A Guide to Surfing in Australia
By Orson Johnson

If you are a big surf fan, then going "down under" to the land of Australia would be furthest from a disappointment to you. In fact, the only thing that might disappoint you would be not getting to experience all of Australia (especially if you don't have a lot of time on your hands), so plan a little and make the most out of it, after all, Australia is known to have some of the best waves.

Surfing usually takes place in the East, South or West coast of Australia, and with that being said, that's a lot of miles to cover. The reason why no one surfs in the north is mainly due to the stingers and the crocodiles. With that being said, the most commercialized place to surf and to find the crowds would probably be Surfers Paradise in Gold Coast, Queensland. If you're an advanced surfer it would be a good place to surf but it's hard for beginners to find a quiet practice spot here. If you're around in March catch the pros in action during the Quicksilver Pro-Surfing competition and the Surf Life Saving Championships.

Some other famous point breaks are Kirra and Burleigh Heads (Internationally known for having dreamy waves) on the Gold Coast, toward the direction of New South Wales. The waves here are best during cyclone season from December to April.

Crossing over the New South Wales Border, you'll find Byron Bay which used to be a Surfing and Hippy Mecca during the 60's. Not only does it have great waves, it's an amazingly beautiful place to be at. Perfect waves and though it may take awhile to break, but when it does the fast and tubular waves promise you a good time. If you are lucky, depending on what time of day you choose, you might get dolphins sharing the waters with you as well.

If you're going to Sydney, the north shore beaches like Manly and Freshwater provide great surfing spots with beautiful waves and you might be able to catch the world best at the annual pro tour event here. Other beaches on the Sydney shoreline like Coogee Beach and Bondi offer endless surfing opportunities too but are much more crowded.

If you want harder waves, try surfing in Victoria but don't forget one thing that you need... a wetsuit. Just like the south waters, they aren't tropical like other parts of Australia and are open to swells from the Antarctic. The good side though would be that their waves are open to the full forces of the ocean which give great waves. I would recommend this place especially if you have local knowledge or someone to guide you.