Top 5 Australian destinations for surfers
Australia has 37,000 kilometers of coastline, more than even avid surfers will know what to do with. You could spend a year in the country and still not discover all the hotspots. Don’t be too surprised when the locals all say their secret location is the best! Presenting a more objective point of view:
The North Coast is where the legend Nat Young calls home. The section from Angourie to Byron Bay in New South Wales is about as famous as it comes, and has the vibe to match. Be careful when coming here, though from the dreadlocks to the drumming, the vibe will make it hard to leave!
A great place for beginners and experts alike is the Noosa in Queensland. Long rides are possible on better days, and smaller swells help to raise confidence levels in beginners. Some old hats might balk at the smaller waves here, but then again not everyone wants to tackle the biggest waves out there. Also near Noosa are some of the world’s longest waves at the Snapper Rocks Super Bank, near Coolangatta. One good wave can take you almost two kilometers!
Get out to the west coast and visit Perth for plenty of action. You’ll find experts surfing the Margaret River, and plenty of folks attempt the huge swells at North Point and The Box. Watch out for the powerful waves coming from Trigg Island west of Perth, or head north towards Ningaloo Reef for some spectacular breaks.
If you enjoy getting off-the-beaten-path, head to Seal Rocks and Pacific Palms in New South Wales. Despite the waves being great, the area is mostly undeveloped. It’s certainly not the last undeveloped area in the country, but it’s one that you’ll be surprised hasn’t been. The beaches are south-facing, and be ready to roll when a southern swell approaches!
For hardcore surfers who enjoy extreme waves, head to Port Lincoln west of Adelaide on the southern coast. This is about as remote as it gets, and you’ll have to watch the water for the much larger animals beneath the surface (one report claims 3 surfers have died here since 2004). There are no major cities around save Adelaide, which is a 9-hour drive away, so make this your destination if you have a few days.
The entire country is a coastline, of course, so grab your board and find your own hotspot. Maybe the locals will ask you how you discovered it one day!