Fingal Head surf report
Beach and headland break just south of Duranbah, with banks that pick up plenty of swell.
New region (beta): these break settings are still being checked by locals. Spot something off? Tell us.
Tomorrow at Fingal Head (Sun, 4 Oct) · not worth it
Nah.
Glassy, no wind, head-high waves. Rated for a beginner.
- Barely any wind (5 kn), so it'll be glassy and smooth.
- Waves around head high (1.3m faces), on the big side for a beginner.
- Easterly swell at 7 seconds, an angle this spot likes.
- Low tide and dropping at 5am, but this spot prefers mid tide.
- Wind swings north-north-easterly 10 kn around 12pm, so it'll get choppy.
- Faces around 1.3m. If it looks too much, watch from the beach. There's no shame in it.
- At 1.3m and 7 seconds, Fingal Head is one for intermediate surfers and up today. Rips along the headland and a strong current when the swell is up.
Forecast checked Sat, 3 Oct, 9:14 pm Gold Coast time.
When is Fingal Head good?
- Best wind
- Westerly (offshore) or none
- Best swell
- North-north-east to south
- Best tide
- Mid tide
- Suits
- Beginner+
Who it suits depends on the size: learners up to about 0.7m, beginners up to about 1.1m, intermediates up to about 1.7m. Bigger than 1.7m it is for advanced surfers. Long-period groundswell hits harder, so it counts as bigger.
It gets most of the open-ocean swell, so there is usually something to ride. A westerly wind blows offshore here, so mornings before the sea breeze are usually cleanest. Get Frothin’ checks the wind, swell, tide and the live wave buoys every hour and tells you, in plain English, whether it's worth paddling out at Fingal Head for your level.
Watch out
Rips along the headland and a strong current when the swell is up.
Frequently asked
What are the best conditions for surfing Fingal Head?
Fingal Head is best with a westerly (offshore) wind or no wind, a north-north-east to south swell and mid tide. It gets most of the open-ocean swell, so there is usually something to ride.
What wind is offshore at Fingal Head?
A westerly wind (W) blows straight offshore at Fingal Head, holding the waves up and keeping them clean. Light winds are good too. Onshore winds make it choppy.
Is Fingal Head good for beginners?
It can be. Fingal Head suits beginners on small, clean days. On bigger days it is better left to more experienced surfers.
What should I watch out for at Fingal Head?
Rips along the headland and a strong current when the swell is up.
Nearby breaks
- Kingscliff 5.7 km
- Cabarita (Norries Head) 13.9 km
- Hastings Point 17.5 km