The 12 best surf spots in Australia

Yamba, on the eastern coast of NSW is an iconic surf town with a long surfy history. Far less crowded than hot-spots like Byron Bay and Sydney, Yamba is a bit of a roadtrip up from Sydney, or a one-hour flight from Byron. If you're starting out, you will find easy beginner waves at Yamba Harbour and Main Beach – but if you're into a world-class break and punchy waves, head to Angourie Point. A small, southeast-facing rocky outcrop, advanced and professional surfers come here year-round for the long right-handers and consistently perfect waves. 

Skill level: Beach breaks at Yamba are good for all levels, Angourie Point is for advanced and intermediate surfers 

Type of break: Powerful right hand point break over a boulder bottom

Ideal wind direction: West or south-west 

Swell window: Southeast to northeast

Best time to visit: May-August

There's few places so synonymous with the Australian surf consciousness than Byron Bay on the NSW east coast. And arguably, there's no break so famous as The Pass, and for good reason. Warm waters year-round, consistently good swell and its status as an oasis for long boarders, beginners and pros alike make it well worth a trip up north. Plus, with Byron Bay exploding with so many idyllic things to do, see and eat, you can rest assured that you're in for a swell time, regardless of the waves pumping or not. 

Skill level: Beginners to pros 

Type of break: Right point break

Ideal wind direction: South-east 

Swell window: North-east to east 

Best time to visit: April-September

While Bondi claims the fame, this 1.1-kilometre bay with a world-famous wave culture is the OG home of Surfing NSW. Beyond the thundering waves favoured by the likes of Kelly Slater, the Bra is hemmed by windswept dunes, wild bushland and a rocky headland – yet is close to many eating and drinking options. With year-round patrols, this place is safe and popular with families as well as the constant flow of surfers. But less confident swimmers may be better sticking to floating in Mahon Pool at the beaches’ north.

Skill level: Advanced and experienced surfers 

Type of break: Beach and reef break with left-hand point breaks at both the north and south ends 

Ideal wind direction: North-west offshore winds 

Swell window: North-easterly swells aligned with westerly to north-westerly winds

Best time to visit: June-August for consistent clean waves, but good year-round

A sleepy, coastal town beloved by locals on the NSW mid-north coast, surfing is Crescent's lifeblood – and for good reason. A beautiful beach break awaits you at this wide, curvacious bit of coastline, with its living legacy coming from the consistently powerful right-hander that's been drawing surfers here for decades. There are a bunch of different beach breaks that you can choose from at Crescent, from hidden beaches in the stunning national park to a variety of left and right-hand barrels in both north and south directions at Crescent Head Front Beach. 

Skill level: Intermediate and advanced, some beginner-friendly breaks

Type of break: Right-hand point break with a sand and rock bottom

Ideal wind direction: West

Swell window: East to south-east

Best time to visit: May-August 

If you're in Sydney, don't have a car, and want a pumping surf experience that's still right in the city, look no further than the idyllic surf town of Manly on Sydney's Northern Beaches. A World Surfing Reserve, this spot is widely heralded as the 'birthplace of modern Aussie surfing', and offers a range of waves for beginners to intermediates. However, in the winter months, experienced pros will love the strong, big swells. Along Manly's main beach there's a great surf school to get you started, while at Queenscliff on the north end, you'll find exposed surf and a reliable break. If you've got a vehicle pop over the headland to the beautiful Freshwater for pure water and delightfully smooth waves.

Skill level: Beginners to all levels

Type of break: Consistent beach break

Ideal wind direction: Offshore south to south-west 

Swell window: North-easterly or easterly

Best time to visit: June

Named the 'best surf beach in Australia' by Lonely Planet in 2024, Bells Beach is a mecca of Aussie surf history. Tucked away between natural red clay cliffs off the long, winding wonders of the Great Ocean Road, Bells is a special, historical break that's just 90 minutes away from Melbourne. A cold water spot that pumps with the power of the Southern Ocean, Bells is known by surfers worldwide for offering up huge waves, occasionally very tough conditions, and a kind of explosively powerful break that takes a lot of your strength to ride – but if you do, you'll have the time of your life. 

Skill level: Advanced and confident intermediate 

Type of break: A rock ledge right-hand point

Ideal wind direction: North-westerly

Swell window: Big swell window, south-east to south-west but best at south-west

Best time to visit: April to October

When a place is declared a National Surfing Reserve, you know you're in for a good time. A long and exposed beach break that faces south-west, straight into the eye of powerful westerly winds, you're going to get conditions that are best suited for experienced surfers. Considered one of the best breaks in Victoria, Woolamai offers up moderately sized to high waves, with an average size of 1.7 metres. You can expect long, smooth left and right-handers, with conditions at their best when the swell is at low and moderate levels, and winds are blowing northerly. 

Skill level: Advanced and experienced

Type of break: Powerful beach break with both right and left waves

Ideal wind direction: South-east to north-west

Swell window: Consistent groundswell year-round

Best time to visit: April-September

Margaret River is a legendary surf spot in Western Australia that's known for its mindblowing natural beauty, space and perfect waves that work for total beginners to World Surf Lifesaving champs. Although there are 75 named breaks over a 120-kilometre stretch of coast to choose from, you can't go wrong at the Margaret River Mouth for beginners, Injidup Beach for intermediates, or Mainbreak at Surfer's Point for the experienced. The river mouth is super close to the main town, protected by a bay and patrolled in summer. Injidup is all about turquoise waters and beautiful rock pools, is protected from big southerlies and swells, and is good for all levels. However, if you're a pro, Mainbreak is paradise with its 20-25 foot waves most days. 

Skill level: All levels, depending on the break. 

Type of break: Varies depending on location, but at Margaret River Mainbreak, a classic exposed reef point break with left and right peaks. At Margaret River Mouth you'll find a more sheltered river break that's consistently good year-round. 

Ideal wind direction: Offshore easterly winds

Swell window: South-west 

Best time to visit: September-November, but March-May will offer less crowded waves

We’ll leave this one to the pros. Home to the jacking left-hander, Jakes Point is located within one of Western Australia’s three National Surfing Reserves and stands out as one of the state’s most famous remote surfing breaks. Like many reef breaks, Jakes fires up from two feet upwards, so is best ridden by seasoned surfers only. For those not hitting the waves, the coastal cliff rock platforms offer a front-row seat to watch local legends take on the powerful swells. 

Skill level: Absolute pros and those keen to see F1 star Daniel Ricciardo riding a wave.

Type of break: Left-hand reef and point break

Ideal wind direction: South-east 

Swell window: South-west

Best time to visit: March-May