Surf Spots in New South Wales
New South Wales’ 2137km coastline is home to some of Australia’s best waves. The NSW coastline, which stretches from Point Danger to the Murray River at the southern end of the state, is prone to southerly winds for most of the time. Southern Ocean storms that form under Tasmania and move westward create a swell for surfers as it makes its way to the Tasman Sea. Tasman Sea storms will send east swell energy to waiting point breaks, hidden big wave spots, and change-ya -undies slabs. There is something here for everyone, from Byron to Sydney and the South Coast.
Duranbah Beach
It is often mistaken for the Gold Coast but is the northernmost part of NSW. It is located just 500m away, as the galah fly, from the famous Snapper Rocks, right on the border of NSW and Queensland. The beach is only 300m in length, and it’s bordered by a breakwall which guides the Tweed river out to sea. But what it lacks for size, it makes up in sheer power. The rivermouth shoal concentrates the wave energy into the beach, causing some grunty waves up and down. Gold Coast children rip the paddling pool to shreds. Even if it gets busy, and can handle some size waves, catching one of these dredging waves will cause the hairs on your back to stand up.
The Pass Byron Bay
The Pass is a Byron Bay attraction that few can resist. The Pass is a gentle right-hand point with a sand bottom that attracts all types of surfers, from bikini women to ripped musos, to beginners. The line-up is eclectic, but there’s a laidback hipster vibe that permeates it. Occasionally, you’ll see a snarling surfer who believes they are the next Matt Wilkinson and Kyuss King – both of whom hail from Byron Bay and are pro surfers. The Pass is what it should be – a place to have fun for everyone, young and old. Ride what you brought and smile while doing it. The ultimate badge of honor is catching a sunrise wave.
No guide on NSW surfing would be complete without Byron Bay. This once poster boy for Oz surfing has gone too far. Former loyalists now laugh at the celebrity status of their modest hippy town near QLD’s border, and long for the days where rusting VW Beetles ruled the coast roads, rather than Porsches. It’s still a great place for surfers of all levels. There are excellent surf schools, and the breaks work consistently.
Lennox Head
Lennox Point is a beautiful point break located between Byron Bay & Ballina. This world-class, right hand point break belongs to Australia’s National Surfing Reserves. This is a challenging wave that’s best suited for experienced surfers. It’s always rewarding. You can see it from the Pat Morton Lookout at the top of the headland on big days. Check out Flat Rock, Boulder Beach, and Lennox Beach for great waves when the conditions are right. Climb nearby Mt Warning if it’s flat for a great view. This is the volcano which brought Lennox Head to us many years ago.
Lennox Head is the only point break that can compete with the Southern Hemisphere’s SE winds and groundswells. These are words that will leave anyone in the Western Cape, or even J-Bay, speechless. Come and see this epic right for yourself. It’s one of the best spots in South Africa. Skennars and Boulders are other nearby beaches that also have gritty rights, slabby A frames, etc.
Angourie
Angourie remained a secret until Manly hosted World Titles 1964, and the word spread about a fabled point break on the right near Yamba. It was that simple. Angourie was soon opened wide by a couple of pro surfers who were inspired by this vision and had cameramen with them. In 2007, it became NSW’s National Surfing Reserve. Four-time World Surfing Champ Mark Richards called the point break “”…the most beautiful right hand pointbreak in Australia, and one of the finest in the world”. The coastline, which is protected from overdevelopment, still has some of the charm that the professionals would have found in 1964.
Cabarita
Cabarita’s rugged head channels SE swells to create long, pulsing shoulder of water. They seem to form and then reform as you ride. This is a wave for intermediates and experts that encourages top-to-bottom turns, ripping, and hotdogging between 4-9 feet. It’s an absolute beast if you go beyond that. Other beaches are nearby, but the above-mentioned point is why it’s first in the NSW surf reserve (and not the last! ).
Arrawarra
Arrawarra has a longboard pointbreak with some serious length. The town sits on a rivermouth with a view of one of the best beaches along the NSW coast. The Spot X Surf Camp is a big reason why this spot is so good for beginners. We like to include this secret in roadies along the Pacific Highway.
Crescent Head
Crescent Head is one of the more remote Australian Surfing Reserves, located north of Sydney. This is a unique spot, with its own right-hand break. This is a powerful wave that comes off the cobble-reef and has long, tapering shoulders. Shortboarders rip it every morning and night. The south beaches are long, open and full of peaks. They’re perfect for road-trippers who want to get away from the crowds.
Port Macquarie
Port Macquarie is a hub of five to six beaches. Some look due NE towards the Tasman sea. Some look SE at the bottom of the Pacific. The swell chart is not important here because there will always be action between the north and south. Highlights include the crumbly rollers of Flynn’s which are great for beginners, and The Middle, a left wall that is punchy with hollow sections, on the main beach.
Newcastle
All year round, Newcastle is a dependable place to find surf comps at all levels. Traveling Australians have a bad reputation for the town. They seem to berate it endlessly. You can’t criticize the places too much. Straya has benefited from the legendary Nobbys beach. This is a high-performance wave with great sections. Merewether Beach is a Surfing Reserve that has right-handers with punchy barrels.
Sydney
Sydney is the best surfing city in Australia, and possibly the world. (Sorry Cape Town). Both sides of the main entrance to the harbor are lined with breaks. In the south you’ll find a few of Australia’s most revered spots, like Bondi and Bronte (Australian equivalent to Zuma). In the north you can find the wide, arcing beaches of Manly with epic point breaks. We haven’t even mentioned the Northern Beaches. There’s bad localism but great surf all year round.
Bondi
Even your parents will likely know about Bondi when it comes to surfing in Australia. It is the most popular beach in Sydney, and NSW, and is crowded all year round. The surf is not the best on the east coast. It’s difficult to find anything negative about the beach. The people are friendly and the vibes are great. The A-frames, which work well on a tide pushing them along, are not to be overlooked by intermediate riders. It’s all good.
Maroubra
Maroubra is the best place to surf in South Sydney. The bay can be hammered by right barrels that are big and slappy on winter SE swells, but also showcases nice, cruising lefts. The scene is always busy, and it has its own local crew. However, the scene can be great for all levels and is suited to any level depending on the weather.
Cronulla
Cronulla is about 30 minutes south of Sydney CBD. The large, wide bay is a great place to soak up the swell. It breaks down into four or five distinct sections. Voodoo, the slab barrel that is perfect for death-wishers and works in the winter, has a gnarly slab. Further into the middle of beach, reef patches give birth to Greenhills and The Alley. Both are nice, shifting peaks that have rights and lefts. It’s good for all levels, and is quieter than city center.
Killalea
Killalea, in southern NSW, is the most popular beach. It’s a gorgeous 700-meter beach that lies south of Shellharbor, on the southern side Bass Point Reserve. The beach has a right hander point of sheer quality with a number of peaky breaks that work well on SE swells. You can go to Mystics for a more protected beach when the swell is big. There’s always a crowd. You never know if the people will be friendly.
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