The ocean is at the heart of the Australian way of life; with towns and cities concentrated along its extensive coastline, surf is never too far away. The official introduction of surfing to Australia was on 15 January 1915 at Bells Beach, Victoria by Hawaiian surfer, swimmer and Olympic champion Duke Kahanamoku, who carved a board from a piece of Queensland sugar pine timber to demonstrate this daring new sport to the captivated crowd. Since then, the excellent surfing conditions Australia has to offer has captivated both the locals and the endless stream of visitors alike – whether a complete novice or an award winning professional, nothing can beat riding the perfect wave.

For Beginners
Surfing may seem daunting for beginners, but Australia has beaches to make your first experience as enjoyable as it should be. If you can handle colder temperatures, Mollymook Beach in New South Wales is the perfect combination of friendly waves and smaller crowds, with the added bonus of dolphins and whales to reward your progress. Those seeking a warmer experience in the water will find Lancelin in Perth desirable; sea temperatures often reaches 28˚C and reefs and islands protect the fishing village from turbulent waves. Back Beach in the area offers a 200m ride to the shoreline once you have improved balance on your board. Sitting seven kilometres east of Sydney, popular Bondi Beach is surprisingly welcoming for beginners due to its wide availability of surf schools. Local surfers in the area are used to beginners amongst the crowd and will usually navigate around you, but do remember the surfing etiquette. 

For Experts
The home of surfing, Bells Beach in Victoria hosts annual Rip Curl Pro, the world’s longest-running surfing contest; showcasing some of the world’s best surf along with a music festival held over the Easter weekend (1 April – 12 April 2015). This gives a clue as to the exceptional standard of the surf in this area, varying between two to 12 feet, and means it is a popular surf spot. This should not put you off however, as Bells surfers are said to ride by the rules. Another core spot is the Gold Coast, inclusive of aptly named suburb Surfers Paradise; a hub of entertainment and varied surf. For true experts, 26 kilometres south is world-renowned Snapper Rocks at Rainbow Bay, hosting fortnight-long surfing festival Quicksilver Pro annually in late February (2015 date TBC). Located here is Superbank; promising the longest and most consistent wave in the world. Expect swell of six to eight feet and a ride of almost two kilometres if you can catch a clean wave. 

For Crowd Escapers
If you prefer to surf away from the crowds, Seal Rocks and Pacific Palms in New South Wales are unspoilt and undeveloped areas without a single high rise or nightclub in sight. Lighthouse Beach and Treachery Beach at Seal Rocks offer sizeable waves when a south swell rolls in, with National Park surroundings providing a beautiful landscape. Nearby Boomerang Beach and Bluey’s Beach 22 kilometres north at Pacific Palms is often visited by dolphins to enhance your ride of waves sculpted by enclosing headlands. If you’re looking to escape civilisation, Yuraygir National Park in New South Wales in an oasis of isolated beaches and coastal paths to provide tranquil surfing amongst frequent sightings of kangaroos. Although it may not be an area of phenomenal waves, it is difficult to complain about having pristine white beaches and aqua waters almost all to yourself.  

Share this article: