Surf spot

Dolphin Heads

Forecast conditions and map view for Dolphin Heads in Australia, QLD, Far North West. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: Australia, QLD, Far North West
Coordinates: -21.0333, 149.1853

Metric
Metric	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00
Wave height (m)	0.1	0.1	0.3	0	0	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.2	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.2	0.3	0.4	0.3	0.3	0.2	0.2	0.1	0.1	0.2	0.2	0.1	0.1	0.1	0	0	0	0.1	0.1	0	0.1	0.1	0.1	0	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.2
Wave direction	E	E	ESE	E	E	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	E	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	E	E	E	SE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	E	E	E	E	ENE	E	E	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	E	ESE	ESE	E	E	E	E	ESE	ESE	ESE	E	E	ESE	E	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE
Wave period (s)	4.3	4.2	3.8	4.3	5	5.5	5.5	5.3	4.8	5.2	5.1	5.5	5.1	4.6	4.5	4.8	5	4.7	4.3	3.3	4.2	3.6	3.6	3.4	2.9	2.6	2.5	2.5	2.4	2.5	2.1	2	2.1	2.1	2.4	3	4	5.8	6.8	7	7.2	6.3	6.6	6.4	7	7.7	7.3	6.7	6.3	6.5	6.2	4.7	6	6.3	5.8	5
Wave energy (kJ)	0	0	2	0	0	0	1	1	1	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	1	1	2	0	0	0	1	2	2	2	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	1	1	0	0	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	2
Wind speed (km/h)	6.5	8	8.8	20.2	22.4	19.7	11.7	8.7	6.6	7.8	8.8	20	22.6	19.9	10.7	8.3	6.7	7.3	8.1	19.8	21.7	18.6	8.1	4.4	5.9	5.2	5.6	9.4	15.3	14.4	2.4	2.2	6	6.2	8.4	21	27.2	23.2	17.5	15	19.3	22.4	20	26.4	25.6	23.2	14.9	10.2	11	9.1	10	20.9	19.8	17.7	8.6	4.2
Wind direction	SOffshore	SOffshore	SOffshore	SECross-off	SECross-off	ESECross-off	SECross-off	SECross-off	SSEOffshore	SSEOffshore	SSEOffshore	SECross-off	ESECross-off	ESECross-off	SECross-off	SECross-off	SECross-off	SOffshore	SSEOffshore	ESECross-off	ESECross-off	ESECross-off	SECross-off	SGlassy	SWCross-off	SWCross-off	SWCross-off	SECross-off	ESECross-off	ECross	NNWGlassy	WGlassy	SSEOffshore	SOffshore	SSECross-off	ESECross-off	ESECross-off	ESECross-off	ESECross-off	SECross-off	ESECross-off	ESECross-off	ESECross-off	ESECross-off	ESECross-off	ESECross-off	ESECross-off	ESECross-off	SECross-off	SECross-off	SECross-off	ESECross-off	ESECross-off	ESECross-off	ESECross-off	SSEGlassy

Dolphin Heads (QLD, Australia) — surf spot description

Dolphin Heads is a scenic coastal point near Mackay in North Queensland, known more for its beautiful headland and relaxed beach setting than for big, consistent surf. It sits on the Coral Sea and is exposed to swell wrapping around the headland, so conditions can vary a lot depending on wind, tide, and cyclone-season swell.

Surf character

Wave type: Mostly beachbreak / point-style wrap around the headland
Best for: Intermediate to experienced surfers when conditions line up
Consistency: Generally inconsistent, with the best waves appearing on the right swell direction
Wave quality: Can offer fun, clean peelers on smaller swells, but it’s not known as a heavy or highly reliable destination

Conditions and hazards

Wind sensitivity: Like much of the Queensland coast, it can be very sensitive to onshore trade winds
Tide dependence: Tide can strongly affect shape and rideability
Hazards: Rock sections near the headland, variable currents, and the possibility of marine life common to tropical waters

Best time

Swell: Southern or eastern swell pulses can occasionally light it up
Season: Summer and autumn can produce the better swells, especially during tropical low or cyclone energy
Wind: Early mornings often provide the cleanest conditions

Vibe

Dolphin Heads has a laid-back, local, tropical feel. It’s more of a scenic, lesser-known spot than a famous surf destination, so if you catch it on the right day, you may score uncrowded, enjoyable waves.