Travelling from Geelong to Byron bay

[Vrle]

Hey guys,

I am going for a cruise for a week or two from Geelong up the NSW coastline to Byron Bay. Can you guys help me some good places to surf along the way. I am a beginner, been surfing for just under a year so need some good spots to surf for amateurs. I'm riding a 9"1 board.

Cheers

[jaffa1949]

Hi Vrl, I'd do a direct drive from Geelong to Eden on theirs south Coast of NSW, heavy traffic time of year with school holidays over Christmas if that is when you are going, every camping ground will be prebooked and absolutely full, possibly more so since Bali may be volcanoed out.
But try In coastal order heading north.
Merimbula, Tathra and Dalmeny, Moruya beach, look around Ulladulla and Mollymook.
Geroa and Werri Beach just before Kiama. Sydney beaches well really only Manly, too competitive, head north, look at Umina, Terrigal then Shelly Beach, there are many others.
Head past Newcastle and Crescent Head where you can join the frothing throng, Evans Head Scotts head, with a lot of rain the areas will be sharky, Ballina very sharky, don't surf alone ( this is genuine serious advice).
Byron Bay , happy hippyland and multiple longboard contenders but if you get. a good wave to yourself you will know why.
Good place to watch and learn style and glide.

[dtc]

just turn right...you will find a beach that you can surf.

To add to Jaffa's list, you can also consider North Durras, Lake Tabourie, Bendalong/Green Island (good for a longboard). All have camp grounds as well. There isnt much between Melbourne and Eden however, 90 mile beach isnt the best. There are some surfable beaches in Croajingolong Nat Park (but can be hard to get to) and near Mallacoota at times, but they arent the best. Although a stop over at Lakes Entrance is probably worthwhile to break up the drive (not sure about the surf there but its a nice place)

Plenty of longboard surfers on the NSW South coast - at times my 7'4 is the shortest board on the water. So you will fit in no problems. The surfing culture is quite relaxed - no (well, very little) aggro paddling competitions or jostling, let people have waves in turn and so forth, as it should be. I mentioned that just on the off chance you are a city surfer hustler - wont go down well; we get blow ins from Sydney over the holidays and it drives the locals mad.

[Vrle]

Thanks for the info guys. Surfing can be intimidating for a newbie so it helps heaps when there are some good guys out there like yourselves willing to help. Much appreciated.