Surfing Waves

Hi everyone,
My wife and I are traveling to Sydney and will be there oct 4th 12th. We are beginner intermediate surfers.
How aggressive is the surf? How hard is it to get out in the lineup? We are used to ankle to chest high waves. What is the water temp air temp? Are the beaches safe to leave your stuff? Manly and bondi are the closest to us.
Thanks for any insight. We are from the states and am trying to gather as much info as possible.

For both Manly and Bondi, they're not aggressive particularly, but they are VERY VERY UNBELIEVABLY crowded!

Both beaches are often suitable for beginners but they can range from ankle high to overhead and a half (above that and they are usually maxed out). Of the two, Manly usually has the most protected and most beginner-friendly waves. And crowds. Getting out back is very simple - its usually a very short paddle.

Leaving your stuff on the beach? ABSOLUTELY NOT.
They're city beaches - full of not only surfers, but tourists, locals, westies (that's anyone not from the eastern suburbs), and that attracts thieves.

October isn't quite into "definitely warm" weather yet, but air temp likely to be in the mid-20s, and water temp should be around 19 or 20C. You will need a wetsuit, but you can probably get away with a 2mm shortie by then.

Did I mention how crowded it was going to be?



If you've got a car, head down south to Cronulla... a much more fun surfing experience, with far less crowds (not no crowds, just less crowds). Or on a small day, try Maroubra. Or head north past Dee Why.

Thanks for all the info! Much appreciated! I will be staying by the opera house. Do you know if they have public transport to cronulla or maroubra? I believe there is a ferry from the four seasons to manly I believe and cabs.

Welcome to Oz, take a Manly Ferry to Manly , you can also hire boards and wetsuits there, there are trains to Cronulla but possibly a number of changes . Taxis are not cheap IMO. Train goes to Bond junction and then a taxi you can hire boards at Bondi too, it is just ridiculously crowded with every degree of learner, swimmer and surf craft!
Once you get beyond Sydney in any direction about two hours the real Australia begins.

Manly is crowded before and after work/school, but if you head out betweem 9 - 3 weekdays its a lot better. Bondi is where all the travellers/backpackers go, so its busy all of the day but less so during those hours as well.

Both places have surf schools, if that is of any interest.

As Jaffa said, cabs are expensive. The ferry from manly leaves almost in front of your hotel and its about a 5 min walk at the other end to the beach, so its by far the easiest. Its also a fantastic journey that everyone should do just to do it (there are slow ferries - about 30 min - and fast catarmans, about 15-20 min. The slow ferries are much more enjoyable as a tourist, so make sure at least one of your trips is on a slow one). Goes past the opera house, great view of the sydney harbour bridge and the harbour itself. I'm not from Sydney but on a sunny day on the harbour I almost wish I was (then I remember all the reasons why I dont live in Sydney...but thats another thread)

There is also a rail station at the same place as the ferry (Circular Quay) and you can go out to Cronulla with a few changes or to Bondi Junction (bus or cab from there to Bondi). Another option is to go to Manly and catch a bus northwards, there are beaches all the way along (curl curl, narrabeen, dee why etc. But you probably need your own board as there wont be rental places there (unless you rent at manly and then go north).

There are some places in Manly that have hire lockers, but I've never used them - google might help you locate.

Bondi is probably slightly more beginner friendly because of who surfs there; but Manly is a big beach with a few peaks - just head off to the less crowded part of the beach if you are worried about the line up.

Like all beaches, there can be rips and big surf and so on.

Thank you all again for the info. We are traveling with surfboards and wetsuits so we will have equipment. It's more getting them from the four seasons to the surf destinations. The ferry sounds really rad for manly. Thanks for the tips. Do you see people carrying their boards through the city?I have a day bag for my equipment separate from my travel bag that I use for other trips or do people carry their boards directly onto the ferry? Our friends our going to meet and take us to cronulla or one of the other beaches suggested. Also when is the the surf better at manly or bondi low or high tide? What is the ideal wind direction as well as what swell intervals are acceptable for good surf. Where I surf in the states anything over 8-10 seconds is good. Cheers!

A standard swell period in summer and most of the east coast is 9 seconds.
Manly can take swell from NE to SE as it is a long beach the Northern end, Queenscliff can work well in a NE wind and onany swell east to south.
Southern end Manly the opposite there the NE wind is a surf killer.
In a big southerly swell with a S or SW or W wind Fairy Bower is the go and is a serious big surf spot. Ferries shouldn't be a problem for taking boards although getting around in the inner city could be.
There are taxis that are what you call estate wagons ( we call them station wagons) that may be able and willing to take your boards.
To get to Manly beach from the ferry you just walk down the main pedestrian boulevard ( the Corso).
Then running north to south in front of you is Manly beach . Choose your peak.
If there is an area flagged off by red and yellow flags that is a swimmers and bodysurfers spot only.
There will be blue flags either side of the swimming flags as a sort of buffer zone.
If there are lifeguards there have a yarn to them as to where the rips are, there are some concrete drainpipes to avoid.
Have fun

I think Jaffa has answered most of your questions

Wingnut76 wrote:Also when is the the surf better at manly or bondi low or high tide?

Low to mid for both. Depending on what the sand is doing, the city beach breaks can sometimes be like surfing in a lake at high tide - you can step off the edge of the sand into 3ft of water

Bondi is much more south-facing than the other city beaches and so can sometimes show a wave when everywhere else is flat or can be protected from a NE swell when everywhere else is maxed out. Bondi also has some protection from the dreaded onshore seabreezes in the afternoon, so can be a good spot for that evening session... as long as you don't mind sharing it with many many many other people

As DBB mentioned, in Oct you probably will start having the onshore sea breeze from around, perhaps, midday? Maybe slightly earlier. Depends on how hot it is. Anyway, for Manly try and go early morning, but to avoid crowds go after 830am; or go closer to sunset (will be more crowded).

In terms of getting to the ferry, from the 4 seasons you walk out and across the road then turn right for about 80m and there is the ferry terminal. So no issue in getting to the ferry, and they are pretty large and wont be crowded when you are going; they cope fine with holiday makers and surfboards; of course the 4 seasons is in the city so there will be plenty of people around (particularly at rush hour), but its not New York so a little bit of attention to what the board is doing and you will be fine