COASTAL WEATHER OUTLOOK for Qld — April 3rd, 4th, 5th

Smart Timing Unlocks the Best Weather of the Weekend

April 3rd, 4th, 5th 2026 — Recorded 12pm. Issued 4:15pm, April 2nd.

By Josh Toohey, Coastwatch

The Easter long weekend is shaping up as a classic early‑autumn weekend across the southeast Queensland coast and northeastern New South Wales. While it may not be perfectly calm, there will be plenty of sheltered opportunities to get out on the water, chase some seafood, and even enjoy a solid dose of surf.

Here’s how the weather is tracking — plus expert local tips from Dave Mcdonald to help you make the most of the conditions for your boating, fishing, surfing, and swimming this weekend.

Tide Outlook

Tides will play an important role in planning boating, fishing, and coastal activities across the southeast Queensland waters this Easter long weekend.

On the Gold Coast, the first low tide occurs in the early morning hours, around 3–4am, followed by a mid‑ to late‑morning high tide at approximately 10am. A second low tide is expected ikn the mid‑afternoon, again around 3–4pm, before the final high tide brings water levels up later in the evening, between 9–10pm.

We encourage you to check location‑specific tide charts, as timing will vary slightly along the Queensland and northern New South Wales coastlines. For the most accurate tide and marine forecasts, refer to our Tide and Moon pages for your local area.

Friday: Breezy but Manageable in Sheltered Spots

Friday kicks off the long weekend with a typical southeasterly flow, common for this time of year. Winds are expected to sit around 15–20 knots, occasionally reaching 25 knots with gusts near 30 knots, particularly offshore and along exposed headlands.

A few showers may move through during the day, with heavier, localized bursts possible along traditionally wetter areas such as the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast. Despite this, rainfall is expected to remain limited overall, with no thunderstorms forecast.

Best approach on Friday:

• Stick closer to the coastline, rivers, canals, and sheltered bays
• Offshore waters may be choppy and uncomfortable
• Ideal for protected estuaries, inland waterways, and canal fishing

Saturday: Improving Conditions Between Showers

Saturday continues the southerly to southeasterly wind pattern, though atmospheric instability begins to ease compared to Friday. Winds remain moderate, keeping exposed offshore areas somewhat rough, while coastal and sheltered locations become increasingly fishable and boat‑friendly.

Showers may still pass through at times, but longer fine breaks are expected. Water temperatures remain warm, and daytime temperatures will feel comfortable — making it a good day to balance fishing, boating, and time on the water.

Saturday highlights:

• Winds still noticeable but more manageable
• Great conditions in rivers, bays, canals, and behind headlands
• Surf conditions begin improving as swell energy builds

Sunday: Clearing Trend and a Lift in Swell

Sunday marks a turning point in the weather pattern. As a surface trough approaches, winds gradually ease and conditions start to smooth out. Expect a clearing trend, with fewer showers and more stable weather overall.

While winds may still sit in the 15–20 knot range early, they continue to weaken through the day. This coincides with a notable increase in swell, driven by multiple low‑pressure systems in the Tasman Sea.

Offshore swell heights may approach 2 metres — well above the typical 1–1.5 metres often seen at this time of year.

Sunday snapshot:

• Fewer showers and improving visibility
• Choppy offshore early, settling later
• Strong swell for open beaches and points, especially on the Gold Coast and northern NSW

Monday: Calmest Conditions of the Long Weekend

By this point, an advancing surface trough will have moved through the region, bringing a noticeable easing in winds and more settled conditions.

Winds are expected to drop back to around 15 knots or less, shifting from a southerly direction early to a more southwesterly influence by morning. This change will help significantly reduce wind impact along the coastline, creating smoother and calmer marine conditions, particularly for near‑shore waters and protected locations. 

These conditions will be especially favourable around:

• Moreton Bay
• Mud islands between Brisbane and the Gold Coast
• Hervey Bay and the wider Wide Bay region
• The western side of the Fraser Coast

Rainfall is expected to remain minimal, with no thunderstorms forecast, making Monday the most reliable day for boating, fishing, swimming, and water‑based activities. Combined with warm sea temperatures, conditions will be well suited for spending extended time on the water to round out the long weekend.

Where & How to Make the Most of It

Fishing & Boating

Dave McDonald’s the key theme for the weekend is using shelter wisely.

• Run-in tide & top of the tide:
  Focus on rivers, sheltered corners, and upstream locations
• Runoff tide:
  Banks and exposed areas may offer some protection from the wind
• Prime targets:
  Whiting, sand crabs, prawns, trevally, bream, and the odd mangrove jack

Popular fishing and crabbing areas mentioned include:

• Runaway Bay & the Gold Coast Seaway
• Jacobs Well and Cabbage Tree Point
• Rivers, canals, and mud islands between Brisbane and the Gold Coast
• Sheltered waters around Moreton Bay

Surf Conditions

With southeasterly winds, point breaks will be the pick:

• Snapper Rocks
• Greenmount
• Burleigh Heads

By Monday morning, as winds tend more southerly to southwesterly, open beaches may also light up — with good-sized waves and improving conditions on the run‑in tide. Just watch for early‑morning rips with increased water movement.

Water & Swimming

Sea temperatures remain warm and borderline tropical, thanks to the East Australian Current:

• Around 25°C in Moreton Bay
• Warmer further north through Hervey Bay, Wide Bay, and the Fraser Coast

Despite a few cooler nights recently, conditions are excellent for swimming, surfing, and general water activities.

Bottom Line

While the Easter long weekend won’t be perfectly calm from start to finish, there are plenty of good pockets for boating, fishing, surfing, and swimming if you plan around the wind and tides. Stick to sheltered areas early, watch the swell build later in the weekend, and take advantage of the improving conditions by Sunday and beyond.

Have a safe, fun, and seafood‑filled Easter on the southeast Queensland and northeastern New South Wales coastlines.

Stay safe and weather‑aware at all times. Keep informed and updated with the latest forecasts and coastal observations for your local areas. More weather information is available over on our weather pages.

Don’t destroy what you came to enjoy!

BEACH SIGNS