Surf spot

Ellis Beach North

Forecast conditions and map view for Ellis Beach North 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: -16.7042, 145.6262

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)	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.7	0.7	0.5	0.5	0.6	0.7	0.7	0.8	0.8	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.5	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.4	0.5	0.6	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.5	0.6	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.8	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.7	0.8
Wave direction	ESE	E	E	E	E	E	E	ESE	ESE	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	ENE	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E
Wave period (s)	5.3	5	5.5	5.8	5.8	5.9	5.4	5.5	5.3	6.1	5.5	5.5	6.8	5.8	5.3	5	5.5	5.4	5.4	5.4	5.7	5.8	5.9	5.8	5.7	5.5	5.5	5.3	5.6	5.7	5.4	5.2	5.3	5.1	4.8	5.1	6.7	5.5	4.6	5	5.2	5.4	5.8	7.3	7.3	7.3	6.5	6.6	6.6	6.5	6.5	7.7	7.3	7	6.3	5.8
Wave energy (kJ)	24	22	31	26	26	25	20	24	19	23	27	26	25	18	22	24	33	37	37	30	27	22	19	20	22	22	24	22	17	17	16	17	18	16	16	14	13	14	14	22	23	32	34	24	36	50	36	38	45	51	40	39	39	33	39	39
Wind speed (km/h)	8.3	17.9	10.8	24.6	22.1	21.2	14	9.5	8.7	7.3	6.8	22.1	24.1	21.8	14	8	10.2	10.5	17.8	22.7	24.4	20.9	12.3	7.6	5.9	6.3	15.8	20.2	22.8	20.3	9.1	6	6.3	6.9	4.7	19	22.3	21.8	14.1	15.8	20.9	20.5	25.1	29.2	28.8	25.4	20.2	22.4	19.2	25.6	27.1	22.9	22	21.7	16.9	18.9
Wind direction	SCross	SECross-on	SSECross	ESECross-on	ESEOnshore	ESECross-on	SECross-on	SCross	SCross-off	SCross-off	SCross-off	ESECross-on	ESECross-on	ESECross-on	SECross-on	SCross	SECross-on	SECross-on	ESECross-on	ESECross-on	ESEOnshore	ESECross-on	SECross-on	SCross	SSWCross-off	SSECross	SECross-on	ESECross-on	EOnshore	ESEOnshore	SECross-on	SSWCross-off	SSWCross-off	SSWCross-off	SSWGlassy	EOnshore	EOnshore	ESEOnshore	ESECross-on	ESECross-on	ESECross-on	ESECross-on	SECross-on	ESECross-on	ESECross-on	ESECross-on	SECross-on	SECross-on	SECross-on	ESECross-on	ESECross-on	ESECross-on	ESECross-on	ESECross-on	SECross-on	SECross-on

Ellis Beach North is a surf spot on the Far North Queensland coastline, just north of Cairns. It sits along a long tropical stretch of beach backed by palm-lined coastal scenery and a relatively undeveloped shoreline.

Spot description

Type: Beach break
Direction of exposure: Exposed to open ocean swell, but conditions can be affected by local winds and reef/shoal features nearby
Wave character: Typically playful beach-break waves with shifting sandbanks; can produce fun, fast sections when the banks line up
Best for: Intermediate surfers, though it can be suitable for beginners when small and clean
Hazards: Strong currents, rips, changing sandbanks, and occasional croc risk in Far North Queensland waters
Crowds: Usually lighter than major city beaches, though popular on good days
Scenery: Tropical, scenic, and often very quiet compared with more developed surf destinations

Conditions and surf quality

Ellis Beach North is generally best when a consistent swell meets offshore winds and stable sandbars. Like many beach breaks, quality can vary a lot depending on tides and recent weather. After periods of swell or storms, it may hold surprisingly good shape, but it can also be weak or messy if the banks aren’t set.

When it’s best

Swell: Moderate groundswells or local windswell
Wind: Offshore or light variable winds
Tide: Often depends on sandbar setup, but mid-tide can be favorable

Local note

Because this is in Far North Queensland, beachgoers should always be aware of marine hazards, including stingers in season and the possibility of crocodiles in nearby waters and estuaries.