Australia is nothing short of legendary on the global surf scene with the Pacific roaring in on one side and the bath-warm Indian Ocean caressing the other.
This land Down Under showcases right-hand point breaks, mellow logger waves, and pounding slab barrels that can smash boards in two with a whole load of beach in between. It’s also given the world some of the top pros: Gilmore, Fitzgibbons, and Fanning, to name a few.
Lashing down the fiberglass for a surf road trip here is still the stuff of bucket lists, whether you’re cruising the blustery capes of South Australia, the rainforest-fringed shores of Queensland, or the talcum beaches of Western Australia. All of those and more feature on this curated list of the best places to surf in Australia.
Margaret River, Western Australia
Best for A-list Indian Ocean breaks
J-Bay, Waimea, Trestles – Margaret River is up there with surf’s top-tier destinations. A 70-mile run of craggy coast spills down from lush bushlands and breezy winelands. Western Australia has break after break, each with the potential to provide the ride of your life.
The star of the show is surely the Mainbreak. It is a swell-sucking A-frame reef with rights and lefts that invite playful turns and curvy cutbacks. No surprise then that it’s the home of the annual World Surf League Margaret River Pro event in spring. Right next to that is The Box, a bullet-chamber of a wave that’s fast and quick on a really shallow rock shelf.
If you don’t keep the company of Kelly Slater et al., don’t despair. One of the great joys of Margaret River is cruising the coast road in search of spots that suit. There are beginner waves at Cowaramup Bay and all manner of intermediate wedges for those at Smiths Beach. The downside? Sharks.
Getting to Margaret River: Margaret River is a three-hour drive south from Perth down the Forrest Highway.
Burleigh Heads, Queensland
Best surf spot on the Gold Coast
As the south channel swells roll up and hit the rocks of Burleigh Heads, they get bent into the sandy deposits filtered out of Tallebudgera Creek. The result is a set of about four different wave sections that can – when conditions are just right – connect up to offer 300-meter rides from point to beachfront.
Usually, the crowd is spread along the line with most waiting on The Point, the premier part of Burleigh Heads. That’s a reeling right that produces barrels on almost every ride.
Crowds at Burleigh typically consist of local crews with a few travelers on an East Coast Australia mission. Beginners may want to look elsewhere, but there are more welcoming beach breaks to the north and south: check out Palm Beach and Surfers Paradise.
Getting to Burleigh Heads: Drive south from Gold Coast on Sunshine Boulevard for 15 minutes.
Bells Beach, Victoria
Best for consistent lines
The lines roll into Bells Beach with such order that they could give a British post office a run for its money. This right-hander is fueled by almost constant winter storm systems in the lower latitudes of the Southern Ocean, shaping into peeling rights with a trio of different take-off points.
The Bells Bowl is the elusive bomb considered the best of them. It can soak up 20-foot swells and is where Simon Anderson proved the thruster fin setup to the world back in the early ’80s, changing the face of performance riding forever.
While standing in awe of the location at Bells, there’s no time to gawp. You also have Winkipop, a rifle-like advanced right on the northeast end of the beach, plus flagship stores from the towering Aussie brands that originated here, like Rip Curl and Quiksilver.
Getting to Bells Beach: Drive the Great Ocean Road just out of Torquay; Bells is one of the first beaches you’ll come to.
Lennox Head, New South Wales
Best for right-hand point breaks
On its day, the Lennox Head point break is a right-hander to rival any on the globe. It has been a magnet for serious surfers and pros since the ’60s, as it can handle the biggest southeast swells creeping up from the Southern Ocean. Those swells wrap into the rocks, forming beefy shoulders that transition from hollow to open-face, providing an ideal playground for exhilarating cutbacks and bottom turns.
Occasionally, Lennox Head mellows out enough to attract intermediates. If that’s you, consider positioning further down the line where the entry point is less challenging, and the ride shouldn’t burn the hamstrings as much. Be warned: The entry point to Lennox is famously solid, with slippery rocks that have caused many wipeouts.
Getting to Lennox Head: There are direct flights to the nearby Ballina Byron Gateway Airport from Melbourne and Sydney. Brisbane is just over a two-hour drive up the M1.
Kangaroo Island, South Australia
Best spot for remote bays and beaches requiring a 4X4
Kangaroo Island is renowned for its honey-making bees, sweet white wines, and epic surf. An off-roader is essential to navigate all the spots, which range from multi-level beach peaks at Vivonne Bay (where it’s common to surf alongside dolphins) to the challenging reefs of Hanson Bay (watch out for the rips).
Here, crowds thin significantly on this off-radar isle, separated from the mainland of South Australia. It can get busy in the autumn months when conditions conspire to deliver regular south swell pulses and reliable northerly winds. However, this locale is primarily for surfers keen to escape the hustle and bustle.
Getting to Kangaroo Island: Hop on the ferry at Cape Jervis south of Adelaide.
Byron Bay, New South Wales
Best for “Endless Summer” vibes and cruisy waves
Like many of the world’s surf meccas, Byron Bay has been immortalized by iconic surf culture. With its teal-green waters rolling off pretty rocks into sandy bays lined with gnarled eucalyptus trees, it’s a picturesque setting. Wave-wise, you have several options to choose from. Tallows absorbs a lot of swell and works when elsewhere is flat. Broken Head features a right-hand shoulder for experienced surfers, while The Pass is a cruisy all-level wave always buzzing with activity.
Thousands flock to experience the vibrant atmosphere. It is not just surfers; this town is filled with flower-strewn hippies yearning for the return of the Summer of Love, influencers in eco-friendly beachwear, and businessfolk zooming in Porsches. Although some claim Byron’s golden days have passed, the nearly constant winter swells from April to September still speak volumes.
Getting to Byron Bay: Flights are available to the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport from Sydney and Melbourne. A quick 30-minute car ride will take you to town from the terminals.
Noosa, Queensland
Best for point breaks beneath eucalyptus forests
Noosa’s fickleness is often surprising, given its god-like global reputation. You need either powerful southern swells to curl around the headlands or cyclone storm systems hovering off New Zealand to generate waves. Nevertheless, once conditions align, the five tactically positioned headlands of Noosa Heads create nearly perfect right-hand points. A few of them connect for the best sessions, with Tea Tree Bay at low tide delivering exceptionally fun, playful walls of water.
What Noosa can consistently offer is a laid-back Sunshine Coast vibe and an escape into nature. This area features kauri pines and eucalyptus trees creeping close to the Pacific shoreline, allowing you to surf within the confines of Noosa National Park.
Getting to Noosa: Fly into Sunshine Coast Airport. Public buses provide direct transport to Noosa in just over 30 minutes.
Bondi Beach, New South Wales
Best place to learn to surf
Ask any professional surfer about Bondi, and they might scoff due to the wave conditions. The waves here are often sloppy sandbanks that close out on anything larger than head height. They’re also perpetually busy, with surf school attendees and city slickers attempting to catch their first waves.
However, you don’t come to Bondi for wave quality; it’s about the atmosphere. Fresh-faced backpackers, tattooed bikers, fitness enthusiasts, and family picnickers all converge here, creating an eclectic mix alongside the Pacific. This spot has become legendary in Aussie surf culture despite its wave reputation.
With consistent opportunities for beginner surfers, numerous surf schools operate in this hotspot. Getting to Bondi: Bondi Beach is a suburb of Sydney. To arrive, take the Illawarra line from Central directly to Bondi Junction, which takes approximately 30 minutes.
