About New South Wales Surf Travel
You could spend months in a camper van traversing the New South Wales coastline indulging yourself on its myriad world-class breaks. Byron Bay, Lennox Head, Ours, Narrabbeen, Dee Why, Black Rock, the list goes on and on.
Bordered by Queensland to the north, South Australia to the west, Victoria to the south and the Tasman Sea to the east, New South Wales is typically broken up into three, more digestible regions, South, Central and North. All have their perks when it comes to A-plus surf. To the north you’ll find iconic breaks such as Byron and Lennox. Central NSW is where Sydney and the famous Northern Beach are located. While to the south, from Wollongong and down, things get a lot more pastoral and decidedly less crowded.
As far as surf tripping through New South Wales goes, it just depends on what kind of adventure you’re looking for. The camping in Australia is unreal. It’s super accessible and user-friendly. Cruising up and down the NSW is well worth the time. You can also land in more urban hubs like Sydney and head out to Bondi, Narrabbeen and the like. Whatever you’re fancy, New South Wales is holding.
Surf Crowds
You can surf alone or you can surf in the middle of a frothing pack of Aussies, it just depends on where you want to paddle out. New South Wales is home to some of Australia’s most crowded waves, but it’s also home to some remarkably pristine lineups.
Surf Hazards
Sharks and Blue Bottles seem like the most obvious surf hazards since either one can kill you and they’re both abundant in New South Wales Waters.
Surf Pollution
Again, it just depends on where you surf. Breaks around Sydney and bigger urban centers obviously have more issues with pollution, but New South Wales is a big place and things can vary from community to community. Some places are remarkably pristine and alive. Like anywhere in the world, try to avoid river or creek mouths after periods of heavy rain and urban runoff.
Best Surf Seasons in New South Wales
1) Winter
(June-August) winter is the most dependable time of year for surfing around New South Wales as low pressure systems in the Tasman Sea can create solid east and south swells. The winds this time of year are also favorable, blowing offshore from the southwest.
2) Fall
(March-May) fall around New South Wales means the potential for some solid groundswell. After a summer of inconsistent, wind waves, autumn bring hope for bigger, more powerful surf and more favorable wind conditions.
3) Spring
(September-November) New South Wales in the springtime can be challenging. Erratic winds and limited groundswell make it hard to really score epic surf, especially as it gets closer to summertime.
4) Summer
(December-February) cyclone season in the Coral Sea, and bring swells to the Byron Bay area during the summer months, but these are generally short-period, wind-induced events with limited groundswell.
Directions to New South Wales
Flying into Sydney makes the most sense if you’re going to be surfing in the southern region of New South Wales. If you’re looking to score Byron and Lennox to the north consider landing in Brisbane and driving south through the Gold Coast (who knows, maybe you’ll score Kirra along the way).