Surf in Australia

Surf in Australia: In the beginning of the 1900's, it was prohibited for anyone to swim in the sea between 6:00 in the morning and 8:00 in the evening. Whoever breached the law was imprisoned and not seen well by the community. One day, a gentleman, probably drunk decided to take a dip at noon. He was wearing a jacket and tie and many people came to watch him and decided to imitate the act. The police quickly came and everybody arrested and fined them! The two main reasons for this law was that farmers didn't like employers to leave the work during hot summers to refresh themselves at the beach, and secondly; Australia still had prisoners at that time who did forced work. It meant that if you had a tan, you might have looked like a prisoner. But as time passed, the law also lost its effect (VIP's were breaching the law anyway) and 1901 was the year it officially became legal for people to swim at Australian Beaches outside of those hours.

By 1950 the first imported wood surfboards had arrived in Australia. They were copied and adapted for Australian style and materials. Australian surfboards became lighter than their American and Hawaii counterparts, smaller in size and weight. By the 60's the Surf explosion had started and with it came friction between surfers and life savers. The biggest problem seems to be that surfers and swimmers were not happy sharing the same sand bar and life savers used to place the flags in their boundaries. Fights were inevitable. Later, a decision was made to distinguish areas between surfers and swimmers. At around the same time, the Council decided to charge a kind of surfboard license, which consists of a sticker glued on the board. This law and easy council revenue didn't last long either. By the 70's surfing was attracting multitudes to the beach, provoking a revolution and a new direction in the sport; becoming professional and profitable . Led by fantastic surfers such as Mark Richards, Rabbit Bartholomew, Terry Fitzgerald and many others who impressed the world with their surfing abilities, the sport was taken up professionally and practiced by a huge number of Australians.

Australia has many nice surfing beaches, both beach breaks and point breaks. Unfortunately we can't yet describe all Australian breaks on this website, but we will give you a good idea about the best surfing beaches, considered top of the range for the quality of its waves.

Best Time for Waves = DECEMBER -> APRIL (Cyclone Season)

Water Temperature = 19 (winter) -> 26 (summer) Celsius.

Predominant winds = S/SE (winter) E/NE (summer)

Surf Spots on the Gold Coast & North N.S.W.

	South Stradbroke Island -South Stradbroke Island - It is a sandy Island, very beautiful with gorgeous vegetation and waves. You get there by ferry (15 min crossing) or alternatively you can paddle (15 min) from the break water at the entrance of the bay. It is a beach break with nice sand bars and some point breaks. The beach break closes out when big but the point
	The Spit, Main Beach, Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Miami e Nobby -  They are all beach breaks with nice waves when small and closing out when big. Shark nets protect these beaches
	Burleigh Heads - Internationally famous, this right hand point break has dream waves but also nightmare crowds. Tip: get there very early to avoid the crowd. The wave is long and tubular especially after the drop
	Palm Beach - The other side of Burleigh Heads Hill, it is another beach break with great fun waves when small and some isolated reefs that produce good peaks
	Currumbin - Another great point break with nice waves. As with all of the Gold Coast, point breaks can get really crowded when waves are perfect. Long rides in front of river mouth driving always to Palm Beach. Also, a very beautiful location. Sometimes strong rips are formed depending on the tide. Has big swells as well
	Tugun, Bilinga - By the north part of the beach there is a reef called Elephant Rock that produces tubular rights and lefts. The South part of the beach is open with a sand bottom ideal for learning how to surf when small.
	Kirra - One of the best right points in the world, with express tubular waves. This place is one of the favourite surf spots of many professionals including Kelly Slater. 6- 8 feet is the ideal size, but it also gets very crowded when the waves are at their best. Note: Kirra doesn't break as before
	Greenmount, Rainbow Bay, Snappers Rocks -  They are a set of beaches, all of them having point breaks 6-8 feet (the perfect size). Depending on size and direction of the swell, these 3 points are joined together forming one of the longest right waves in the world. When it is good it gets really crowded. I mean really, really, really crowded. Waves are fast, sometimes tubular and perfect, breaking on sand always in the bay

Officially here is the border between the states of Queensland & New South Wales. Shark nets finish here, and the water temperature gets a bit cooler. The angle of the coast also changes relating to the winds.

	Duranbah This is one of the most popular beaches for Gold Coast surfers, simply because Duranbah will always have waves when everywhere else is flat. Duranbah will always have something good to be ridden. It holds big swells as well as small. Peaks are spread all over the beach extension and it always has a crowd.
	Cabarita ( 50km away) - If you driving south of the small village of Kingscliff, there is a great right point break called Cabarita (also name of the town). When it gets big it's is a very powerful wave that enters the short bay until it reaches the beach. Some times it gets crowded, but is much less than other northern points. When waves are big, Cabarita is tough to paddle out and the only way is walk back by the beach. On the other side of the hill a beach break has some good waves for the left handers
	Byron Bay ( 120 km) -  Surfie and Hippie Mecca during the 60's, Byron is an extraordinarily beautiful place. Today, Byron Bay is a must for anyone travelling Australia, surfie or not. The place is a meeting place of 3 smaller bays, with a hill and lighthouse on the top. The view from the top is fantastic and down below there are those beautiful and perfect waves rolling in onto a sandy bottom. It is inconsistent, and may take a while to break decently, but when it does, it really does. Very long rides, fast and tubular waves, clean and blue water that makes you feel like you are floating on air, and depending on the day, many Dolphins will share the waves with you.
	Lennox Heads, Ballina (140 km away) - South of Byron Bay, this right point is sometimes scary, but it is also perfect. Waves are heavy and powerful, breaking on rocks and sand. Water is clean but has a dark blue coloration because of the ocean depth. It is home to white pointer sharks also, and poisonous snakes on the hill. Easy to find, all you have to do is follow the road south, because the road passes in front of the point.

• Geelong (Southwest of Melbourne)

The Great Ocean Road is only 20 minutes from Geelong, the Great Ocean road starts officially, from Torquay and winds along the Surf Coast to Lorne and beyond.

Torquay, centre of the surf world: Torquay is located 95 kilometres south west of Melbourne. Travel by car via the Surf Coast Highway. Daily rail services is available from Melbourne to Geelong. Local bus services are available from Geelong. While at it’s busiest in the hot summer months, Torquay is a year-round destination offering more than just amazing beaches. There are great walks, shops, eateries and excellent accommodation. Torquay is definitely Australia's surfing capital and the official start of the Great Ocean Road. Some of the biggest names in surf wear and accessories are headquartered here, with huge retail and seconds outlets at Surf City Plaza. Nearby Surfworld Museum captures the spirit of surfing. 

Bells Beach: Victoria's surfing Mecca and the home of the longest-running professional surfing event in the world, the Rip Curl Pro, is just a short drive from Torquay, off the Great Ocean Road. Keen surfers "discovered" Bells Beach in the early 1950s and it became the world's first "surfing reserve" in 1971 The Bells area consists of a number of breaks, including Wink pop, Bells Bowl, Rincon, Centreside and Southside. Bells' powerful waves are not for beginners.

Jan Juc: The cliff-lined sandy beach is popular with swimmers and surfers. It is just off the Great Ocean Road, near Torquay. Lifesavers patrol daily in peak holiday times and on weekends at other times during the warmer months, usually from late November until the end of Easter. Birdrock is the name of the surfing spot for beginners to advanced

Anglesea: Anglesea is 109 kilometres southwest of Melbourne, located on the Great Ocean Road. Anglesea has something for all ages - beaches, bush, river, and a friendly shopping precinct, with a variety of restaurants and accommodation available. Anglesea has some of the best beaches along the Great Ocean Road. In fact, they rank among the best you will find anywhere in Australia. For some serious surfing action

	Urquhart Bluff: Off the Great Ocean Road, before Aireys Inlet. Long sandy stretches, hidden coves, rock ledges and rock pools. Swimming, surfing, walking and fishing are among pastimes.
	Eastern View: This long sandy stretch beside the Great Ocean Road provides plenty of opportunities for surfing, walks, swimming, fishing and just relaxing.
	Fairheaven:This is the main surf beach, and one of the longest along the Great Ocean Road at 6km, for swimming and board-riding.
	Lorne: Lorne and its wide, sandy beach has been a popular holiday destination since Rudyard Kipling, the English writer; came here in the 19th century. It will be one of the venues for the world lifesaving championship- Rescue 2007.

Lorne: Lorne and its wide, sandy beach has been a popular holiday destination since Rudyard Kipling, the English writer; came here in the 19^th century. It will be one of the venues for the world lifesaving championship- Rescue 2007.