Kirra
Kirra is Australian surfing's most storied barrel—a right-hand sand-bottom point that has produced some of the country's most iconic waves when the sand aligns correctly. As the finishing section of the Superbank sand system (which starts at Snapper), Kirra can deliver thick, grinding tubes that connect for hundreds of meters. The barrel shape is perfect: round, spitting, and fast. Unfortunately, sand pumping across the Tweed River mouth has filled in the point and made classic Kirra sessions rare. But when cyclone swells push SE and the sand is configured right, Kirra reminds everyone why it was once considered Australia's best wave.
Kirra surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
Today's ConditionsToday's Conditions
Find FlightsLocation & Conditions
Hourly Forecast, Tide & Strike Windows
Tide times today
Strike Score Breakdown
Plan Your Strike
Return flights to OOL, departing today with a 5-day trip window.
Search Flights on SkyscannerLocation & Conditions
Know when Australia is about to fire
Get the best strike windows in Australia — and worldwide — in your inbox every Monday & Thursday. Live Strike Scores, the swell behind them, zero fluff.
Get the full Kirra trip window
Pro unlocks the 10-day forecast window, unlimited alerts, and custom spot tracking that help turn a good-looking surf report into a better travel decision.
10-day window
See the trip window before flights get expensive.
Unlimited alerts
Let the app watch your score threshold for you.
Custom spots
Track the breaks that actually matter to your travel plans.
Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- E (100°)
- Direction range
- 60° - 125°
- Size range
- 1.2m - 3m
- Ideal size
- 2m - 2.6m
- Height multiplier
- 0.92×
- Ideal period
- 12s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- SSE (168°)
- Offshore range
- 141° - 202°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- all
- Optimal range
- 0.3m - 1.2m
Water temp
23°C
Wetsuit
Springsuit / 2mm
Difficulty
7/10
Crowd level
10/10
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is Kirra?
Kirra is a point break in Gold Coast, Australia, that mostly breaks right. It's on our list of the world's 100 best waves.
What's the story behind Kirra?
In 1972 the Queensland Government extended Kirra Point with the 'big groyne'. Surfers protested it would kill the break, and after a bad first year the sand came back and it broke as well as ever. The name comes from Kirra Hill, which first appears on an 1883 survey plan; it is believed to be Indigenous, but its meaning is unknown.
What swell works best at Kirra?
Kirra picks up swell from the ENE round to the SE, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the E. It starts working at around 1.2m and handles up to about 3m, with the sweet spot around 2 to 2.6m. Period matters too: aim for 12s or longer, as anything under 8s tends to be weak. E windswell + SE groundswell creates legendary wedge. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
What wind is offshore at Kirra?
A SSE wind is dead offshore at Kirra, and anything from the SE round to the SSW keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 5am to 10am. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
What tide is best at Kirra?
Kirra has a preferred tide range, roughly 0.3m to 1.2m on the local chart.
When is the best time of year to surf Kirra?
The most reliable run of swell at Kirra comes May to Aug. There's a second window in Jan to Apr and Sep to Oct too. Winter E-SE swells are prime when the sand is right. Cyclone swells Jan-Mar can produce rare classic days.
How cold is the water at Kirra?
The water at Kirra averages around 23°C, so you'll want a springsuit or 2mm. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
Is Kirra good for beginners?
Not really. It's rated 7/10 for difficulty and suits experienced surfers. It gets busy (crowd 10/10), so mind the pecking order. Very crowded. Heavy local crew. Strong currents on bigger swells.
How do I get to Kirra?
The nearest airport on our list is OOL, then it's roughly a 20-minute drive.
What other surf spots are near Kirra?
The closest breaks we track are Superbank (Maxing) (1.2 km), Greenmount (1.6 km) and Snapper Rocks (2.0 km), handy when Kirra isn't working. We track 7 spots around Gold Coast in total.
Best Season
Peak: May-Aug
Secondary: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Sep, Oct
Winter E-SE swells are prime when the sand is right. Cyclone swells Jan-Mar can produce rare classic days.
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Superbank (Maxing)
🌊 2km connected rides • Cyclone swells only • 500-surfer zoo
Greenmount
🌅 Superbank connection • Coolangatta icon • Headland right-hander
Snapper Rocks
🦘 Superbank starting point • 2km rides possible • Gold Coast icon
Duranbah
🧲 Gold Coast swell magnet • Punchy A-frames • Pro training ground
Fingal Head
🌋 Basalt reef right • Australia's Giants Causeway • Ancient lava break
Burleigh Heads
💪 Gold Coast power • Boulder point perfection • Don't drop in on the locals
Plan a trip around Kirra
Compare this break with other destinations in these surf guides.