Surfing in NSW

Fast facts

  • New South Wales has 2137 km of coastline with 721 ocean beaches
  • There are 39 ocean beaches in Sydney
  • Cronulla is Sydney’s most southerly and longest beach – 10 km

Why surf here

  • New South Wales has more accessible surf beaches than any other State in Australia while Sydney is known for its surfing beaches and cool urban beach lifestyle.
  • Not too many world cities have surfing beaches so close to the city centre where you can enjoy outdoor dining, shopping for funky designer swimwear, go for a coastal stroll between sandstone headlands as well as swim and surf.
  • In New South Wales serious surfers can head to beaches in national parks, discover famed beach breaks along the north and south coasts. But there’s also plenty of beaches for families and beginners to get the hang of surfing and introduce the kids to the basics of beach safety.

Don’t miss Sydney beaches

  • Getting to Manly Beach is an enjoyable 30-minute ferry ride from the city. There’s a string of surf spots from Manly to Queenscliff, known for their waves, cool cafes and beachware.
  • Freshwater, the birthplace of Australian surfing, is one of Sydney’s smaller and most popular surfing beaches.
  • Bronte Beach is on the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk, great for waves, bars and alfresco dining.
  • South of Sydney are the popular surfing beaches around Cronulla – Wanda, Elouera, North Cronulla and Cronulla Beach.

Beaches in national parks

North Coast beaches

  • Angourie, Australia’s first dedicated surfing reserve whose waves have been luring surfers since the 1950s.
  • Crescent Head is a favourite for surfers, families and fishing enthusiasts. Surfers head to the point for the best breaks.
  • Diggers Beach near Coffs Harbour is popular with local surfers and is a great place to learn to surf.
  • Forresters Beach on the Central Coast is suited to experienced surfers with its challenging breaks.

South Coast beaches

  • Port Kembla near Wollongong has excellent summer beach breaks while Fisherman’s Beach has white sands, great waves and views to Five Islands.
  • South of Jervis Bay is Wreck Bay, home of the infamous South Coast Pipe for experienced surfers.
  • Pambula Rivermouth, south of Batemans Bay, has an epic surf break described by serious surfers as being perfect when the conditions are right.

Don’t miss family beaches