From Okinawa to Ottowa, Oslo to Olhão - if there's one thing people know about Australia, it's that we have spectacular beaches.

Thousands of kilometres of swell-hungry beaches, reef breaks, and point breaks make Australia a playground for every level of surfer.

Whether you're chasing your first foamie ride or carving heavy slabs in a remote corner of the coast, the best surf spots in Australia serve it all up: no gatekeeping, just swell and saltwater.

This is your guide to the iconic, the underrated, the sometimes downright intimidating, and best surf spots in Australia across four of its most wave-rich states.

From Bondi to Byron Bay these are the best surf beaches in New South Wales.

Byron isn’t just a pretty face, it’s a wave machine, with options for every style and ability.

The Pass is long, clean, and dreamy on a good day. When a northeast swell rolls in, you can snag 150‑metre rights, sliding past headlands with locals, longboarders, and backpackers cheering each other on. It's ideal for beginners leveling up, but paddle battles can be real, especially around mid-morning.

Wategos Beach, just around the corner, is more protected and suited to pure beginners. Gentle rollers, fewer crowds, and a beginner-friendly surf school scene make it a great spot to start. 

The Wreck, on the northern end of Belongil, is spicier: faster, hollower, and often overlooked. The sand-covered shipwreck creates a perfect setup for short but powerful lefts and rights, best during small-to-mid swell windows.

Bondi and Manly Beach are the most famous of the best surf beaches in NSW. Sydney’s coastal icons serve as crash pads for thousands of surfers, from day-one learners to elite locals.

Bondi gets flack for being crowded and commercial, but when it fires, especially on a solid E/SE swell with light offshore, it delivers clean A-frames across its banks. Surf schools dot the beach, making it a no-brainer for first-timers.

Across the bridge, Manly Beach offers more consistent power and cleaner lines. It’s more spacious and generally less busy than Bondi, with dependable sandbars and an easy read for intermediate surfers. Just know that locals have laid claim here for decades, so stay humble and mind your etiquette when paddling into a peak.

Crescent is all about flow. A right-hand point break that can serve up one of the longest rides on the east coast, when conditions are on, it's not unusual to ride 200 metres from the point all the way into the beach. The takeoff zone is manageable, and there’s a cruisy shoulder ideal for carving or cross-stepping. It’s the place for trim, style, and longboard lines.

The lineup can get busy with surf vans and grey nomads, but it stays chill, especially outside peak summer. Bring your single-fin and your patience.

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Paddle out on the beaches of the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, or Noosa to find Queensland's best surf.

Snapper Rocks is where performance surfing goes to flex.

The Superbank—a sand-bottom setup stretching from Snapper through Rainbow Bay to Kirra, turns into a conveyor belt of perfection in the right conditions. On a solid cyclone swell, you can drop in at Snapper and not kick out until Coolangatta. When it’s on, the crowd is deep and hungry, so bring confidence and fast reflexes.

Kirra, once the Gold Coast's crown jewel before sand movement shifted things, is regaining form. Thicker barrels, shorter rides, and a punchier feel make it the more technical cousin to Snapper. Local rippers rule here, expect air games and late drops.

Burleigh is the Gold Coast’s style capital.

A right-hand point wrapping around a pandanus-covered headland, it serves up crystal-clear walls that invite deep rail turns and long, flowing lines. The takeoff zone near the rocks gets wild, especially on low tide, but once you're in, the wave offers several sections to play with. The pocket here is tighter, so it’s best for surfers who know their board and don’t mind a crowded, but respectful, lineup.

On the hill above, you'll find local groms watching with boards in hand, and barefoot old-timers nodding in approval when you nail a turn. It’s performance with soul.

Noosa is the mecca of Aussie longboarding, and it earns the hype. The Noosa National Park headland hosts five points, from First Point (a mellow, peeling dream) to Granite Bay (more exposed, steeper walls).

First Point is ideal for beginners: slow takeoffs, long rides, and forgiving shoulders. It’s the kind of place where you’ll catch a wave, look back, and see three dolphins surfing the same set.

Noosa’s laid-back rhythm and long ride potential make it perfect for slow travel surfers. Rent a log, book a few lessons, and soak in the sunrise from the water. Just steer clear of cyclone swells unless you’re confident in busy lineups.

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Bells Beach and the Surf Coast are where you'll find the best surf beaches in Victoria.

If there’s a sacred site in Aussie surfing, Bells Beach is it. The bowl-shaped reef delivers long, powerful right-handers that hold up in heavy winter swells. On big days, the takeoff is steep, the walls are fast, and the sets can feel relentless. It's not for beginners - this is a proving ground for committed chargers and competition-level surfers.

During the annual Rip Curl Pro, the lineup becomes a global stage. But outside of comp season, Bells is stripped back: just you, the cliffs, and a long paddle out to meet waves that can test even seasoned locals.

For a more forgiving ride nearby, Point Addis works beautifully on smaller swells. It’s semi-secret, scenic, and less intense than Bells, offering clean, cruisy reef breaks that suit intermediates looking to work on timing and trim.

Jan Juc, just east of Bells, is a beach break option that works in a variety of wind conditions, with multiple peaks and a reliable bank setup. Great for progression and warm-ups before tackling heavier spots.

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Head to Margaret River and Yallingup for Western Australia's best surf beaches.

Margaret River is one of those places that feels too good to be real. Raw reef breaks, turquoise water, rugged cliffs and waves with teeth. Main Break is heavy, consistent, and thick-lipped. It’s not just for show it’s genuinely challenging, with strong currents and shifting peaks. This is where local legends are made and WSL competitors show what they're built for.

But Margs isn’t all brutality. The Rivermouth offers tamer waves with a sandy bottom, suitable for intermediates wanting to dip into Western Australia’s power without being overwhelmed. The best season for surfing? Autumn, when the wind drops and the swell lines up for max rideability.

Up the coast, Yallingup delivers punchy reef breaks with serious shape. Supertubes in particular offers short, hollow rides that barrel hard and fast. Think steep drops and critical timing. Ideal for experienced surfers with quick feet and a high tolerance for reef kisses.

Locals ride it clean and fast. But when it’s smaller, the beach breaks nearby offer forgiving peaks perfect for progression.

If you're reading this and considering paddling out to Cow Bombie, let’s be honest—you probably don’t need this guide. This offshore slab is Western Australia’s heaviest big-wave break. It needs jet-ski tow-ins, military-grade boards, and nerves of steel. On a 20‑foot swell, it breaks bigger than anywhere else in the country. The wave mutates mid-face, throws steps, eats boards for fun and leaves to crumbs. 

Even watching from a boat (or drone) is unforgettable. Surf it only if you’re trained, equipped, and have backup on hand.

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After more a couple more spots to add to your Aussie surf trip bucket list? These off-the-beaten track Australian surf spots are just the pick.

This sacred slab on Tasmania's southeast coast is infamous for its terrifying "steps" - swell within swell that hits deep reef, rears up, and folds over itself like liquid granite. Only paddle out if you're towing in with backup and years of big-wave experience. When it breaks, it's unspeakably beautiful and brutal.

The wave earned its fearsome reputation through decades of carnage. Local legend Mark Mathews described it as "the most technical wave in the world". The infamous step formation occurs when the initial swell hits the outer reef, creating a secondary wave that stacks on top of the first. This creates a mutating wall of water that can shift and morph mid-ride, catching even experienced chargers off guard.

Access is by boat or a long bushwalk through rugged Tasmanian wilderness. The hike alone takes commitment - two hours each way through dense bush and coastal scrub. Locals keep it tight-lipped, but the wave speaks for itself. When it's firing, it's arguably the heaviest wave in the Southern Hemisphere.

The best conditions arrive with large southern swells paired with light offshore winds. Winter months deliver the most consistent size, but hypothermia becomes a genuine concern. 

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Cactus Beach, Coffin Bay, and remote breaks along the Fleurieu Peninsula deliver clean, powerful reef breaks with few crowds. It's a haven for intermediate surfers who want uncrowded perfection and are willing to drive to get it.

Coffin Bay offers multiple reef breaks scattered along a pristine coastline. The waves here are typically smaller but more playful than Cactus, making them perfect for intermediates wanting to progress without the commitment of heavier spots. The bay's protection from westerly winds creates clean conditions when other South Australian breaks are blown out.

Cactus Beach sits on the edge of the Great Australian Bight, where massive swells march uninterrupted across the Southern Ocean. The main break is a powerful right-hand point that can hold waves up to 12 feet with remarkable consistency.

The paddle-out can be intimidating, especially when sets are running, but the reward is worth every stroke. Crystal-clear water reveals the reef structure below, giving you a perfect read on incoming sets The drive to Cactus is part of the adventure - four hours from Adelaide through wheat fields and coastal scrub. There's no surf shop, no café, just a basic campground and endless horizon.

Discover the secret surf breaks. Check into an ibis hotel in South Australia.