Surf spot near Sydney, NSW

[Surfnswoz]

Hi
I'm currently looking for a surf spot around Sydney. (2-3h north or south)
Does anybody know a good one with a cheap campground or hostel and not too crowded?
I am right now in Manly and northern Beaches. Nice waves but a little bit too many people there. I prefer a quiet campground than the nice but hectic Manly.

If anybody is intersted, I have been to bendalong campground. It was very very good. Perfect waves but after some time the campground gets expensive.

Thanks in advance

[drowningbitbybit]

If you don't mind roughing it, try Meroo Camp Site - it's free, a few hours south of sydney, and right next to empty surf.

[dtc]

To be honest, you will struggle to find somewhere better than Bendalong - great campsite, the beach is a swell magnet and, of course, Green Island. There are camping sites at Lake Conjola and Currajong etc but these are probably no cheaper; but worth a look.

There are some beautiful NSW National Park camping sites at Depot Beach and also Pebbly Beach, another 45 min or so south of Bendalong, but the surf certainly isnt as good as Bendalong and you may need to drive around to Durras for waves (there are also camping sites at Durras). Depot Beach is slightly better for waves than Pebbly.

Ulladulla area has some campsites and is pretty good with the waves (Mollymook, Narrawallee). But probably about the same price as Bendalong.

Wollongong isnt particularly crowded, esp if you head to the more northern beaches like Stanwell Park; but the camping sites are fairly expensive over summer ($40 a night or so). But you can save money by just taking the train down early Saturday morning and staying until Sunday night, so 2 full days for the price of one night and no petrol costs.

There is a backpackers hostel at Ulladulla (Ulladulla Lodge) that looks nice from the outside (although is on the highway, so on a busy road).

If you go to the 'visitnsw' website, you can search all sorts of accom. around NSW through a 'map view' (zoom in) and see what is possibly available. The NSW Parks site has details of the NSW camping areas.

[jaffa1949]

This is going into the realms of secret spots, but the well know really good spots are often accompanied by pay camp grounds.
In some of the National Parks there are what is called primitive camp grounds ( minor usage fee). Usually just a number of tent sites with a shelter over a long drop toilet.
BYO all provisions, water and cooking gear these are often uncrowded up until School Holidays and some of them have great surf breaks. They are swell and wind dependent so are often forgotten when the the known spots are working.
Look and you will find them. Snakes goannas and other land and water hazards to be aware of.