Best Time to Surf Australia
The best time to surf Australia is March to September: that is when the most breaks are at their best — 20 of the 20 Australia breaks we map at the peak.
Last updated · Counted from the surf breaks we map — each break's own season, level and wave type
Surf in Australia month by month
How many of the 20 breaks we map in Australia are at their best in each month, and which ones. The busiest months are highlighted.
January
2 at their best · 3 in season
February
2 at their best · 3 in season
March
19 at their best · 20 in season
Sharks Cove, Snapper Rocks, Bells Beach, The Pass, Bondi Beach, Kirra, Noosa, Burleigh Heads +11 more
April
20 at their best · 20 in season
Sharks Cove, Snapper Rocks, Bells Beach, The Pass, Bondi Beach, Margaret River Main Break, Kirra, Noosa +12 more
May
18 at their best · 19 in season
Sharks Cove, Snapper Rocks, Bells Beach, The Pass, Bondi Beach, Margaret River Main Break, Burleigh Heads, Duranbah +10 more
June
18 at their best · 19 in season
Sharks Cove, Snapper Rocks, Bells Beach, The Pass, Bondi Beach, Margaret River Main Break, Burleigh Heads, Duranbah +10 more
July
18 at their best · 19 in season
Sharks Cove, Snapper Rocks, Bells Beach, The Pass, Bondi Beach, Margaret River Main Break, Burleigh Heads, Duranbah +10 more
August
18 at their best · 19 in season
Sharks Cove, Snapper Rocks, Bells Beach, The Pass, Bondi Beach, Margaret River Main Break, Burleigh Heads, Duranbah +10 more
September
18 at their best · 19 in season
Sharks Cove, Snapper Rocks, Bells Beach, The Pass, Bondi Beach, Margaret River Main Break, Burleigh Heads, Duranbah +10 more
October
1 at their best · 2 in season
November
0 at their best · 2 in season
December
2 at their best · 3 in season
Lefts, rights and peaks in Australia
Every break we map here, by what the wave breaks over and which way it peels — a left peels to the surfer's left as they ride towards the beach.
| Break type | Lefts | Rights | Both ways / A-frames |
|---|---|---|---|
| Point | — | Snapper Rocks, The Pass, Kirra, Noosa, Burleigh Heads, Lennox Head, Angourie Point, Crescent Head, North Point | — |
| Reef | Gnaraloo | Sharks Cove, Bells Beach, North Point | Margaret River Main Break, Cactus, Shipstern Bluff "Shippies" |
| Beach | North Narrabeen | Duranbah | Bondi Beach, Manly Beach, Cronulla Beaches |
Season at every Australia break
Each break's stated season, with its best months filled in.
- Bells Beach
Bells Beach
- Wave
- Reef break · Right-hand
- Level
- Advanced
- Season
- March to September (autumn to winter)
- Tide
- Best on a mid-to-high tide
- Watch out
- Breaks over shallow coral or rock reef — booties are recommended and mind the take-off zone.
- Bondi Beach
Bondi Beach
- Wave
- Beach break · A-frame peaks (lefts and rights)
- Level
- Beginner
- Season
- March to September (autumn to winter)
- Tide
- All tides; sandbar-dependent
- Watch out
- Rip currents form between the sandbars — always check conditions before paddling out.
- The Pass
Byron Bay
- Wave
- Point break · Right-hand
- Level
- Beginner
- Season
- March to September (autumn to winter)
- Tide
- All tides; best on a pushing tide
- Watch out
- Rocks and a current along the point, so plan your entry and exit. Very crowded, with boats launching nearby and swimmers inside. Respect the lineup order and do not drop in.
- Snapper Rocks
Coolangatta
- Wave
- Point break · Right-hand
- Level
- Advanced
- Season
- March to September (autumn to winter)
- Tide
- All tides; best on a pushing tide
- Watch out
- Rocks at the jump-off and a strong current running down the point, so time your entry. The lineup is very crowded, with a strong local crew; respect priority and do not drop in.
- Sharks Cove
Cronulla
- Wave
- Slab Reef Break · Right
- Level
- Expert Only
- Season
- March–September
- Tide
- Mid / Rising
- Watch out
- Extremely shallow rock reef, heavy barrels, powerful lip, difficult takeoff, strong currents, high-impact wipeouts, reef injuries, limited margin for error and intense competition for waves when conditions are good. Expert surfers and bodyboarders only. Familiarity with the reef and local conditions is strongly recommended.
- Duranbah
Tweed Heads
- Wave
- Beach break · Right-hand
- Level
- Intermediate
- Season
- March to September (autumn to winter)
- Tide
- All tides; sandbar-dependent
- Watch out
- Rip currents along the breakwall and between the sandbars; check before paddling out. Busy when the points are flat.
- Angourie Point
- Wave
- Point break · Right-hand
- Level
- Advanced
- Season
- March to September (autumn to winter)
- Tide
- All tides; best on a pushing tide
- Watch out
- Rocks and strong currents run around the point, so plan your entry and exit carefully.
- Burleigh Heads
- Wave
- Point break · Right-hand
- Level
- Intermediate
- Season
- March to September (autumn to winter)
- Tide
- All tides; best on a pushing tide
- Watch out
- Rocks and strong currents run around the point, so plan your entry and exit carefully.
- Cactus
- Wave
- Reef break · Left and right
- Level
- Advanced
- Season
- March to September (autumn to winter)
- Tide
- Best on a mid-to-high tide
- Watch out
- Powerful waves over shallow reef, cold water and a remote location with few services. Sharks are present on this coast; surf with others. Do not confuse the reefs: Cactus, Castles and Caves break differently.
- Crescent Head
- Wave
- Point break · Right-hand
- Level
- Beginner
- Season
- March to September (autumn to winter)
- Tide
- All tides; best on a pushing tide
- Watch out
- Rocks and strong currents run around the point, so plan your entry and exit carefully.
- Cronulla Beaches
- Wave
- Beach break · A-frame peaks (lefts and rights)
- Level
- Intermediate
- Season
- March to September (autumn to winter)
- Tide
- All tides; sandbar-dependent
- Watch out
- Rip currents form between the sandbars — always check conditions before paddling out.
- Gnaraloo
- Wave
- Reef break · Left-hand
- Level
- Advanced
- Season
- March to September (autumn to winter)
- Tide
- Best on a mid-to-high tide
- Watch out
- Breaks over shallow coral or rock reef — booties are recommended and mind the take-off zone.
- Kirra
- Wave
- Point break · Right-hand
- Level
- Advanced
- Season
- Year-round, best in cyclone season (December to April)
- Tide
- All tides; best on a pushing tide
- Watch out
- Rocks and a strong current along the point, especially on bigger swells. Very fast and crowded when it is working. For experienced surfers.
- Lennox Head
- Wave
- Point break · Right-hand
- Level
- Advanced
- Season
- March to September (autumn to winter)
- Tide
- All tides; best on a pushing tide
- Watch out
- Rocks and strong currents run around the point, so plan your entry and exit carefully.
- Manly Beach
- Wave
- Beach break · A-frame peaks (lefts and rights)
- Level
- Beginner
- Season
- March to September (autumn to winter)
- Tide
- All tides; sandbar-dependent
- Watch out
- Rip currents form between the sandbars — always check conditions before paddling out.
- Margaret River Main Break
- Wave
- Reef break · A-frame peaks (lefts and rights)
- Level
- Advanced
- Season
- Year-round, best April to October
- Tide
- Best on a mid-to-high tide
- Watch out
- Breaks over shallow coral or rock reef — booties are recommended and mind the take-off zone.
- Noosa
- Wave
- Point break · Right-hand
- Level
- Beginner
- Season
- December to April (cyclone swell)
- Tide
- All tides; best on a pushing tide
- Watch out
- Rocks and strong currents run around the point, so plan your entry and exit carefully.
- North Narrabeen
- Wave
- Beach break · Left-hand
- Level
- Intermediate
- Season
- March to September (autumn to winter)
- Tide
- All tides; sandbar-dependent
- Watch out
- Rip currents form between the sandbars — always check conditions before paddling out.
- North Point
- Wave
- Point Reef break · Right-hand
- Level
- Advanced
- Season
- March to September (autumn to winter)
- Tide
- Best on a mid-to-high tide
- Watch out
- Breaks over shallow coral or rock reef — booties are recommended and mind the take-off zone.
- Shipstern Bluff "Shippies"
- Wave
- Reef break · A-frame peaks (lefts and rights)
- Level
- Advanced
- Season
- March to September (autumn to winter)
- Tide
- Best on a mid-to-high tide
- Watch out
- Extreme wave power; massive barrels; infamous steps and ledges forming in the wave face; shallow reef; rocks; strong currents and rips; cold Southern Ocean water; sharks; remote location; difficult access; rapidly changing weather; limited emergency response; and potentially life-threatening wipeouts. Specialized big-wave equipment, safety teams, jet skis and extensive heavy-water experience may be required depending on conditions.
Surf spots in Australia by level
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to surf Australia?
The best time to surf Australia is March to September: that is when the most breaks are at their best — 20 of the 20 Australia breaks we map at the peak.
Can you surf Australia all year round?
Yes. At least one of the 20 breaks we map in Australia is in season in every month of the year, though the most are at their best in March to September.
When is the best time for beginners to surf Australia?
The 5 beginner-rated breaks we map in Australia (The Pass, Bondi Beach, Noosa, Crescent Head and Manly Beach) are mostly at their best in March to September. Smaller days in the shoulder months are easier to learn on.
Which surf breaks in Australia are lefts and which are rights?
Lefts: North Narrabeen and Gnaraloo. Rights: Sharks Cove, Snapper Rocks, Bells Beach, The Pass, Kirra, Noosa, Burleigh Heads and Duranbah. The table below splits every break we map in Australia by type and direction.