Surf travel is a great way to experience Australia's best beaches and master one of the world's most popular water sports.
Australia's 50,000km of coastline offers countless surfing spots including beach, reef and point breaks as well as a huge variety and frequency of swells, making it a year-round surfing destination.
If you're a beginner, taking lessons at a surf break to fit your skill level teaches you board riding techniques, confidence and essential surf safety. Some beaches have gnarly (powerful) large waves, strong currents or challenging reef or point breaks suited to experienced surfers. But there's no shortage of beaches with smaller waves breaking over sand that are perfect for intermediate or novice surfers.
If you've always wanted to give surfing a try, here are five of the best places to get wet, provided by The Perfect Wave.
Learn to surf at Manly Beach
If you've never ridden a wave before, lessons from a professional surf school will teach you how to safely and confidently handle yourself and a board, with a minimum of risk. The team at Manly Surf School on Sydney's northern beaches run group classes and private lessons during every season, for beginners, intermediate and advanced surfers of any age.
Voted by Surfing Australia as Number 1 Surf School in NSW, its qualified and friendly instructors are passionate surfers who teach safety and board skills, with the aim of making sure you can hit the waves on your own next time you have the chance. Many instructors are current or ex-professional surfers who train up-and-coming pro-surfers and compete regularly in surf competitions.
Participant numbers are limited in group classes, so you get plenty of personal attention and assistance from your instructor. The lessons start on the sand, with a focus on riding techniques and safety.
The school provides softboards with non-rash decking and soft fins. These are safer for beginners than hard, fibreglass boards but still provide what you need to catch waves - on your feet - during your lesson. Quality wetsuits and sunscreen is provided. All you need to take are swimmers and a towel.
Go on 'surfari' to the NSW north coast
Another way for beginners to experience surf travel while perfecting their technique is on a guided coastal adventure trip.
Mojosurf Tours runs fun and relaxed surf camps at pristine, uncrowded beaches between Sydney and Byron Bay, including at the popular surf village, Crescent Head. Lessons, transport and beach-side accommodation is all included in their packages.
Each day their experienced instructors choose the best of the many local breaks to suit your surfing ability. Before hitting the waves each day, you'll get safety tips and ocean awareness, based on that day's conditions.
The instructors take photos and videos while you surf and show you later what you're doing right and what techniques can be improved. Quality surfboards and wetsuits are provided and at all times there's an emphasis on having a good time.
Ride WA's unspoilt breaks
Western Australia's south west endless coastline of unspoilt beaches and world-famous uncrowded breaks is a surfer's nirvana at any time of the year.
This is the Margaret River region, with many breaks suited to intermediate and experienced surfers, like Surfer's Point, home of the Margaret River Pro. Powerful swells here regularly reach more than four metres, but the Margaret River Mouth is an ideal spot for beginners, for its small waves that break over soft sand.
The Perfect Wave offers two WA packages at Smiths Beach and Injidup Beach.
Smiths Beach Resort is directly above the beach, which is one of the best in the state for surfing. You can check the conditions from your room or while waxing your board. There are two swimming pools and a tennis court and accommodation ranges from beach houses and villas to apartments with kitchens.
For a surf retreat with resort pampering, stay at the luxurious, award-winning Injidup Spa Retreat, above Injidup Beach. It has a world-class day spa and just 10 French-inspired and secluded villas, each with a private plunge pool and sweeping ocean views.
Experience Australia's surfing mecca, Byron Bay
Byron Bay is one of the most popular surfing spots on the Australia's east coast.
Visitors are drawn to Byron for its laid-back lifestyle, almost continuous warm weather and unspoilt beaches. There are breaks for beginners through to advanced surfers within easy reach of each other here.
A secluded accommodation option near everything is the Villas of Byron. It's a luxury retreat an easy walk or drive to the best local surf breaks including The Pass, Tallows Beach, Wategos, Broken Head and Lennox Head.
It has five Asian-style villas, each with a heated pool and spa, an outdoor shower, spacious living room and gourmet kitchen. Byron Bay's dozens of lively eateries are a short stroll away.
Surf travel with The Perfect Wave
More than just a surf tour operator, The Perfect Wave is made up of a team of passionate and experienced surfers who use their own global surf travel knowledge to design safe and enjoyable experiences for beginner and intermediate level surfers.
From more than 300 surf trip packages, they'll match your ability, sense of adventure and budget, to a memorable trip. Transport, quality accommodation at the best surf locations, lessons and guides are included.
For more information about worldwide surf trips, including regular specials on great packages, visit The Perfect Wave. http://www.theperfectwave.com.au/
Posted By mick
Updated : 11th January 2018 | Words : 895 | Views : 59470 | Comments : 2
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2 Comments
A great read with some really nice surfing spots, some i'm still yet to experience. I was blown away that Double Island Point on Australia's East coast is not listed.
Double Island Point is set in one of the world’s most diverse and pristine National Parks, its uncrowded because the only way you can get there is to drive along the beach at low tide by 4X4 and it has a break that on its best day is well over a kilometer long. Its all waist deep and sandy so for intermediate and beginner its ideal and you can take your time getting up and you get better quicker with the long wave.
The tricky bit is getting there if you dont have a 4X4. There are only 2 companies that run surf lessons and surf trips www.epicoceanadventures.com.au & www.rainbowbeachsurfschool.com.au
check it out if your travelling the east coast, its a really cool learn to surf adventure
Posted By Tyron on Thursday 11th January 2018 @ 12:09:19
BEGINNER SURFER
Hi,
I came across your blog site when I was trying to do some research into WA’s best beginner surf breaks. I have recently started surfing and I am getting the hang of it thanks to friends who are regulars. However, I want to explore more of WA's waters. I know about a few spots in the South of WA, but I am more interested in Perth. Perth to me has never been a huge standout place for surfing in my mind, but I would love to be wrong! What are some of the best beginner-intermediate breaks in Perth?
Thanks, Ben
Posted By Ben Dillon on Tuesday 27th May 2014 @ 01:20:22
