Burleigh Heads (5th Avenue)
- Freeride, Wave
- Best for
- Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Small waves
- Spot Type
- Moderate
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Burleigh Heads (5th Avenue) is a beach-break style kitesurfing location on Queensland’s Gold Coast, offering crystal-clear water and small-to-medium waves. The launch area is accessed via 5th Avenue’s direct walkway, and basic on-beach facilities (showers and toilets) are available, with food options within walking distance. For wind-based sports, the spot is most associated with wind directions that support clean wave riding and cross-onshore conditions. In summer, north-easterly sea breezes frequently provide reliable sessions, and the wind pattern is typically active in the afternoon (around 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM). Typical wind speeds are commonly in the mid-teens to mid-20s knots. Safety is a key factor at 5th Avenue because of the nearby swimmers and patrolled swimming zones. Kitesurfing should not be done inside flagged swimming areas, and riders are advised to maintain a substantial distance from swimmers and avoid patrolled zones. Rips/longshore drift are also noted hazards on this open beach environment, so it’s important to plan your launch/exit around water-user patterns. Conditions suit intermediate kitesurfers who enjoy wave riding (and freeride/strapless styles). Surfing can work too, with good wave quality described in a mainly exposed setup; however, wind directions that add chop for surfing can still be favorable for kiting, so many riders time their sessions around the wind direction and tide.
- Crystal-clear water
- Wave-friendly beach-break setup for kitesurfing
- Afternoon sea-breeze pattern in summer for more consistent winds
- On-site showers and toilets
- Crystal-clear water with small-to-medium wave riding conditions
- Good kitesurfing wave-riding option for intermediate riders
- Facilities are available on-site and there are food options nearby
- Summer sea-breeze pattern often provides reliable wind
- Crowded on weekends and during summer school holidays
- Close proximity to swimmers and patrolled zones requires extra launch discipline
- High tide can make the beach very narrow, reducing landing room
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- N, NNE, NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE, SSE, SW, WSW, W
- Wind Range
- 15–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Mixed — Local winds are a mix of seasonal patterns; summer commonly brings sea-breeze conditions, while other periods include stronger frontal/trade-wind styles.
- Reliability
- High during the summer sea-breeze season and during winter southerly fronts.
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts — Gustiness is generally light.
- Best Months
- September, October, November, December, January, February, March
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 7–12 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Small waves
- Beach
- Sand — Sand beach.
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Small — Small-to-medium waves described for the spot.
- Launch
- Medium — Wide launch area at low to mid tide; beach narrows at high tide near dunes/esplanade.
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate — Launch difficulty can increase with tide (narrower beach at high tide).
Through the year
High during summer school holidays and weekends; lower during weekdays and winter.
Late summer (January to March) can see occasional tropical low pressure systems and storms.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Wave-riding friendly beach-break conditions with crystal-clear water; suitable for intermediate riders looking for wave riding/freeride. Often works particularly well when wind direction aligns for clean cross-onshore kiting.
- Kite Sizes
- 7–12 m²
Suitable for wave-sailing when the swell is manageable and the wind is strong from SE or NE.
- Sail Sizes
- 4.7–5.7 m²
Launching can be challenging due to shore break and swell, but once past the break the open ocean can provide excellent swell-riding opportunities.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes — Foil-friendly once clear of the break.
- Min Depth
- 1.5 meters
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
A fairly exposed point break that usually has waves and is often best in winter. A consistent alternative can also be a beach-break style on smaller swells.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- E, SE
- Swell Height
- 0.5–1.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid — Often best around mid tide.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed shoreline exposure.
- Wind Effect
- Cleanest with W or SW winds; NE or SE winds create chop for surfing (winds tend to be better aligned for kiting in those directions).
- Bigger Swell
- Can close out when the swell exceeds 2 meters; nearby point break handles larger sizes better.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Generally good wave quality for the setup.
- Wave Power
- Moderate — Works as a moderate-strength surfing setup overall.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Peeling A-frame style.
- Peel Speed
- Medium — Fast, punchy sectioning typical of beach points; generally a medium peel speed.
- Ride Length
- Short — Fast, punchy rides common on beach-break style waves.
- Typical Ride Length
- 30–60 m
- Ride Length Details
- Fast, punchy rides typical of beach breaks.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Burleigh Heads (5th Avenue) in the full forecast view.
Burleigh Heads (5th Avenue) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 3–11 ktsGusts 24 kts
- Direction
- NE40°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2511 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.9–1.8 m7s period
- Temperature
- 19–30 °C
Over the next 7 days, Burleigh Heads (5th Avenue) is forecast for daytime winds of 3–11 kts, peaking around 11 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 24 kts. The prevailing direction is NE. Waves run 0.9–1.8 m with a period of about 7s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Swimmers
- Rip currents
- Longshore drift
- Shark nets
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Lifeguards are seasonal.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue availability is limited.
- Emergency Info
- Dial 000 for emergencies. Gold Coast University Hospital is the nearest major medical facility.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — The area can be sensitive due to proximity to swimmers/patrolled zones.
Rules of the spot
Avoid kiting inside flagged swimming areas. Maintain a wide buffer from swimmers and keep clear of patrolled zones.
- No kitesurfing within patrolled swimming zones (between the red and yellow flags).
- Avoid launching in/near flagged swimming areas.
- Be respectful of swimmers; bad interactions can lead to restrictions.
- Check the tide—at high tide the beach can become very narrow with limited room for landing.
- Park near 5th Avenue for the best access to the launch area.
- Wear booties if there are unknown underwater conditions.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Gold Coast
- Nearest Town
- Burleigh Heads
- Nearest Airport
- Gold Coast Airport (OOL)
- Parking
- Parking available at the spot; limited street parking along the Esplanade and 5th Avenue, and it can get crowded on weekends.
- Public Transport
- Well-connected by bus routes along the Gold Coast Highway linking to light rail and heavy rail networks.
- Access
- Direct access via the Gold Coast Highway and the Esplanade; 5th Avenue provides a direct walkway to the beach.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Numerous apartments, holiday rentals, and hotels are available in Burleigh Heads and neighboring areas.
- Food & Drink
- Multiple cafes and restaurants within walking distance along the Gold Coast Highway and James Street.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Burleigh Heads (5th Avenue)?
The best overall months at Burleigh Heads (5th Avenue) are September, October, November, December, January, February, March, August. The best wind months are September, October, November, December, January, February, March.
Which wind directions work at Burleigh Heads (5th Avenue)?
Burleigh Heads (5th Avenue) works with N, NNE, NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE, SSE, SW, WSW, W winds.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Burleigh Heads (5th Avenue)?
Recommended equipment sizes at Burleigh Heads (5th Avenue): Kitesurfing: 7–12 m² · Windsurfing: 4.7–5.7 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 15–25 kts.
What skill level is Burleigh Heads (5th Avenue) suitable for?
Burleigh Heads (5th Avenue) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Intermediate · Windsurfing: Advanced · Wingfoiling: Advanced · Surfing: Intermediate.