Comprehensive Surfing Guide to the East Coast of Australia
Key facts for surfing the East Coast of Australia
| Best time to go | Smaller waves (Nov-March) Bigger waves (April-Oct) |
| Skill level | All levels |
| Wave height | 2 to 8 feet |
| Budget | Very high |
| Crowd | Very high |
Summary
From Sydney to Agnes Water, the east coast of Australia is loaded with surf spots for those looking for a typical Australian surf trip.
The east coast of Australia is one of the most popular backpackers’ and “vanlifers” destination in the world making it a very convenient place to visit. Meeting people will never be as easy as it is in Australia and many tours and activities are possible throughout the coast.
Having so many things to see and do comes with a downside though…Most breaks will be much more crowded than what you can find in Tasmania or in Western Australia. However, this should still not be a reason to avoid this region at all.
Agnes Water is pretty much the most northerly wave with a surfing potential on the east coast because beyond that, the Great Barrier Reef prevents swells from hitting the mainland. Down south, Sydney is home of many popular spots as well. In between, a countless amount of world-renowned surf spots like Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Byron Bay and Yamba.
When to go
The best time to surf the east coast of Australia is from April to October for more consistent surf and smaller crowds. However, even during the summer months, surfing conditions are still very enjoyable and temperatures, both on land and in the water, become much warmer.
Best surf towns on Australia’s east coast
Byron Bay
Byron Bay is that little trendy surf town everyone dreams about when they think of Australia. For the last decade, it has been a backpackers hotspot and the town has been growing at a mind blowing pace over that period.
Beautiful beaches, clear water, dolphins, whales and consistent surf are all waiting for you in Byron. As the most easterly point of Australia, the surf in Byron Bay works with different wind directions due to its head point that shelters the bay. If it is cross/onshore in the bay, it should be cross/off at Tallows, just around the corner. Rarely will there be a day without surf at any of the surrounding beaches…
The most popular surf spot in Byron Bay is The Pass, a long and consistent point break that works best for long boarders. Tallow Beach, on the other side of the head point, is a punchy beach break that will be suitable for more experienced surfers.
Manly beach
Out of all the Sydney beaches, Manly is the most popular one for surfing, hosting a major WQS event every year. It represents a great place to learn how to surf with multiple schools in the area and waves than never really become too massive, except on a few winter days or on cyclone swells.
Yamba
Yamba is a small town located just an hour south of Byron Bay and home to a world-class point break called Angourie. There are also different waves for all skill levels which makes Yamba a nice place to get away from the crowds and enjoy the Australian lifestyle.
Gold Coast
Along with the Sydney beaches, Gold Coast is the most popular surfing destination on the east coast of Australia. Coolangatta is at the very bottom of the Gold Coast region, right next to the New South Wales border, and this is where the best surf is located. Snapper Rocks, Kirra, Rainbow Bay and D-Bah are all top quality breaks that tend to be very crowded even on average swell days.
Sunshine Coast
Further up the east coast lies Noosa, a very nice surf town that is part of the Sunshine coast. Noosa has a main beach break as well as a nice point break called Noosa Heads.
This surf town is purely magical, representing the perfection of Australia’s tropical climate.
Getting there
There are 4 major international airports. Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns or Gold Coast. For a more convenient and complete road trip, aim to land in Sydney or Cairns as they are located at both ends of the coast. If you want to go anywhere in the middle and stay there, Gold Coast and Brisbane are probably better options.
The transportation system is very solid on the east coast with Greyhound buses going all the way from north to south and vice versa. You can either purchase a single ticket from point A to point B or buy one of those “hop-on, hop-off” pass that gives you more freedom.
Safety/Things to know
Look out for sharks and respect the locals. The surf can get very crowded especially in the summer months. If you are looking for a surf trip away from the crowd, have a look at the Australian west coast