Beginner Surfing Australia August 2014

[mitchmitchelson]

Yo,

I was thinking about learning surf for a month in august 2014 (can't change the scheduled time, I'm a beginner).

Since I'll already be in Asia, I searched a surf camp in the area Asia/Ocenania and found the Mojosurf in Australia.

Since August is winter in Australia, I assume it isn't a right period to surf, but is really that bad? There are no waves? Or have someone a better idea?

Thx
Mitch

[jaffa1949]

Mitch Australia is a continent, and not matter what the season there is warm water and various areas have surf, try Queensland if you want August surf and the company of other learners. The southern states will be having rubber suit sizey surf sessions with offshore winds blowing off the snow fields.
There is alway surf in Australia, just not necessarily where you are!
Mojo,is in Byron Bay the Capitol of surf learning experience, and definitely company .

[peazz]

Even now, at the start of December, Bondi can get pretty cold and im wearing a springy.

From my knowledge, head more north and u will have warmer waters. Beginner friendly breaks i have no clue about at all i'll leave that to one of the other guys, Im heading north on the 7th, ill let you know about what beginner (and not so beginner) friendly spots i locate.

- Andy

[mitchmitchelson]

ahahah I always forgot that Australia is a little bit bigger than Switzerland

So Queensland seems to be the right place, since it's north-north-east ... I tried to find a surf camp or surf school there for a month, but till yet, my searches weren't that successfully...I'm gonna search deeper. In the meantime, if someone got a good idea for sure I'll be gratefully

@Andy sure give me a feedback about your stay in the north, thx

[dtc]

There are a few websites around with average water temps you can use - for example, for Byron

http://www.seatemperature.org/australia ... august.htm

shows you the water temp in August is still above 20C, so basically the UK in mid summer. Going further north, such as Noosa, and its even warmer. Actually the water cools slower than the air temp, so around Oct/Nov is often the coldest for the water.

In terms of timing, try to avoid the school holidays as N NSW and Queensland get quite popular. August is fine - no holidays; but start of July or end of Sept are to be avoided

Australia tends not to have surf camps, where you live at the camp etc. Rather you sign up to lessons (which might be 1/2 day or full day for a week or whatever) and then you find your own accommodation. So more surf school than surf camp. There is a well established backpacker trail from Sydney northwards, so I there are quite a few surf schools along the coast, particularly around Byron Bay, Coffs Harbour and Noosa. 1/2 day is probably all that you need in terms of lessons, because you will be exhausted...but see if you can find someone who will let you hire the board for the whole day and take a morning lesson and then take yourself back to the surf for a few hours in the afternoon.

A month is probably a bit long to do lessons. I would suggest (if you can afford it), a week of lessons, a week off (keep surfing by yourself) and then maybe another week of lessons. If you are genuinely going to surf for a month, it may even be worth buying your own board rather than renting.

[mitchmitchelson]

thx for the tips dtc.

i'll look on the web what i'll find for surf schools next to or in noosa. since i just been on a board for 3 days till yet, i don't know if the solution one week school, one week off and so on is the right for myself, i'm not that much a self made man ... but you're right, that cool be a way too

[peazz]

So, our 2 days in Byron are coming to an end, there is a plethora of breaks all with in a short drive of each other.

Main beach seems pretty beginner friendly with no localism from what i experienced, in fact all the locals are really really friendly and encouraging!

took a little drive upto Lennox heads this evening which is 20km from Byron, its one long stretch of beach (7 mile beach its called i think), not a single soul in the water, north end is quite rocky but seems to be a nice rolling point up there, otherwise its beach break.

Will keep you updated, we are driving to sunshine coast tomorrow, Planning to check out some of noosa's points and sunshine beachs famed short board waves

EDIT: Heres some pictures of Lennox head, Starting with the cliff point ( today is s / se swell )


Cliff point, rock & sand


middle beach break / sand bottom

[petersumpters]

Yeah,Queensland is pretty a good place to surf. One must start at some point,and I can say you are in a good direction. Good luck.

[mitchmitchelson]

so after googling (a lot), I found these two "surf camp package" in Noosa

anyone ever try one of these ? any good tips ?

http://www.unitedsurfcamps.com/surf-camp/Noosa

http://www.learntosurf.com.au/homepage.html

thx

[surf patrol]

I am living in Sydney and I love to visit Byron Bay for surfing. There is no flight to Byron Bay directly. The only thing you can get there is to book a ticket from Sydney to Gold Coast and you need to go there by car. I stayed there with my friends and there are so many luxury byron bay accommodation with private pool. We enjoyed a lot there and they provides all the amenities whatever you required.


<edit>

[peazz]

so after googling (a lot), I found these two "surf camp package" in Noosa

anyone ever try one of these ? any good tips ?

http://www.unitedsurfcamps.com/surf-camp/Noosa

http://www.learntosurf.com.au/homepage.html

thx

Just a FYI mate, noosa is REALLY swell dependant, I was in coolum for 9 days and was up there every day hoping to grab one of the famous points but every day it was flat, I had to get down on the open beaches... I would base yourself (if you can drive) in coolumn, as its within 10/15 min drive of noosa, is no where near as expensive and southern end of coolum beach has some sick little barrels at low tide! (not crowded and has some real friendly locals out in the evenings)

[mitchmitchelson]

thx for all your tips

i think i'll go to learntosurf in noosa and then i'll see. i didn't need huge tube i think to begin to learn, but if the sea is definitely flat during days, i could always manage to find another spot

[peazz]

Unless you are driving the chances of you finding another spot is very slim. Noosa is very swell dependent, dont expect to be surfing daily there

[mitchmitchelson]

So I went to Noosa, I surfed daily. For sure someday in the morning the swell was really low, but we always manage a time to surf in the day.

[surf patrol]

That's great mitchmitchelson, you can't complain if you get some surf every day

[mitchmitchelson]

Ahaha I don't complain, I just forgot the smiley at the end of my sentence ... I had a freaking great time there

[El Slabbo]

Noosa might be ok during the winter swells for a beginner.