Surf spot

Burleigh heads

Forecast conditions and map view for Burleigh heads in Australia, QLD, Gold Coast. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: Australia, QLD, Gold Coast
Coordinates: -28.0884, 153.4539

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)	1	1.1	0.9	1	1	1	1	0.9	0.8	1.1	1.1	1	1	1	1	1	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.5	0.4	0.4	0.3	0.4	1.2	1.2	1.3	0.8	0.8	0.7	1.1	0.8	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6
Wave direction	SE	SE	SSE	SE	SSE	SE	SE	E	SE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	ENE	ENE	ENE	E	ESE	E	SSE	SSE	SE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE
Wave period (s)	6.5	6.3	7	7.6	7	6.7	6.8	5	5.7	5.5	5.5	5.7	5.5	5.5	5.5	5.5	5.8	5.5	5.6	5.5	5.5	5.4	5.3	5.3	5.3	5.3	5.4	5.5	5.7	5.8	5.5	5.4	5.5	5.5	5.5	5.4	5.8	5.2	8	6.8	7.8	7.3	6.9	8.6	8.4	8.8	6.1	8.4	8.6	8.6	8.4	8.3	8.3	7	6.5	6.6
Wave energy (kJ)	87	89	88	111	97	93	89	43	43	67	72	68	65	61	58	56	54	50	49	43	40	39	32	33	29	24	25	24	22	21	19	20	20	19	17	13	10	7	12	15	164	156	151	85	95	81	84	96	77	64	58	53	46	41	35	33
Wind speed (km/h)	7.7	8.4	6.9	13.3	12.4	15.8	8.6	7.4	7.6	7.3	7.9	13.7	17.8	14.3	7.9	6.6	6.9	7	6	10.1	13.3	10.3	4.7	5.2	5.8	5.4	5.8	11.9	18.9	16.9	10.2	8.4	8.7	8.1	7.6	21.1	28.6	24.6	24.1	21.6	17.1	13.3	13.8	20.9	21.6	20.3	18.7	16.3	11.2	12.4	11.9	17.7	14.8	10	8.9	7.4
Wind direction	SCross	SCross	SCross	ESECross-on	ESEOnshore	ESEOnshore	SSECross-on	SSWCross	SCross	SCross	SCross	SECross-on	EOnshore	ESEOnshore	SECross-on	SCross	SSWCross-off	SWCross-off	SSWCross-off	EOnshore	ENEOnshore	ENEOnshore	NGlassy	WNWOffshore	WOffshore	WOffshore	WNWOffshore	NCross	NNECross-on	NNECross-on	NNWCross-off	NWCross-off	NWCross-off	WNWCross-off	SSECross-on	SSECross-on	SSECross-on	SSECross-on	SCross	SCross	SCross	SSWCross	SSWCross	SCross	SCross	SCross	SCross	SCross	SCross	SSWCross-off	SCross	SSECross	SCross	SSECross-on	SSWCross	SSWCross-off

Burleigh Heads is one of the Gold Coast’s most famous and beloved surf spots, known for its reliable waves, scenic headland, and classic point-break feel.

Overview

Location: Burleigh Heads, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Type of wave: Point break / headland reef break
Best for: Intermediate to advanced surfers, though it can have smaller sections suitable for confident beginners on the right day
Vibe: Classic Australian surf spot with a strong local surf culture, a scenic national park backdrop, and often a busy lineup

Wave Characteristics

Burleigh Heads is best known for its long, peeling right-hand point break wrapping around the rocky headland. On a good swell, the wave can line up beautifully, offering: - Long rides - Clean, well-shaped walls - Good sectioning for turns and occasional barrels - Strong shape on southeast swell and favorable winds

The wave can be highly consistent when conditions align, but it’s also sensitive to swell direction, tide, and wind.

Conditions

Best swell: East to southeast swells
Best winds: West to southwest offshore winds
Best tide: Often mid tide, though it can work across a range depending on swell size
Exposure: Very exposed and can handle a fair amount of swell

Crowd and Atmosphere

Burleigh is a popular and sometimes crowded break because of its quality and reputation. The lineup often includes: - Locals with strong knowledge of the wave - Experienced surfers from around the region - Visitors chasing one of the Gold Coast’s signature waves

The surrounding area is lively, with: - Burleigh Head National Park - Cafes, bars, and a laid-back beach town atmosphere - Great ocean views from the headland

Skill Level

Beginner: Not ideal most days due to crowd, reef/rock hazards, and wave quality
Intermediate: Possible on smaller, softer days with guidance
Advanced: Excellent when the swell is on and the sand/reef setup is working

Hazards

Rocks and shallow reef near the point
Heavy crowd pressure
Strong currents on bigger swells
Powerful surf during solid swell events

Summary

Burleigh Heads is a world-class Gold Coast point break with a beautiful setting, a classic right-hand wave, and a