes sometimes.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Thu afternoon, min 14°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu afternoon, fresh winds from the SSE by Fri morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat afternoon, min 12°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSE on Fri afternoon, calm by Sat morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | ||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 7 | SSE 9 | SE 11 | E 9 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
705 | 425 | 318 | 270 | 225 | 173 | 133 | 105 | 80 | 160 | 647 | 101 | 73 | 57 | 18 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 25 | 14 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 1:34AM1.08m | 3:00PM1.20m | 2:28AM0.97m | 4:10PM1.25m | 3:37AM0.90m | 5:09PM1.32m | 4:53AM0.88m | 5:56PM1.40m | 5:56AM0.90m | 6:37PM1.48m | 6:45AM0.94m | 7:14PM1.55m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:01PM0.59m | 8:11AM0.36m | 9:24PM0.63m | 9:00AM0.37m | 10:45PM0.61m | 9:53AM0.37m | 11:48PM0.55m | 10:45AM0.35m | 00:36AM0.48m | 11:33AM0.32m | 1:16AM0.40m | 12:18PM0.29m | 1:51AM0.33m | |||||||
— | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | |
5:09 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:14 | — | |
mm | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 |
Temp °C | 18 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 17 | 19 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
Feels °C | 16 | 15 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 |
593 | 425 | 318 | 270 | 225 | 173 | 133 | 105 | 80 | 45 | 181 | 76 | 73 | 31 | 18 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 25 | 14 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 10 | SE 11 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | S 9 | SE 8 | E 12 | E 11 | E 9 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 11 | SE 11 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 13 | E 12 |
20 | 4 | 130 | 151 | 179 | 116 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 21 | 61 | 101 | 54 | 57 | 18 | 18 | 10 | 4 | 13 | 12 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 21 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | S 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | E 10 | ENE 8 | SE 6 | SE 14 | NE 7 | SE 6 | NE 7 | E 11 | E 13 | E 7 | E 7 |
8 | 32 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 19 | 13 | 8 | 29 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 14 | 4 | 4 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 5 | SE 7 | SSE 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
705 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17 | 160 | 647 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 18 | 15 | 15 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 69 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 29 | 1 | 18 | 29 | 18 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gold Coast | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
Information about the South Stradbroke Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for South Stradbroke provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at South Stradbroke can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our South Stradbroke surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (South Stradbroke) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for South Stradbroke may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
South Stradbroke is 5 km (3 miles) from the city of Southport. If you plan a holiday in Gold Coast, look for hotels and other accommodation in Southport. Southport has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










