Surfing in NSW

National Surfing Reserves

A register of Australia's iconic surf beaches is kept by the National Surfing Reserves and the following NSW beaches are on the list:

• Manly and Freshwater, in Sydney’s north
• Merewether in Newcastle
• Crescent Head, north of Port Macquarie
• Angourie, near Yamba
• Lennox Head, north of Ballina
• Killalea in Shellharbour on the South Coast
• Cronulla, in Sydney’s south
• Maroubra, in Sydney’s south
• North Narrabeen in Sydney’s north
• Bondi in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs
• Cabarita on the North Coast

North Coast

In the North Coast, you’ll find long sandy beaches with turquoise waters providing a perfect combination of natural beauty and great surf. The Pass is one of the most popular and scenic surf spots in Byron Bay, a laid-back town with plenty of outdoor adventures.

Further South Crescent Head is a mecca for long boarders, with an incredible selection of beaches and breaks to ride. A number of surfing movies have been filmed here, including Hang Ten.

The beaches of the Central Coast of NSW are spread out from just north of Sydney to Newcastle, where you'll find Merewether Beach. Some of the best surfing in the Central Coast can be found at North Avoca, and the consistent waves of Terrigal are a good place to take a surfing lesson.

South Coast

The South Coast offers unmatched beauty with ideal surf breaks for beginners and powerful waves for the more advanced surfer. Less than two hours from Sydney are the excellent surf beaches of Thirroul and Corrimal Beach, home to the Illawarra Surfing Academy.

Surf Camp Australia is based at Gerroa, south of Gerringong, and if you continue south you will find the great surf beaches of Ulladulla – with great breaks for intermediate and advanced surfers. 1080 Beach in Eurobodalla National Park is a stunning spot to surf on the far south coast.

Surfing events

A range of surfing tournaments, festivals and competitions take place throughout the year, including the Australian Surf Festival on the Tweed Coast and the Port Stephens Pro in Port Stephens. Newcastle is home to the legendary Surfest and nudie Australian Boardriders Battle.