Surf Australia: where to find the best breaks

With surf spots along all of the south, west and east coasts, finding a killer wave is no problem, and since most of the surfing population is anchored to metro areas, neither is finding an empty break if you are willing to travel.

Bells Beach on Victoria’s Surf Coast is the spiritual home of Australian surfing. When it’s pumping, Bells attracts huge crowds to watch the local pros (and plucky blow-ins) take on moving-mountains of 5m and more rising over shallow reefs. Alternatively, try lesser-known Winki, only 100m north along the high-cliff coastline where, when the swell is running, you will be rewarded with faster, steeper and more barrelling waves. Other popular spots include the state’s first National Surfing Reserve at Phillip Island, where you’ll find world-class breaks such as Woolamai and Magic Lands (and quite a few great white sharks, due to the local population of fur seals).

The tiny village of Yallingup, 260km south of Perth, marks the gateway to Margaret River, known equally for its proliferation of wineries and surf breaks. Waves range from standard fun fare to monstrous water-walls only for the fearless. Yallingup itself is great for all-round surf. Serious surfers head further south to Prevelly Park, where swells rising up to 6m form perfect barrels racing across an offshore reef. Not a place for beginners. Nor is the famous Boneyards, located northeast of Cape Naturaliste and considered the best winter break for those crazy enough to take it on.

Fact – Western Australia’s coastline is jam packed with more top ten breaks than any other state. Kalbarri, 590km north of Perth, packs a pretty good punch, its multitude of surf attractions include one of Australia’s best left handers in Benders, a coral break for more experienced riders. Another lefty, Lopes, is a rock-reef break rated for pros or kamikazes only.

Like your surfing with mandatory tow-in? Located 30km off Cape Raoul, on the southeast coast of Tasmania, Shipstern was made famous by big name surfers Tom Carroll and Ross Clarke-Jones, who documented it in the film Storm Surfers. Regarded as one of the premier big wave targets in the world, this is near-death-wish stuff, the size, stepped formation of the wave face and prevalence of great white sharks giving it the reputation as one of the most dangerous places to surf in the world.

Bagging a "Burleigh barrel" at Burleigh Heads is a Gold Coast goal for serious surfers, while Snapper Rocks, which is a 45-minute drive from Surfer’s Paradise, is another spot for the experienced, serving up a reliable right-hand point break. Rainbow Bay is perhaps better suited to grommies and greenies. Alternatively, Noosa Heads boasts five superb right-hand point breaks that are collectively regarded as not just one of the best spots in Queensland for longboarders, but in the entire world.

The first world surfing championships were held at Bondi and Manly in 1964, but these are busy beaches. For a good city set, head to Sydney’s Northern Beaches, where the 6km corridor between Dee Why Beach and North Narrabeen is considered the prime surfing belt. The Long Reef bombora known as Butterbox is in the middle and you can hopscotch around nearby to sample the waves from Mona Vale to Newport on to Whale Beach and up to Avalon. Lennox Head, near beautiful Byron Bay, is one of many surfing hotspots on the NSW coast, while further north, virtually straddling the Queensland border, Duranbah Beach (known as D-bah) has excellent right- and left-hand breaks.

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