Australia surfs as deep as anywhere on Earth. This is a country where the sport is stitched into the national character, from the perfect right-hand points of the warm east coast to the raw, cold power of the Southern Ocean in the south and west. There’s a wave for every level and a coast for every mood: mellow longboard points, sand-bottom barrels, heavy slabs and empty desert lefts. The catch is the scale (it can be a 20-hour drive between regions) and the price. Here’s the whole continent, state by state, plus when to go and where to stay. It sits high on our guide to the world’s best places to surf.
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Quick surf guide to Australia
- Best season: autumn to winter (March to October) for cleaner swell across most coasts
- Best for beginners: Noosa, Duranbah, Byron (The Pass), Manly and Bondi
- Best for advanced: Kirra, Lennox Head, Bells and Winkipop, Margaret River
- Water temp: 16 to 26°C, so boardshorts up in Queensland to a 4/3 in Victoria
- Gateways: Gold Coast (OOL), Sydney (SYD), Ballina/Byron (BNK), Melbourne (MEL), Perth (PER)
- Budget: $90 to $160 a day, it isn’t cheap
Where to surf in Australia
Surf happens in every state bar the Northern Territory, so we’ve broken it down by region. Tap a marker to preview a spot, then click its name to jump straight to it below.
Queensland: the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast
Queensland’s south east corner, where the Gold Coast meets the NSW border, is arguably the best right-hand point country on the planet. Add the longboard points of Noosa up the Sunshine Coast and you have Australia’s most-loved, and most-crowded, surf.
Snapper Rocks (the Superbank)
The jewel of the Gold Coast. When a cyclone swell lines up the Superbank, a single wave can run from Snapper Rocks all the way to Kirra, one of the longest rides on Earth. It’s a sand-bottom point, so less frightening than reef, but the crowds are ferocious and the standard is high. Absolute magic when it’s on. See my full guide to surfing Snapper Rocks and the Superbank.
Kirra
On its day, Kirra is one of the best barrels anywhere: a fast, sand-bottom right that throws a long, almond tube down the point. It needs the right cyclone swell and the right sand, so it doesn’t break perfectly often, but when it does the whole coast turns out. Pure Gold Coast gold.
Burleigh Heads
A punchy, hollow right that wraps around the Burleigh headland below a national park, quicker and heavier than Snapper. It handles size and gets seriously good, with a committed local crew. One of the classic Gold Coast points, and a lovely spot to watch even on a flat day.
Duranbah
D-Bah sits right on the state border by the Tweed River mouth and picks up more swell than the sheltered points, offering punchy peaks that break both ways for shortboarders and improvers. It’s the go-to when the points are flat, and a good place to find a wave of your own on the Goldie.
Noosa
A string of dreamy right-hand points (First Point, Tea Tree, Granite Bay) wrapping around a national park headland, breaking slow and glassy over sand and rock. It’s longboarding heaven and a beginner-friendly icon, though it’s fickle: it needs a summer NE swell to really switch on. Watch for the walk-in crowds when it does. See my full guide to surfing in Noosa.
New South Wales
The birthplace of Australian surfing, from hippie Byron in the north to the beaches of Sydney and a run of world-class points in between. Consistent year-round, and best in autumn and winter.
Byron Bay
Australia’s easternmost town, where The Pass peels a long, gentle right around the headland for one of the most enjoyable, and crowded, waves in the country. Wategos and the beach breaks add variety, from beginner rollers to the punchier Tallow. The surf matches the laid-back, upscale-hippie town perfectly.
Lennox Head
Just down the coast from Byron, Lennox is a serious, world-class right point that grinds for hundreds of metres over a boulder reef when the SE swell is up. Long, fast and powerful, it’s a real step up from The Pass and a favourite of the region’s better surfers. An Australian Surfing Reserve for good reason.
Crescent Head
A classic, mellow right-hand point that tapers into long, forgiving walls, one of the best longboard and improver waves on the mid-north coast. It’s a relaxed, uncrowded Surfing Reserve away from the big towns, ideal for a road-trip stop and a session or ten.
Manly
The heart of Sydney’s Northern Beaches and a host for pro comps, Manly is a long stretch of consistent beach break a short, scenic ferry from the city. There’s a peak for every level, plenty of surf schools, and a buzzing beach town behind it. The easiest world-city surf you’ll find.
Bondi
Australia’s most famous beach isn’t its best wave, but it’s a rite of passage: consistent, accessible peaks with surf schools at the north end and punchier banks (plus the odd reef) to the south. The vibe, the people and the setting are hard to beat, even if the crowds are relentless. See my full break-by-break guide to surfing in Bondi and the rest of Sydney’s Eastern Beaches.
Victoria and the Great Ocean Road
Cold, powerful and steeped in history, Victoria’s Surf Coast west of Melbourne is where Australian surf culture grew up, fed year-round by raw Southern Ocean swell. Pack a wetsuit.
Bells Beach
The most famous wave in Australia and home of the world’s longest-running pro contest, the Rip Curl Pro. Bells is a big, powerful right that walls up along a reef below dramatic clifftops, coming alive on the solid SW groundswells of autumn and winter. It’s more about power and history than barrels, and a genuine pilgrimage. See my full guide to surfing Bells Beach, Winkipop and the Surf Coast.
Winkipop
Bells’ faster, hollower next-door neighbour, Winki reels down the reef in long, racy walls that many rate above Bells itself. It handles size and rewards a strong frontside attack. When the Surf Coast lights up in winter, this is where the best surfers paddle out.
Phillip Island
Melbourne’s weekend surf escape, with Cape Woolamai for experienced surfers and the sheltered Smiths Beach for learners and families. It’s exposed, powerful and cold, but the variety and the wildlife (penguins, seals) make it a Victorian favourite. Rubber on, of course.
South Australia
A vast, wild, shark-conscious coast that hoovers up Southern Ocean swell and hides some of the emptiest quality waves in the country. Bring a car, and your nerve.
Cactus Beach
A remote, near-mythical cluster of breaks at the edge of the Nullarbor, where hard, grinding lefts (Caves, Castles) peel off a desert headland. It’s a long drive to nowhere, with basic camping, powerful waves and a healthy population of great whites, but for many Aussie surfers it’s the ultimate frontier trip.
Western Australia
Australia’s enormous west coast faces straight into the Indian and Southern Ocean swell, headlined by the powerful reefs of Margaret River and a run of remote points further north.
Margaret River
WA’s heavyweight, where Surfers Point (Main Break) hosts the Margaret River Pro on a thick, powerful reef, backed by dozens of breaks along a stunning wine-country coast. There are gentler beachies for improvers, but the marquee waves here are big, cold and serious. A world-class region.
The Box
A square, dredging barrel that breaks over shallow reef just along from Main Break, one of the heaviest waves in the region. Short, sharp and unforgiving, it’s photographer’s gold and expert-only territory. Sit and watch it for a while before you even think about paddling out.
Yallingup
A scenic, more forgiving alternative to Margaret River proper, with a reef break, a lagoon for learners and a beautiful stretch of Cape Naturaliste coast. It gets busy and it’s still powerful WA surf, but there’s more room for improvers here than at the Margarets heavies.
Gnaraloo
Tombstones, at remote Gnaraloo station on the central WA coast, is a long, powerful left that reels down a reef in the middle of nowhere. It’s a wild, self-sufficient camping mission (bring everything), rewarded with quality waves, warmer water than the south, and virtually no one out.
Tasmania
Cold, remote and heavy, Tasmania is Australia’s frontier, home to some of the gnarliest waves in the country for those willing to freeze for them.
Shipstern Bluff
One of the world’s most infamous waves: a thick, mutating slab with a step in the face that breaks over shallow reef beneath towering cliffs. It’s cold, remote (a boat ride or a two-hour hike) and genuinely dangerous, strictly the domain of big-wave and slab specialists. A spectacle more than a surf for almost everyone. See my full guide to Shipstern Bluff.
When to surf in Australia
Shoulder (spring)
Summer (smaller, cyclone swells up north)
Autumn to winter (roughly March to October) is Australia’s best all-round window. On the east coast, the wind slackens and clean SE swells fire the points of the Gold Coast, Byron and NSW, while the Southern Ocean pumps consistent groundswell into Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia. If you can only go once, aim for autumn.
Summer (December to February) is smaller and hotter on the east, though a well-placed tropical cyclone can light up Queensland and Noosa with the swell of the season. Water temperature swings hugely by region: think boardshorts or a springsuit in Queensland, and a 3/2 or 4/3 plus booties in Victoria, Tasmania and southern WA.
What are the best surf camps in Australia?
Australia’s surf-camp scene is concentrated on the beginner-friendly east coast, especially the classic NSW stretch around Byron Bay, Arrawarra and the mid-north coast, where camps pair coaching with the country’s easiest points and beach breaks. Elsewhere, most travellers self-drive: the east coast in particular is one of the world’s great surf road trips, with hire cars, campervans and endless beaches between the marquee spots.
Compare surf camps in Australia on BookSurfCamps
What to pack for Australia
Your Australia packing checklist. Rubber depends on your coast: boardshorts or a springsuit up in Queensland, a 3/2 or 4/3 (plus booties) down south.
- A wetsuit matched to your coast: a springsuit up north, a 3/2 or 4/3 and booties down south
- A surf hat for long sessions in the strong Australian sun
- Reef-safe SPF and a good rashie (the sun here is no joke)
- A surf watch to track the tides and your sessions
- The right board: see our best beginner surfboards and check your board volume
- A set of fins to suit the punchy Aussie surf, plus a spare
- A leash you trust: see our surf leash guide
- Your best outfit from your favourite surf brand: see our best surf clothing brands
- A travel board bag that can survive the long domestic legs
Getting to Australia
Australia has major international airports in Sydney (SYD), Melbourne (MEL), Brisbane (BNE) and Perth (PER), with direct flights from Asia, the US west coast and the Middle East, and one or two stops from Europe. For the classic east-coast surf run, fly into the Gold Coast (OOL) or Ballina Byron (BNK) to land right by the points. Distances between regions are enormous, so most surfers pick one coast and road-trip it rather than trying to cross the country. Chasing warmer water instead? See our guide to surfing in Indonesia, a favourite stopover on the way Down Under.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to surf in Australia?
Autumn to winter, roughly March to October, is the prime all-round window: the east coast gets clean SE swells and lighter winds, while the Southern Ocean fires Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. Summer (December to February) is smaller on the east, unless a tropical cyclone sends swell into Queensland and Noosa.
Is Australia good for beginners?
Yes. Noosa and Duranbah in Queensland, The Pass and the beach breaks around Byron, and Manly and Bondi in Sydney are all forgiving and well served by surf schools. Smiths Beach on Phillip Island is a good Victorian option. Steer well clear of the heavy reefs and slabs (The Box, Shipstern Bluff, Cactus) until you’re experienced.
Where should I go for my first surf trip to Australia?
The Gold Coast and Byron Bay are the classic first-timer run: warm-ish water, world-class sand-bottom points, loads of surf schools and easy logistics via the Gold Coast or Ballina Byron airports. Add a Sydney stop if you want the city-and-surf combo.
Do I need a wetsuit in Australia?
It depends where. Queensland is boardshorts or a springsuit most of the year, NSW a springsuit to a 3/2, and Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and southern WA want a 3/2 or 4/3 and often booties. Pack for the coast you’re visiting rather than the country as a whole.
What about sharks?
Australia has sharks, and it’s part of surfing here, but incidents are rare relative to the millions of surfers in the water. Surf patrolled or populated beaches if you’re nervous, avoid dawn and dusk near river mouths, and follow any local advice. The vast majority of trips pass without a second thought.
Gold Coast or Margaret River?
The Gold Coast for warm water, easy access and world-class sand-bottom right points; Margaret River for powerful, cold, world-class reef and wine country, with far fewer crowds. The east coast is friendlier for a first trip, while the west rewards experienced surfers who don’t mind rubber.
Few countries surf as deep as Australia: perfect points on the warm east coast, raw power in the cold south and west, a wave for every level, and a surf culture that runs right through the national character. Pick your coast, pack the right rubber, and go in autumn if you can. See you in the line-up.
