Australia’s 12 Best Surf Breaks Revealed

Looking for a new summer holiday destination to get your surf fix? These 12 surf breaks have you covered.

Some of the best surf breaks in the world are right here in Australia. In fact, there are some Australian towns that may not have been established were it not for the presence of barrelling waves and the surfers who travel far and wide to find a magical break. Here’s our guide on the top 12 best surf breaks around Australia, be it in a thick neoprene wettie, or boardies and bikinis.

Qld

1. Noosa, Queensland

No guide to Australia’s best surf breaks is complete without including Noosa, which became the 10th World Surf Reserve in 2020.

There she is, made up in green eye shadow, giving surfers the ‘come hither’ with her voluptuous curves that wrap around five kilometres of coastline from the mouth of the Noosa River to North Sunshine Beach.

All up, Noosa offers five world-class point breaks and three consistent beach breaks that everyone from learners to champions are comfortable with.

Sit by the sea and spectate or sign up to compete in The Noosa Festival of Surfing which scores extra points for offsetting more than 100 per cent of the carbon emissions produced as a result of the 10-day event held annually in March.

Two surfers paddling out to surf at Noosa Heads — Noosa offers five world-class point breaks and three consistent beach breaks. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

2. Agnes Water

Agnes Water is not on most surfers’ radars, which makes it appealing for beginners and those who want to surf waves that are rarely crowded. It’s probably most well known for being the most northerly beach on the East Coast of Australia to attract swell served up by the Tasman Sea.

The best season to surf at the exposed point break in Agnes Water is summer and autumn when the wind direction is from the southwest. Forgo the wetsuit as the warm water makes surfing in boardies and bikinis doable.

Like the waves in Agnes Water, the pace of the place is slow, which means you can simply enjoy taking in Kellys Beach and Rules Beach along this stunning stretch of coastline, located on the southernmost point of the Great Barrier Reef.

Surfers waiting for a surf break at Agnes Water Main Beach in Queensland. — The best season to surf at the exposed point break in Agnes Water is summer and autumn. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Tas

3. Shipstern Bluff, near Nubeena

This heavy break is for experienced surfers only. Named after the headland that towers above it like the prow of a ship, its remote location ensures that the crowds are kept to a minimum. Which is just how Tassie local Shaun Wallbank and his mates like it.

For decades, the wave he describes in Lonely Planet’s Epic Surf Breaks of the World (Lonely Planet, $44.99) as a man-eating leviathan, seemed more of a myth than a reality to mainlander Australians.

That all changed on a big southwest swell, on a low tide when Tracks magazine turned up with a photographer in tow and put the hellish righthander on the radar of surfers from around the world. Although the wave’s location, southeast of Hobart, was never disclosed, the secret was out attracting intrepid surfers to the ‘wave at the end of the world’ ever since.

The most defining feature of Shippies, according to Wallbank, is the ‘step’ which is what usually brings surfers undone as they try to take the drop.

Man surfing a wave at Shipstern Bluff in tasmania — Shipstern Bluff is for experienced surfers only. (Image: Stu Gibson)

4. Martha Lavinia, near Currie, on King Island

Surfing doesn’t get any more scenic than while riding the coast of King Island, Tasmania, in the Bass Strait. This perfect A-frame wave is one of the best surf breaks in Australia and is formed as the swell wraps around both sides of the island, like curved parentheses.

This beautiful beach break is named in honour of the 52-tonne schooner, Martha Lavinia, which was wrecked on the reef in 1871.

Drone shot of waves crashing at Martha Lavinia Beach on King Island in Tasmania — Surfers seek out this stretch of coastline. (Image: Stu Gibson)

Surfers seek out this stretch of coastline as much for its natural beauty as its barrelling beachie. The island is a drone photographer’s dream inlaid with the jewel that is Pennys Lagoon, one of the only perched lakes in the world. Book your flight to King Island when there’s a south-westerly on its way and camp on the beach under the stars. BYO 4/3 wetsuit and booties as it’s pretty close to Antarctica , the coldest continent on Earth.

Surfing waves at Martha Lavinia Beach in Tasmania — Surfers seek out this stretch of coastline. (Image: Stu Gibson)

NSW

5. Black Rock (Aussie Pipe), Jervis Bay

Wreck Bay, also known as Black Rock, Summercloud Bay and Aussie Pipe, is featured in the book, The Pilgrimage: 50 Places to Surf Before You Die. While most surfers would probably avoid a book that had both ‘surf’ and ‘die’ in the title, this is somewhat of a bible for big-wave surfers from around the world.

Wreck Bay, located on the rugged edges of Booderee National Park, is where you will find Aussie Pipe which, when it’s firing, challenges even the most experienced surfers. Hands down one of the best surf breaks in the state.

The beachside haven is run by the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council in Booderee National Park and the surrounding landscape remains very sacred to its Traditional Owners. Booderee means ‘bay of plenty’ and there are certainly waves aplenty here in the autumn and spring.

This is for experienced surfers only when the barrelling waves are at their best but if you hit a flat spell, there’s plenty more to do on the NSW South Coast.

Surfer surfing waves at Wreck Bay in NSW — Wreck Bay is challenging for even the most experienced surfers. (Image: Dee Kramer)

6. Gaire Beach, near Heathcote

Garies is an exposed beach and reef break that is a swell magnet for much of the year. Located next to the town of Helensburgh, north of Wollongong and south of Cronulla, the break is popular with Shire locals, some of whom are lucky enough to have quirky holiday cabins at Little Garie, just around the headland. Head here when the winds are from the north northwest to get Garie at its best.

Garie Beach is a bit of a gem in the Royal National Park and is also popular with Sydneysiders who want to swim and fish, as well as surf. If you hike along the coastal track, you will discover lots of sandy outposts to stop at and picnic post-surf.

The region’s natural beauty is preserved here in Australia’s first national park, just a 20-minute drive from Bundeena, one of our best summer beach towns, where you will find pristine pools, rocky white cliffs, canyons and caves.

Drone aerial shot of Garie Beach in NSW — Garie Beach is a gem in the Royal National Park. (Image: Adam Krowitz)

WA

7. Red Bluff, near Beagle Bay, WA

Surfers in southwestern WA are known to drive for up to six and half hours from Perth to Red Bluff when they see a weather front forecast to roll in. And arriving here as the sun puts a marigold light over the rugged red cliffs and the sea is creased with horizontal wrinkles is 100 per cent worth the epic road trip, considered one of the best in WA.

Red Bluff is a perfect lefthander, a wave that was pioneered by surfers from Margaret River in the 70s and remains the preserve of experienced surfers only. The wave starts breaking at about 4ft and holds up to a meaty 10ft as it thunders along a stretch of reef in the Indian Ocean.

The dramatic coastal cliffs around Red Bluff and the fact it’s located on a stretch of coast dubbed the humpback highway add to the allure of this sought-after surf spot.

Drone shot of Red Bluff cliffs contrasting with the water. — The dramatic coastal cliffs around Red Bluff add to the allure of this sought-after surf spot. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

8. Margaret River

This hippie town has been drawing discerning surfers to Australia’s Wild West for decades. Most of the surfers in the line-up are long-term locals who surf gnarly waves, and commune in the car park to shoot the breeze, before and after the dawn patrol. There’s also a sprinkling of salty-haired crypto bros, and #vanlifers road-testing their digital nomad fantasies.

It’s like a composite scene, collaged together from Tik Tok stills and old surf mags.

There are wineries to visit and humpback whales to watch out for in the season in seas that appear to have been lacquered blue.

Located 290 kilometres south of Perth, Margies is the affectionate local term for Margaret River Main Break and is for experienced surfers only. Bring a quiver of surfboards to tackle Surfers Point Beach, where walls of water can reach 25ft.

Aerial shot of Wyadup Rocks Injidup — Margies is the affectionate local term for Margaret River Main Break. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Vic

9. Ocean Grove, The Bellarine

Get in the surf groove at Ocean Grove, located in Greater Geelong & The Bellarine, located just over an hour southwest of Melbourne via the Princes Highway. If you’ve got non-surfers in the family and want another reason to visit Ocean Grove beyond the surf, you’ll find the popular beachside town surrounded by world-class wineries, pristine beaches and golf courses.

Book a lesson with an instructor at the local learn-to-surf school, Surf Sessions, who can be heard cheering on their students against the rumble and roar of the ocean at Ocean Grove main beach, where conditions are more often than not ideal for surfing lessons.

Check out the webcam on Magic Seaweed to see the swell and wind forecast before choosing a local break such as Thirteenth Beach, Quarantines and Point Londsdale.

Wide shot overlooking Ocean Grove in Victoria — Book a lesson with the local learn-to-surf school at Ocean Grove.

10. Bells Beach, near Torquay

Pack your thruster. You’re gonna need it when Bells is firing. You’ll find the best conditions for this iconic right-hand reef break, made famous thanks to world-class events such as the Rip Curl Pro are found between April to September when low-pressure Southern Ocean storms start rolling toward the coast. Best wind directions range from the northwest to northeast, with low tides generally best.

Bells was a bucket-list wave well before it was referenced by Patrick Swayze’s character Bodhi in the climactic scene in Point Break where he paddled to his demise while chasing the famed 50-year swell. Fun fact: it wasn’t even filmed there.

But Bells was well known by the Traditional Owners of the land, the Wathaurong people, who are actively involved in the Australian Indigenous Surfing Titles, which are held here every year. When it’s working, Bells is one of the best surf breaks on the land. But it’s known for being inconsistent; if it’s not breaking, there are plenty of other attractions along the Surf Coast.

People surfing at Bells Beach in Victoria. — Bells Beach is a bucket list surf spot.

SA

11. Cactus Beach, near Penong

Head to Cactus Beach for dusk, when the sun is like a piece of polished amber, and you’ll likely find a few prickly locals making the most of the onshore conditions. The waters of the Southern Ocean off the Eyre Peninsula are brisk, to say the least, so bring an extra-thick wetsuit and a few extra blankets to build a nest in the sand post-surf.

Cactus is on the east side of the Great Australian Bight, some 870km northwest of Adelaide, and is a dream when the wind is funnelling in from the east-northeast.

While this is considered a special place for surfers, it’s a sacred place to the Wirangu Aboriginal people, who are the Traditional Owners of the land.

The area was declared a national surfing reserve in 2012. What better way to break up a road trip across the Nullabor Plain than to score a few waves at Cactus, Caves and Castles?

Surfing the waves at Cactus Beach in South Australia — Cactus Beach is a sacred place to the Wirangu Aboriginal people. (Image: Michael Waterhouse Photography)

12. Kangaroo Island

Kangaroos outnumber humans on Kangaroo Island, which is just one of many reasons it’s a popular spot for tourists. And while the food and wine scene is the main draw for visitors, KI is also known for its killer surf.

The south coast of the island gets hammered by swell year-round, but it’s so isolated it appeals to adrenalin-seekers only.

A flanno counts as formal wear on KI and it’s worth heading to one of the wineries, pubs, cafes or restaurants to make friends with locals who can steer you toward the best surf breaks and keep you company in the line-up.

Hanson Place is the holy grail for surfing, renowned as much for its epic swells as its rips and undertows. BYO Sharkbanz.

High shot of Pennington Bay on Kangaroo Island. — The south coast of Kangaroo Island gets hammered by swell year-round. (Image Isaac Forman)

Warmer days call for slowing down and relaxing in nature. Discover why The Tweed is the ultimate destination to do just that.

As the end of the year draws near, the need for rest and restoration grows ever more prominent. For many, that means heading into nature – and there’s plenty of science to back up the benefits of doing so. It quite literally makes us happier as it reduces stress hormones, lowers our blood pressure and more. And what better place to lean into this feel-good effect than during summer in The Tweed (in the Northern Rivers region of NSW)? Blending sparkling beaches, riverside towns and hinterland villages, this area has nature covered, while also offering top activities and dining options.

And of course, pack your SPF. We Are Feel Good Inc’s Ultra-Light Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 is a lightweight and fast-absorbing formula that keeps your skin hydrated and shielded, thanks to nourishing Coconut Oil and Vitamin E. But it’s also helping preserve the natural beauty around you on your Tweed vacation, thanks to 30 per cent ocean waste packaging.

Discover eight experiences that make The Tweed the perfect place for summer.

1. Underwater worlds

two people swimming after turtle on the tweed — Get a chance to swim with the locals.

There’s something about the ocean that calls to us as humans, and what’s below the surface is even more magical.

Green, hawksbill and loggerhead turtles (not to mention an abundance of other marine life) all use the protected waters around Cook Island, near Fingal Head, as their foraging ground, making it the perfect place to dive and snorkel to spot these adorable creatures.

Join Cooly Eco Adventures on a guided snorkelling tour that combines unforgettable turtle encounters with an inspiring look into marine conservation.

2. Farm-to-table dining

table spread at Potager restaurant — Treat your taste buds at Potager. (Image: Cara Sophie)

Respecting the land and nature also means appreciating its abundance of food. From farm-to-table cafes and boutique breweries to river cruises and restaurants championing local produce, dining around The Tweed often means engaging with the best local producers.

The award-winning Potager Restaurant , part of The Hinterland Collection , is the perfect example; beginning life as a kitchen garden, the passion to champion local producers is woven into every dish. Vegetables, fruit and herbs are picked from the garden or sourced from other local producers, the seafood comes from the Northern Rivers, and meat is sourced from ethical local producers. Even the cocktail list features local distillers.

Extend your stay with a night (or several) at boutique on-site accommodation, Potager House . This French-inspired country four-bedroom retreat boasts stunning views of the surrounding hills and nearby ocean, as well as a large pool, outdoor entertaining area and infrared sauna.

3. Water wellness

Waterguru Mindfulness in the Mangroves summer on the tweed — Find mindfulness in mangroves. (Image: Matt Johnson)

You’ll find mindfulness while floating around the mangroves of Kingscliff’s Cudgen Creek at any time, but Watersports Guru offers an immersive experience to help guests do so with more intent. Join a 90-minute guided session on a stand-up paddleboard to reconnect with nature and relax through breathwork, gentle movement and sensory awareness.

If you’re feeling more adventurous, Watersports Guru also offer Kayak fishing adventures or join a Sea Turtle Odyssey experience.

4. Restorative seaside stays

woman relaxing in spa at Halcyon Wellness, halcyon house — Unwind at Halcyon Wellness.

The Tweed encourages locals and visitors alike to slow down. To really indulge, a seaside stay is a must. Halcyon House has understood the assignment, blending a wellness philosophy centred on balance and self-discovery with luxurious surrounds. Stay in one of 22 rooms and suites (each individually designed by eclectic interior designer Anna Spiro) right on the beachfront. Book restorative treatments at the onsite spa, Halcyon Wellness, relax by the pool, dine at the hatted Paper Daisy restaurant and just let The Tweed work its magic.

While Blue Water Motel offers a relaxed coastal escape, just steps from Kingscliff Beach. Settle in stylish rooms, recently restyled by Jason Grant, nodding to the cool of Kingscliff with a fun retro vibe. Hire a bike from reception to explore the surrounding area.

5. Tasty drops

The owners at Husk Farm Distillery aren’t just about creating high-quality rum: they’re also farmers themselves. In fact, they create one of the world’s only single estate, farm-to-bottle spirits. Join a Farm to Bottle tour to discover the sustainable ‘full circle’ distilling practices used here, and even get hands-on with your own cane knife to help harvest and juice your own stalk of cane. And, of course, a welcome drink plus complimentary tastings along the way.

6. Rail trail adventures

Exploring the rolling green slopes and historic towns of the 24-kilometre Tweed section of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail is one of the best ways to connect with the region’s lush hinterland and interesting heritage. In this section of the trail, discover the area’s railway history at heritage-listed Murwillumbah Railway Station, and traverse by 18 railway bridges and through two railway tunnels.

Linking vibrant towns and villages with the larger hub of Murwillumbah, this section of the trail is covered in asphalt or compacted gravel, making it accessible for all ages and abilities, from prams to adaptive bikes.

7. Linger longer

surfer at fingal heads the tweed — Enjoy beachside locations, like Fingal Heads.

Linger longer at one of the seven idyllic beach, river and creekside locations of Tweed Holiday Parks – including at Tweed Heads, Kingscliff Beach, Hastings Point and Pottsville South. All just steps from the water’s edge, they make the ideal base to unwind, or head out for exploration of The Tweed. Choose from luxury waterfront cabins, accessible cabins, surfari tents (yes, they are basically glamping tents) or spacious sites for caravans, motorhomes and campervans or tents.

Find your feel-good summer in The Tweed at visitthetweed.com.au .

Australia’s 12 best surf breaks you can’t miss this summer