South Stradbroke
South Stradbroke (TOS - The Other Side) is the Gold Coast's secret weapon—a hollow A-frame beach break that requires a 350-meter paddle across the treacherous Seaway channel. The crossing deters crowds, leaving those brave enough to make it with world-class peaks and far fewer surfers than anywhere else on the coast. The sand formations produce perfect barrels on E swells. Watch for boats, strong currents, and the ever-present bull sharks in the channel. Worth the risk? The empty tubes say yes.
South Stradbroke 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 South Stradbroke 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 (90°)
- Direction range
- 45° - 135°
- Size range
- 1m - 2.5m
- Ideal size
- 1.7m - 2.1m
- Height multiplier
- 1.00×
- Ideal period
- 12s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- W (270°)
- Offshore range
- 230° - 315°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- mid to high
- Optimal range
- 0.6m - 1.6m
- Danger below
- 0.3m
Water temp
23°C
Wetsuit
Springsuit / 2mm
Difficulty
6/10
Crowd level
4/10
Access: 350m paddle across Seaway from breakwall to breakwall. Dodging boats and rips.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is South Stradbroke?
South Stradbroke is a beach break in Gold Coast, Australia, with peaks that run both left and right. It's also a renowned bodyboarding wave.
What swell works best at South Stradbroke?
South Stradbroke picks up swell from the NE round to the SE, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the E. It starts working at around 1m and handles up to about 2.5m, with the sweet spot around 1.7 to 2.1m. Period matters too: aim for 12s or longer, as anything under 8s tends to be weak. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
What wind is offshore at South Stradbroke?
A W wind is dead offshore at South Stradbroke, and anything from the SW round to the NW 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 South Stradbroke?
South Stradbroke is at its best around the mid to high tide, roughly 0.6m to 1.6m on the local chart. Below 0.3m it gets dangerously shallow.
When is the best time of year to surf South Stradbroke?
The most reliable run of swell at South Stradbroke comes Feb to Oct. Year-round. Protected from crowds by channel crossing.
How cold is the water at South Stradbroke?
The water at South Stradbroke 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 South Stradbroke good for beginners?
It's more of an intermediate wave, rated 6/10 for difficulty, so newer surfers are best off sticking to the smaller days. Expect a moderate crowd (4/10) when it's on. Intense paddle across Seaway channel with boats and sharks. Low tide deadly shallow.
How do I get to South Stradbroke?
The nearest airport on our list is OOL, then it's roughly a 25-minute drive. 350m paddle across Seaway from breakwall to breakwall. Dodging boats and rips.
What other surf spots are near South Stradbroke?
The closest breaks we track are Main Beach (14 km), Burleigh Heads (26 km) and Kirra (36 km), handy when South Stradbroke isn't working. We track 7 spots around Gold Coast in total.
Best Season
Peak: Feb-Oct
Year-round. Protected from crowds by channel crossing.
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Main Beach
🏄 Gold Coast overflow • Uncrowded peaks • Surfers Paradise alternative
Burleigh Heads
💪 Gold Coast power • Boulder point perfection • Don't drop in on the locals
Kirra
🏆 Australia's barrel queen • Superbank's finishing move • Sand politics drama
Greenmount
🌅 Superbank connection • Coolangatta icon • Headland right-hander
Duranbah
🧲 Gold Coast swell magnet • Punchy A-frames • Pro training ground
Superbank (Maxing)
🌊 2km connected rides • Cyclone swells only • 500-surfer zoo
Plan a trip around South Stradbroke
Compare this break with other destinations in these surf guides.