Burleigh Heads
Australia · Australasia
Right now
DrizzleWind and swell direction
Swell: 1.6m E
Wind: 16 km/h SSW (cross-offshore)
Beach faces: E
Cross-offshore wind. Still favourable, expect reasonably clean waves with some texture.
Swell is arriving at a great angle for this beach.
Today hour by hour
Updated 08:41Expected crowds
Prediction model v16amDawn patrol territory
7amMidweek quiet
Next 7 days
Forecast via Open-MeteoWhat to pack
- Warm 24°C water. Shortie or boardshorts.
- Standard shortboard conditions.
- Rain jacket for between sessions.
Today's briefing
1.7m swell at 7s on a short period. Moderate winds. Water temperature 23°C.
AI-generated summary for Burleigh Heads. Always check local reports before heading out.
Forecast accuracy at Burleigh Heads
Not enough data yet. Log a session to help build the accuracy score.
Best time to go
No great windows in the next 2 days
Best available option is Today around 6pm (score: 22). Conditions are below the Good threshold but may still be surfable.
Nearby spots right now
Crowd report
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Session journal
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Create free accountTide
Approximate modelBest on mid-high tide
Swell forecast
7-day forecastDaily score breakdown
This week is looking slightly below average for late April.
Comparing the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Burleigh Heads.
What's driving it
Recent form
Last 3 days of logged conditions.
About Burleigh Heads
Burleigh Heads is a premier right-hand point break located on the Gold Coast of Queensland, Australia. The geomorphology consists of a prominent basalt rock headland that transitions into a highly compacted, engineered sandbank. When hit by strong south-easterly groundswells, typically generated by passing cyclones or deep low-pressure systems, the wave diffracts around the rocky point and pitches violently over the shallow sand. This bathymetry creates a remarkably heavy, cylindrical barrel immediately upon take-off, followed by a fast, reeling wall. A south-westerly offshore wind is essential to hold up the thick lip and groom the expansive wave face. The take-off zone, situated precariously close to the exposed basalt boulders, is highly congested and demands a steep, critical drop. Consequently, Burleigh Heads is strictly an advanced surfing location. It requires immense paddle fitness, split-second decision-making, and high-level tube-riding mechanics to successfully negotiate the initial hollow section and connect through to the inside cove.
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Create Profile →Frequently asked questions
How often is this page updated?
Current conditions refresh every 6 hours when the cron runs. Hourly data updates every 30 minutes. The 7-day forecast, luck factor, and packing notes are all pre-computed at the same time.
What is the luck factor?
We compare the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Burleigh Heads. The delta tells you whether conditions are shaping up better, worse, or about the same as a typical late April.
How is 'best session' picked?
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Where does the data come from?
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
Does the score capture local knowledge?
Honestly, no. Every break has tide windows, swell directions and reef contours that a global model cannot see. Treat the score as a starting point, then check a local cam.
When is the best time to surf Burleigh Heads?
Check our timing score heatmap above for a week-by-week breakdown combining surf conditions with crowd pressure.