Palm Beach surf report
Long stretch of beach breaks with shifting sandbanks. Usually easy to find your own peak.
Today at Palm Beach (Sat, 3 Oct) · best 5am–10am
Fun.
Glassy, no wind, chest-high waves. Rated for a beginner.
- Barely any wind (4 kn), so it'll be glassy and smooth.
- Waves around chest high (0.9m faces), a good size for a beginner.
- Easterly swell at 6 seconds, an angle this spot likes.
- Low tide and rising at 7am, but this spot prefers mid tide.
- Wind swings north-north-easterly 7 kn around 10am, so it'll get choppy.
Forecast checked Sat, 3 Oct, 3:01 am Gold Coast time.
When is Palm Beach good?
- Best wind
- Westerly (offshore) or none
- Best swell
- North-north-east to south-south-east
- 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 1.6m. Bigger than 1.6m 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 Palm Beach for your level.
Watch out
Rips between the banks. Swim between the flags if you are unsure.
Frequently asked
What are the best conditions for surfing Palm Beach?
Palm Beach is best with a westerly (offshore) wind or no wind, a north-north-east to south-south-east swell and mid tide. It gets most of the open-ocean swell, so there is usually something to ride.
What wind is offshore at Palm Beach?
A westerly wind (W) blows straight offshore at Palm Beach, holding the waves up and keeping them clean. Light winds are good too. Onshore winds make it choppy.
Is Palm Beach good for beginners?
It can be. Palm Beach suits beginners on small, clean days. On bigger days it is better left to more experienced surfers.
What should I watch out for at Palm Beach?
Rips between the banks. Swim between the flags if you are unsure.
Nearby breaks
- Burleigh Heads 2.8 km
- Currumbin Alley 3.0 km
- Kirra 8.2 km