Summary

Byron Bay is a backpacker’s favorite and represents your typical Australian surf town everyone dreams about. Byron Bay literally ticks all the boxes when it comes to what people are looking for in a surfing destination. It has stunning beaches, great surf spots, a good nightlife and an amazing surfing culture.

From drum circles to farmers markets, people love exploring Byron Bay and immerse themselves in the rich culture that lives over here. Byron Bay is very laidback, with a strong indie music culture and hippie vibes.

The surf in Byron Bay is very consistent and versatile. There are surf spots to suit any type of surfers on any given day. Rarely will you have a few days in a row without any opportunity to get in the water.

When conditions are not right, there are still so many things to do in Byron Bay, like hiking up to the lighthouse, enjoying a coffee in the heart of town or simply soaking the sun on the beach.

When to go

The best time to surf Byron Bay, Australia depends on the surfing conditions you are looking for. The summer months, from December to February will offer amazing weather and small waves, perfect for beginners and long boarders.

From April to October, conditions ramp up a bit and waves will be bigger and more consistent. No matter what the conditions are like, there will be a way to find waves for your skill level in Byron Bay.

Best Surf Hotels/Hostels in Byron Bay

On a budget, there are many good hostels in Byron Bay such as the Byron Bay YHA. If you want some more luxury, there are also great higher-end options such as Waves Byron Bay and Beach Suites.

Surf spots in Byron Bay

Byron Bay has several surf spots that can suit surfers of all levels. The Pass is a long and mellow wave, perfect for long boarders while Tallow Beach is a punchy beach break with direct exposure to easterly swells.

The Pass

The most popular surf spot in Byron Bay. This long and mellow right-hand point is every long boarder’s dream…Works almost everyday. Expect crowds to be pretty heavy here especially in summer. The point is very long and breaks for a few hundred meters which helps spreading surfers out.

• Wave direction : Right
• Bottom : Sand
• Best tide : Any
• Skill level : Any
• Optimal swell direction : E
• Optimal wind direction : W

The Wreck

Right in front of the Main Beach parking lot, this wave breaks next to an actual shipwreck. It is usually a short, punchy ride that works on any tide.

• Wave direction : Left and right
• Bottom : Sand
• Best tide : Any
• Skill level : Intermediate and advanced
• Optimal swell direction : W
• Optimal wind direction : E

Tallow Beach

Located on the other side of the Lighthouse, Tallow Beach will work even with a northerly wind, being sheltered by the head point. It is a much more powerful break that what can be found in the bay. Locals also like to say that Tallow does get more sharky than the bay.

• Wave direction : Left and right
• Bottom : Sand
• Best tide : Any
• Skill level : Intermediate and Advanced
• Optimal swell direction : W
• Optimal wind direction : E

Broken Head

A short 10 minute drive out of town, is Broken Head, another nice point break that will be way less crowded than The Pass as well as being more powerful. It is a very nice option to escape the crowds for a bit.

• Wave direction : Right
• Bottom : Sand
• Best tide : Mid
• Skill level : Any
• Optimal swell direction : W
• Optimal wind direction : E

Wategos

Right next to the lighthouse, Wategos is a gorgeous and picturesque beach that has a great right-hand wave on any easterly swell. Like The Pass, this wave tends to be pretty mellow and very enjoyable on a long board.

• Wave direction : Right
• Bottom : Sand and rocks
• Best tide : Mid to high
• Skill level : Intermediate and Advanced
• Optimal swell direction : W
• Optimal wind direction : E

Getting there

The nearest major airport to Byron Bay is located on the Gold Coast, about an hour drive away. Brisbane is a 3-hour drive away, while Sydney is about 12 hours south. There is also a smaller local airport in Ballina, about half an hour away from Byron Bay.

Safety/things to know

• Byron Bay is a very safe surfing destination. Sharks are present, like pretty much anywhere in Australia but they are not much of an issue with regular aerial patrol.
• Summer can get very crowded both in the water and around town.
  
   
  
   

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Key facts for surfing the East Coast of Australia

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

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