Scotts Head, Australia
Also within 20 km of Scotts Head
- Suck Rock Surf spot · 0.4 km from Scotts Head
- Grassy Head Surf spot · 6 km from Scotts Head
- Black rock Surf spot · 11.1 km from Scotts Head
- Nambucca Heads - Breakwater Surf spot · 12 km from Scotts Head
- Horseshoe bay Surf spot · 15.8 km from Scotts Head
- Front beach Surf spot · 16 km from Scotts Head
Watch this spot We email you when Scotts Head is worth the trip.
About Scotts Head
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces E (83°), so it takes swell from the E. The wind blows offshore from the W (263°). It is sheltered to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 3–10 ft of swell. The sea floor shelves moderately: 10 m deep about 250 m out (1 in 27). On a typical 5 ft, 11 s swell the waves here would crumble. The sea is about 20°C in July, its coldest month (2 mm shorty), and 26°C in February, its warmest (no wetsuit). For intermediate surfers the best month is usually August, with about 3 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Scotts Head, 1.3 km away (about 5 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 1 surf spot.
Water about 21°C: 2 mm shorty. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
Saved: this link opens the same trip
The link holds the trip itself: nothing about you is kept. Check the forecast again before you book.
Book the trip
From Chicago: about 31 h 05 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to CFS, changing at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Brisbane International Airport (BNE).
See flights MDW → CFS · Skyscanner from about £805 returnAdGetting there. 1 h 10 from the airport to Scotts Head.
Accommodation.
Stay in Scotts HeadAd
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Scotts Head (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Scotts Head 2 min by car · rooms from £90 a night · 12 places to stay · where Scotts Head stays
Places to stay in Scotts Head · Booking.com AdGrassy Head 7 min by car · rooms from £90 a night · 6 places to stay
Places to stay in Grassy Head · Booking.com AdNambucca Heads 21 min by car · rooms from £90 a night · 18 places to stay
Places to stay in Nambucca Heads · Booking.com AdSouth West Rocks 28 min by car · rooms from £90 a night · 22 places to stay
Places to stay in South West Rocks · Booking.com AdUrunga 50 min by car · rooms from £90 a night · 13 places to stay
Places to stay in Urunga · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Scotts Head · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Scotts Head · GetYourGuideAd
Where it is
Scotts Head on Google Maps · Directions
The map needs JavaScript. Every place on it is listed on this page, and each place's page links to Google Maps.
One finger scrolls the page; two fingers move the map. Pins are our own positions. Map OpenFreeMap, © OpenMapTiles, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Forecast
The score for intermediates, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for intermediates | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 51, good | 4 ft7 smushy | 168kJ | wind from the east-north-east, 4 knots | 20°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 35, too small | 3 ft7 smushy | 69kJ | wind from the south-south-west, 2 knots | 18°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 48, good | 4 ft6 smushy | 118kJ | offshorewind from the south-west, 4 knots, offshore | 19°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 45, fair | 4 ft6 smushy | 123kJ | offshorewind from the south-west, 5 knots, offshore | 20°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 22, poor | 4 ft6 smushy | 92kJ | wind from the north-east, 12 knots | 20°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 21, poor | 3 ft6 smushy | 70kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 9 knots | 21°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 19, poor | 4 ft6 smushy | 118kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 12 knots | 23°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 17, poor | 3 ft6 smushy | 78kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 13 knots | 24°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 29, poor | 5 ft6 smushy | 169kJ | wind from the south-south-east, 3 knots | 22°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 26, poor | 3 ft7 smushy | 94kJ | wind from the east-north-east, 3 knots | 21°C |
| Wed 28Oct | 25, too small | 2 ft6 smushy | 26kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 5 knots | 18°C |
Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Energy is the swell's power in kJ per metre of wave, from its height and interval: it grows with the square of each, so a long-period swell hits far harder than a short one the same size. The word under the swell is the wave's shape, our estimate from the sea floor. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to; offshore wind, blowing from the land out to sea, is green and says so.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for intermediate surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Fly MDW to CFS, changing at LAX and BNE, then 1h 10 by road. About 31h 05 door to door
- Tue 20 OctSurf Scotts Head
Best 08:00 to 11:00 local time: 4 ft at 6 s, offshore wind.
- Wed 21 OctSurf Scotts Head
Best 08:00 to 11:00 local time: 4 ft at 6 s, offshore wind.
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 29 of 80.
- Fri 23 OctSurf Scotts Head
Best 11:00 to 14:00 local time: 3 ft at 6 s, wind 9 kn (16 km/h).
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 27 of 80.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Fly MDW to CFS, changing at LAX and BNE, then 1h 10 by road. About 31h 05 door to door
The plan picks the best of 2 spots near Scotts Head each day: Scotts Head, Suck Rock.
Rough cost
About £1,540–£2,940 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return MDW to CFS, estimated from distance and season, changing at LAX and BNE, full-service airlines, with a hold bag | £805–£1,670 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Hire car | 6 days, shared | £110–£180 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | £240–£395 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £245–£455 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £105–£175 |
| Total | £1,540–£2,940 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Book the trip
Where to stayAd
Places to stay · Booking.com (ad)Links marked Ad may pay us a small commission if you book. You pay the same price, and it never changes a score.