Surf spot

Magnetic island - arcadia beach

Forecast conditions and map view for Magnetic island - arcadia beach 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: -19.1484, 146.8691

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)	0.6	0.8	0.6	0.5	0.3	0.1	0.2	0.4	0.7	0.7	0.5	0.4	0.2	0.1	0.2	0.3	0.7	0.8	0.6	0.5	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.4	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.4	0.3	0.5	0.4	0.3	0.3	0.2	0.2	0.1	0.2	0.2	0.4	0.6	0.6	0.8	0.3	0.2	0.1	0.2	0.5	0.7	0.8	0.6	0.4	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.4
Wave direction	E	E	E	E	E	NE	ENE	ENE	E	E	E	E	ENE	NE	ENE	ENE	E	E	E	E	E	ENE	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	E	NE	NE	NE	ENE	E	E	E	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	E	E	E	ENE	NE	NE	NE	ENE
Wave period (s)	4.5	4.1	4.3	4.1	4.7	6.5	5.7	5	4.5	4.1	4	4.2	7	6.7	6.7	6	4.7	4.2	4	4.2	5.7	5.8	5.8	5.2	4.3	4	3.8	3.6	3.8	3.6	3	2.9	2.9	2.9	2.9	2.9	5.5	4.8	5.2	5.4	5.3	5.5	5.1	7.3	7.5	8.7	7.5	5.8	5	4.7	5.1	5.5	5.8	6.4	5.5	4.8
Wave energy (kJ)	13	20	14	9	5	2	3	8	18	15	9	6	3	2	4	6	21	23	10	8	3	3	5	8	17	12	10	6	4	2	4	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	8	17	20	37	9	6	3	5	16	25	26	17	8	4	3	6	7
Wind speed (km/h)	19.4	12.6	15.6	19.4	32	29.3	25.7	28.4	19.2	15.5	13.2	22.9	30.6	34.9	29.1	31.3	25.9	15.9	12	19.2	23.6	26	25.2	23.4	21.1	17.2	11.3	9.1	18.7	15.1	6	3.9	3.1	6.3	15.3	18.9	30.4	36.4	39.6	37	25.7	24.1	23.5	32	38.9	37.5	36.6	33.8	28.5	17.8	15.8	29.6	31.4	29.6	26.1	25.2
Wind direction	SECross-on	SCross	SCross	ESEOnshore	ENEOnshore	EOnshore	EOnshore	ESEOnshore	SECross-on	SSECross-on	SCross-on	ESEOnshore	EOnshore	EOnshore	EOnshore	ESEOnshore	SEOnshore	SSECross-on	SCross	ESEOnshore	ENEOnshore	EOnshore	EOnshore	ESEOnshore	ESEOnshore	SECross-on	SSECross-on	EOnshore	NECross-on	NNECross-on	NNECross-on	ENEGlassy	SWGlassy	SSWCross	SSECross-on	EOnshore	EOnshore	EBlown out	ESEBlown out	ESEBlown out	SECross-on	SECross-on	SECross-on	ESEOnshore	EBlown out	EBlown out	EBlown out	ESEOnshore	ESEOnshore	SSECross-on	SSECross-on	ESEOnshore	EOnshore	EOnshore	ESEOnshore	ESEOnshore

Arcadia Beach, Magnetic Island (QLD) is a scenic, tropical beach spot on the east side of Magnetic Island, just off Townsville in North Queensland. It’s better known for swimming, snorkeling, and relaxed beach days than for consistent surf, but in the right swell it can produce small, playful waves.

Surf conditions

Wave quality: Generally weak to moderate
Wave size: Usually small; best after a stronger swell
Break type: Mostly beach break / shorey depending on sand movement
Best wind: Light offshore or calm conditions
Best tide: Often mid-tide, though it varies with sand bars

What to expect

A beautiful tropical setting with clear water and a relaxed vibe
Waves that are usually not powerful or very long
More suitable for beginners, bodyboards, or casual longboarding when conditions line up
Can get busy with swimmers and tourists, especially in good weather

Hazards / notes

Rocks and reef patches may be present in some areas
Marine life is common in North Queensland waters
Conditions can change quickly with wind and tides
Always check local reports before paddling out

Overall

Arcadia Beach is not a premier surf destination, but it can be fun when a swell wraps in. Think of it more as a picture-perfect tropical beach with occasional surf rather than a consistent wave spot.