Bells Beach, Torquay, Vic
Hailed as Australia’s home of surfing, Bells is home to the country’s oldest surfing event, which is known as the Rip Curl Pro these days (the winner still receives the traditional clanging bell trophy). It's a reef break and the wave splits into two sections: Rincon, which breaks under the cliffs, and the Bowl,
which breaks further out on the reef. Swells over the shallow reefs produce outstanding surf that can rise to five metres. Best around mid-tide.
North Narrabeen, Sydney, NSW
With a reputation as one of the great surf breaks in the world it’s no surprise that locals are a protective over their prize asset, a large triangle to the left of the headland. There’s a deep channel known as Shark Alley, which forms the sand bank that creates this classic break. Long Reef (about six kilometres to the south) hooks onto the southerly swells and directs them towards North Narrabeen and delivers more power than most nearby beaches.
Kirra Beach, Coolangatta, Qld
You’ve got to take notice of Kirra after eleven-times world surfing champion Kelly Slater said it was his favourite place to surf in Australia. It has some of the best and most diverse surfing condition on the Gold Coast and has played host to the Billabong Pro Surfing Competition. Experience preferred, as fast barrels between Kirra Beach's ‘Big Groyne’ and the more southerly ‘Little Groyne’ make it a very busy spot when the swell gets over the 1.5 metre mark.
Eaglehawk Neck, Tas
Eaglehawk Neck is the narrow sandbar prisoners once had to brave if they managed to escape the notorious Port Arthur penal colony. Now it’s a waxhead’s dream with plenty of reef, point and beach breaks on offer. Waves generated in the Tasman Sea roll in to Pirate’s Bay and break along ‘the Neck’ in long, smooth sets. The best months are March through September, which means wetties at the ready as the water’s cold but very clean.
‘Cyclops’, nr Esperance, WA
With a reputation as one of the heaviest waves in the world, you’ve got to be prepared to stack hard if you take on Cyclops. With massive amounts of water unloading onto a shallow coral reef, there’s no room for error when surfing this legendary wave. Most surfers think you have to be crazy to give it a go, but you’ll also need patience, a boat and good navigation skills, as Cyclops is a good 2km out of Esperance. See it in action in the Billabong Odyssey film and the Bra Boys documentary.
Waitpinga Beach, nr Victor Harbour, SA
Known as “the beach that never goes flat”, Waitpinga faces almost due south, which gives it a persistent high swell that average over the 2-metre mark. The Victor Harbor region isn't known for powerful waves but 'Waits' defies the trend. It amplifies any available swell, giving standout waves. The alternating rips and bars produce a series of beach breaks that can hold good waves up to 3 metres. Just west of ‘Waits’, Parsons Beach can hold waves of up to 2 metres.
Snapper Rocks, Rainbow Bay, Qld
A world-renowned surfing spot on the Gold Coast, Snapper is home to the world-famous ‘Super Bank’, regarded in surfing circles as the longest, most consistent and most hollow wave in the world. One good, clean wave can transport you from Snapper to Kirra, a distance of almost two kilometres. Snapper Rocks hosts international surfing events, such as the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro, Rip Curl Masters, and it’s also a favourite spot of local world champs Mick Fanning and Joel Parkinson.
Margaret River (Yallingup and Prevelly Park), WA?
You’ll find as many wine buffs as surfers in the tiny village of Yallingup, which marks the beginning of the famed Margaret River winery region. With several breaks that range from mild to massive depending on the swell, Yallingup is often touted as the best all-round surfing destination on Australia’s west coast. Further south, Prevelly Park is home to one of the biggest and nastiest surf breaks, ‘the Bombie’. If the surf's up it’s one of the few places in Australia where board-riders will be wearing helmets and nobody will be laughing at them.
13th Beach, Barwon Heads, Vic
The name is taken from its location near to the 13th hole of the Barwon Heads Golf Course and the waves make good use of the swell and mould into well-formed peaks. There are heaps of different breaks to choose from, so drive along the beachfront road till you find a wave that suits. The sandy beach break end works mainly on a high tide and the rocky end works mainly on a low tide. But keep your wits about you, as there has been the odd shark attack in the area.
Boomerang Beach, Port Macquarie, NSW
‘Boomers’ is the beach that has it all: exposure to south and north swells, protection from the prevailing winds, and a prevalence for good sandbanks. It’s a consistent wave with summer offering up the best conditions. The beach break offers mainly left hand waves and there’s pretty good surf at all stages of the tide.
