Surfriders Home RMIT University
Australian Surfing Spots
Queensland -New South Wales -Victoria -South Australia -Western Australia -Tasmania

Here in Australia, we are truly 'The Lucky Country' when it comes to surfing. We have the largest stretch of coastline of any island in the world, and with a large portion of it surfable it really does make us lucky. Many of the best surfing areas of Australia are accessible by road, but many aren't which makes them even better when you do find them. There's still plenty of secret spots in Australia that only a hand full of people know about, and some great breaks that are still yet unsurfed. Because of the sheer size of Australia and the large stretches of isolated and unpopulated areas, we hope that these untouched beaches will remain in their current pristine condition. I hope that this page will give you a tease of what there is to offer in Australia.

When travelling to remote areas across untouched sand dunes and beaches, remember to try not disturb plant life or animals and please take all you're rubbish back out (no bloody cigarette butts on the ground either!). Because of the isolation and desolate areas some of these spots are in, remember to take enough food, fresh water and petrol to get you in and out safely. A good rule to remember is that if you are on a paved road, then it is likely to see traffic every day or two. If it's a dirt road, you may not see another car for a few days, or even a few weeks. Prepare yourself accordingly.

Surfing is a pastime for you to get back to nature. Grab a mate and sit out the back for a while and soak in the awesome power Mother Nature. Everybody is out there with one common goal... to surf. Whether you're a beginner or a total gun, everybody is at the whim of the sea. Enjoy Australia.

[Ken Strayhorn Jr. / kes@acpub.duke.edu / accurately adds:]

Your friend you must choose carefully. He will become your brah, and over time will mean more than anyone else on this planet. Besides surfing, you will drink copious amounts of beer, smoke pounds of pot, and chase boxcar loads of women together. You will lend each other money when times are tight. You will never ask each other for gas cash. You will inform him when his ass crack is showing over his pants. If he doesn't like the woman you are seeing you will drop her like a hot rock. Conversely, if your new woman thinks your brah is a jerk, that's a sign that she's a bozo and should be avoided.
Boards and wetsuits will be shared. You will hoot for each other on fine days. You will badmouth anyone who drops in on him. People will come to view you as a team. Surf nazis will avoid you because they know that to fight one of you is to fight both of you.

And, years later when you are 40 years old and you and your brah are sitting on a break somewhere listening to the younger guys yacking it up, you will smile and know deep in your soul that there is nothing finer than surfing and the people you do it with.

UNSURFABLE COASTLINE
Green Great Barrier Reef - Outer reefs only
Orange Northern Western Australia - Outer reefs only
Red Nullaboor Plane (either hard to get to or high cliffs)
SURFABLE COASTLINE
Dark Purple Gold Coast/Sunshine Coast
Light Purple New South Wales, Eastern Victoria and Eastern Tasmania
Cyan Western Tasmania, South and Western Victoria, East Half of South Australia and Southern half of Western Australia

QUEENSLAND

The majority of the 7400 KM Queensland coast is blocked of swell by the Great Barrier Reef and other islands. There are some places were small choppy waves may make it to the coast, but the good ol' Box Jellyfish ( yes! it can and does kill ) makes surfing hardly worth the risk. There are waves on the outer reef, but seriously, its out of the scope for the normal traveller without a large boat to camp on. Serious surfing in Queensland begins at Fraser Island, a large sand island with good beach breaks and works Southward. A 4WD vehicle (and permit) is essential to get onto the island and explore the long beaches. Surfing is best in the Summer - Autumn months, but the island does get waves all year round. South from Fraser Island and back on the mainland begins the Sunshine Coast. The sunshine coast has some consistent summer / autumn beach breaks and in the Noosa Heads area some classic point breaks that come alive during cyclone season (Dec-Mar). Winter can bring long flat spells to these areas. Brisbane, Queensland's capital lays on a bay, but surfing on nearby Stradbroke Island's beaches can get good. The area does have a reputation for sharks. Southwards again and stretching to the New South Wales border is the Gold Coast with its famous point breaks like Kirra and Burliegh Heads, like Noosa these are best during the cyclone season.
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NEW SOUTH WALES

The entire NSW coastline is surfable. Southwards from the Queensland border to Byron Bay there are a number of great beach and point breaks. Like Queensland these turn on best in Summer and Autumn. Byron Bay is Australia's most easterly point, the significance of this is that from here south the coast is more open to some winter swells generated in the deep south of the Tasman Sea between Tasmania and New Zealand. The North Coast of NSW is home to some classic point setups such as Lennox and Angourie, but there are many others for anybody willing to search. The beaches are usually good value as well. Moving further south and Coffs Harbour marks the start of the mid north coast. Coffs Harbour itself has lots of beach breaks. The Mid North Coast is similar to the North Coast in geography with beaches and points. Some of the better known areas are Cresent Head and Port Macquarie. Southwards again begins the Central Coast and Hunter. We are now getting far enough south that winter ground swells from the Tasman Sea can start making their presence felt, and surfing is generally good all year round Newcastle is home to Mark Richards and some very good beach breaks as well. The area from Newcastle to Sydney is known as the Central Coast, there is a multitude of beach and reef setups. . I hardly have to tell you about Sydney. Sydney is blessed with scores of surfable points and reefs. Dee Why, Narrabeen, Cronulla, Bondi you have heard the names no doubt and the waves are there, but it does get very crowded at times with locals being on the psychotic side of things at times. Heading south from Sydney begins the south coast, the first section around Wollongong to Shell Harbour is still built up. There are some classic points in the area. Sandon Point, Windang Island and The Boneyard at Kiama will all handle waves well over 12 ft. Further south and the coast gives way to isolated towns and a largely undeveloped coastline. There are still "secret spots" on the south coast. Waves such as Black Rock and Merimbula Bar rival any in the world for quality.
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VICTORIA

See the Victorian Surfing Spots guide here

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SOUTH AUSTRALIA

The first part of the South Australia coast from the border to Kingston SE is very similar to Victoria's southern coast. Lots of limestone reefs with beaches between. But again you will need to explore. This coastline is also right open to the southern ocean. >From Kingston SE the coast swings NW and is mostly a large unbroken beach, surfing potential is limited by access (there are very few places to access the beach and a 4WD is necessary) and size usually decreases the further north you move. This beach ends at Victor Harbour and in this area there are reef and beach breaks, although Kangaroo Island can block swell. Adelaide, South Australia's capital is located on the Gulf of St Vincent, although it can get small choppy waves it isn't really a serious destination. Adelaide's surfers usually head for the tip of Yorke Peninsula, where there are some good reef / point setups. Spencer Gulf separates Yorke Peninsula from Eyre Peninsula. The southern and western coasts of Eyre Peninsula offer a variety of reef, point and beach breaks. Many breaks need a 4WD to get to. There are some closely guarded classic setups along this coast. Many of the waves are quite powerful and are not to be underestimated. West of Ceduna is the famous cactus beach breaks, the well known breaks are only some of several in the area. The country is harsh and 40+ Degree land temperatures can combine with 25+ Degree water temperatures. There is only one type of shark in this area, Great Whites and they are not friendly. The surf ends at the Nullabour Plain, not due to lack of swell, but due to 200 miles of unbroken cliff which stretches to the West Australia border.
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WEST AUSTRALIA

The cliffs of the Great Australia Bight finally give way at Eucla. There is a beach / reef setup just after the border and after crossing the Nullarbor in 100F heat it can sure look tempting. >From here to Esperance via the coast there is little access unless you have a 4WD and are well provisioned for the desert and isolation. For normal travellers you will have to leave the coast behind for the next 300 miles until Esperance. The coast between Eucla and Esperance is open to swell, but it is wild, there are no roads, towns or water. Esperance is located on the southern coast on West Australia, there is lots of potential. The ocean in the Esperance area is full of hundreds islands and reefs, you will notice bombies breaking white water right out on the horizon. I can't help think what setups may be hiding on those islands, a cold water Pipeline or Nias perhaps ? West from Esperance the coast gets greener but access to the surf is still limited to isolated small towns, each with its own breaks. There has to be miles of untapped waves here. Albany is located near the SW corner of West Australia and is open to everything the southern ocean can throw at it, some of the largest waves to ever hit the Australian continent probably do so in this area. From Albany the coast turns to the north and the famous Margaret River area, a small day here is 5ft. From Margaret River towards Perth the swell is somewhat blocked by offshore reefs and Rottnest Island. Rottnest Island itself is a popular spot with the Perth locals and is often 2-3ft larger then Perth's beaches . Perth itself is largely small mushy beach breaks. North from Perth the coast again becomes rather wild and unsettled. Waves are to found anywhere you can get to the coast. Geraldton and Kalbarri are two areas that have excellent waves and weather. The coast from Kalbarri to North West Cape has waves made famous in surf movies, it is wild harsh coast and a 4WD is a must. Local knowledge is also a must. The same swells that hit Bali also strike this coast. From North West Cape northwards surf potential disappears as the coast swings north east away from swell generating systems and offshore barrier reefs start.
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TASMANIA

This often overlooked surf destination does actually get good waves. On the west coast your problem will be firstly getting a day small enough, then getting one that isn't onshore. In late summer / early autumn offshore days can occur in combination with moderate swells. Only the top one third of the west coast is accessible, even then only at certain locations. The south west is totally wild and remote, no doubt there is waves and perhaps some classic reefs, but they will probably remained unsurfed for many years yet. The Northern coast of Tasmania is somewhat protected and lengthy flat spells, especially in summer can occur, however Bass Strait can be one of the roughest stretches of water around and waves large enough to surf are often generated within the strait itself. The east coast is again open to the ocean, the Tasman Sea, it does get good waves especially after winter lows pass into the Tasman Sea. Moving further south to the Hobart area and waves are found in the Port Arthur area. Hobart itself is located on a large bay, but swells do sometimes work right up into it.
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