Surfing Waves

Hey guys,

Just to make it quick. I want to be able to surf alot while studying and so I have come up with 4 possible nations where you can find good surf and are study economics at the same time.

My question to you is where you would reccomend me to go. It has to be a place where you can practically walk from the city to a surf spot.

I have therefore chosen 4 countries / Australia/portugal/USA and New Zealand. Within these countries I can choose universities in Brisbane, Perth, Sydney, Lisbon, Santa Barbara/California and Auckland.

Im originally from Northern Europe.

Where would you reccomend me to go? Right now Im most up for Sydney due to beaches close to the beach (I have never been there), a beautiful city and reasonable waves = but I would like to hear your opinion! Please share your thoughts!

Well, I've been to and surfed in the Perth and Auckland areas.

In Perth, you can get a bus from the city centre to Scarborough beach, which takes about 45 minutes. They are usually ok with you taking a board on there. I would not reccommend walking, it would take all day.

In Auckland, it's around 45 minutes by car to the west coast, and bus access (I think) doesn't exist.

Hi thx for your reply!

Wow! Does it really take that long to go to Scarborough beach in Perth? I thought you could WALK there in 45 min.

I knew that Auckland is pretty "far" from the surf spots though.

Anyway thx for your quick reply.

Please write more comments.

- I of course meant "beaches close to the city" in my last section. Though that's only what i've heard. As I write - I have never been there

YoMan wrote:Brisbane, Perth, Sydney... and Auckland.

Well, of those, only Sydney is properly on a surfable coast, so I guess that sorts that out.

Aight awesome. Thx so far.

I MIGHT also be able to choose Newcastle. That would probably be better than Sydney (if I were to take Aus) or what?

Yeah, Sydney is the best location (although Newcastle is also good). However, in Sydney there arent many surf beaches particularly close to a university, apart from Bondi (which can be crowded, but its there). Otherwise you are looking at the northern beaches; and to get to university from there is a 20 minute ferry ride plus transport to/from the ferry. Of course, being at uni you probably can take as long as you want!

Anyway, you can live within walking distance of a beach, but you wont be very close to uni (ie probably 30 min each way). Or vice versa. Unless, as mentioned, you live at Bondi, in which case your journey may only be 15 min. Time frames depending on which university you are attending.

Newcastle is much smaller so everything is a bit closer.

With the $A being so high, Australia is a fairly expensive place at the moment (relative to other countries) and Sydney rents are very high - not to discourage you, just keep it in mind.

If I was in your position I'd choose Australia, simply as it is a great country, with a pretty good climate (although it rained non-stop the whole 5 weeks the last time I was there!) but, as has been stated, Australia is more expensive than it used to be and you'd need to get a visa. Portugal, if you are from an EU country, might be a good bet, as you won't need such nonsense as a visa and there are consistent waves about 45 mins drive from Lisbon.

Just while we're on the subject of cost... have you considered tuition fees in all of this?
Undergraduate tuition fees for sydney uni for a foreign student are currently around AU$10,000 per year for economics

Hi and thx for your replies!

So generally Sydney has better beaches compared to Newcastle, but in Newcastle everything is closer? Added to that I would assume Newcastle has lower rents due to Sydney being much larger and well-known.

Lisbon is also very tempting! Prices are cheap, the weather is also awesome (the sunniest capital of Europe) but as you say - you'll need to drive at least 20-25 min. by car to get to a surfing beach. 45 min. away is the surf mecca Ericeira where I have been a couple of times. Lisbon is the "safe choice" but it would be funny to try a place I haven't been before.

I'm an undergraduate student now (finishing next year) so it would be for my master studies. Luckily I get refunded much of the tuition fees by the state.

Good luck with your studies.

Where in Northern Europe are you from?

YoMan wrote: So generally Sydney has better beaches compared to Newcastle, but in Newcastle everything is closer?

Newcastle has got some great beaches, and is also easy to get out of the city and get some space to yourself. Sydney has got great beaches, but what it has most is crowds.

It's sunday morning, the sun is out, the surf is perfect, and frankly today I can't be bothered to deal with the number of people in the water.
Fortunately, I'm freelance, so I'll just wait until tomorrow when everyone is at work

Newcastle isn't crowd-free by any stretch of the imagination, but less of an issue, and easier to escape than Sydney.
The lifestyle of Newcastle (and even Sydney) is a world away from europe and (apologies to the aussies on the forum) may feel a bit backward in its attitudes compared to most of europe.

So don't take my word for it, visit the place before you make any decisions

Just so you don't miss out on a possible option there is a University at Wollongong which is closer to surf beaches than any other in NSW less crowded beaches and some great breaks cheapest of all the cities with Universities, but may be course limited!

The closest Uni to the surf in Sydney is the Uni of NSW, Sydney Uni, inner suburbs of Sydney but west of the beaches. Macquaries NW Sydney about an hours drive from Northern Beaches of Sydney.

Newcastle Uni is on the mid western side of Newcastle again about a hours traffic dodging from the surf but easy access to the mid north coast of NSW.

The rest depends on what you means lifestyle.
Most Unis know of cheap good,eats and entertainment that covers most things

It's all there you just have to look a little harder and harder still inmNewcastleor,Wollongong

Aight cool this has narrowed my search a lot!

Fay: Born in Denmark but I have lived most of my life in Sweden and Germany. Currently I live in DK again.

Drowning: Do you have any experience with Manly beach? I might have found an interesting place to live and study close by.

But daaamn there are a lot of universities in the Sydney area. You really have to look out!

Big thanks for the Wollongong-tip! I'll definitely check it out! .

Let me hear if you have any other good tips! Thx for the replies so far! Appreciate it!

YoMan wrote:Drowning: Do you have any experience with Manly beach? I might have found an interesting place to live and study close by.

Manly beach is the bondi of the northern beaches - it's a lovely spot but insanely crowded
It's got the nightlife, pubs, restaurants and beach lifestyle, and lots of people love it. Me, I think its too crowded (both the suburb and the water).

Good call by Jaffa on the 'gong uni - right next to superb surfing beaches (you'd still need a car though) and away from the crowds. It is a campus university though, and the 'gong itself is quite a small place - depends on whether you want to surf surf surf and nothing else (oh yes, and study), or surf and... well, anything else