Moving from N.Ireland to East Coast Oz

Information about specific locations and surf spots. Share your useful surf travel tips and stories. Local shapers, surf shops, camps, where to eat and stay...

Moving from N.Ireland to East Coast Oz

Postby louloubelle » Wed Sep 09, 2015 9:19 pm

Hey! I'm relocating from Northern Ireland to East Coast Australia at the start of February 2016, spending time in Sydney, Brisbane and the road in between.
Just wondering what the conditions are like around this time of year?? Is there an off season? Here in Northern Ireland, June to September (Summer), the sea is pretty much flat as pancake for 4 months...
**Currently able to catch unbroken/broken waves consistently to the shore. With the Irish Autumn/Winter hopefully kicking in soon, I hope to make a lot of improvement before moving!

Oh and water temps? Ok for board shorts? Currently wearing a 5/4 winter wetsuit.. in the summer..

Cheers! Lou
louloubelle
New Member
 
Posts: 5
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Mon Sep 07, 2015 1:42 pm
Location: Belfast

Re: Moving from N.Ireland to East Coast Oz

Postby drowningbitbybit » Thu Sep 10, 2015 12:06 am

louloubelle wrote:start of February 2016, spending time in Sydney, Brisbane and the road in between.
Just wondering what the conditions are like around this time of year?? Is there an off season?

February and into late summer on the east coast and you'll be getting blown-out wind swell every afternoon and cleanish swell most mornings. There might be the odd cyclone delivering some big swell too. Definitely not the off-season – Sydney doesn't really get an off season (although the quality tends to be less in summer), while the Sunshine Coast/Gold Coast is pretty reliable but has the odd flat period during winter (...like right now :roll: ).

louloubelle wrote:Oh and water temps? Ok for board shorts? Currently wearing a 5/4 winter wetsuit.. in the summer..

In Sydney in February, you'll probably still need a 2mm spring suit unless you're surfing in the middle of the day (and then you'll just get sunburnt and stung by bluebottle jellyfish :wink: ). By the time you reach the Gold Coast on the NSW/QLD border, you'll only need boardies right through summer and autumn 8)
You'll probably find me surfing, but if not, I'll probably be in the photography studio
User avatar
drowningbitbybit
Surfing Legend
 
Posts: 6459
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Tue Feb 15, 2005 11:16 am
Location: Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.

Re: Moving from N.Ireland to East Coast Oz

Postby beachbumuk » Thu Sep 10, 2015 6:43 am

Drowning BBB!
Spring suit in Sydney in FEB!? NOOOOO WAY!? you've gone soft!

If you Swim in the waters of the Atlantic and the Irish sea, throughout the late Spring, Summer and early Autumn in Sydney you will be happy in boardies or at most a thick rashy!

When you say relocating, are you traveling or actually moving out there?
beachbumuk
Surfer
 
Posts: 86
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2011 4:58 pm
Location: South Coast England

Re: Moving from N.Ireland to East Coast Oz

Postby drowningbitbybit » Thu Sep 10, 2015 7:53 am

beachbumuk wrote:Drowning BBB!
Spring suit in Sydney in FEB!? NOOOOO WAY!? you've gone soft!

Like you wouldn't believe... I was out in a steamer a couple of weeks ago when the water was 21ºC :oops:

But I did almost always surf in a springsuit in Sydney (even when I first got to Sydney and was used to UK temps), but that's because I was usually up for the dawnie before the onshores got going. During the day is fine for boardies though :D
You'll probably find me surfing, but if not, I'll probably be in the photography studio
User avatar
drowningbitbybit
Surfing Legend
 
Posts: 6459
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Tue Feb 15, 2005 11:16 am
Location: Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.

Re: Moving from N.Ireland to East Coast Oz

Postby beachbumuk » Thu Sep 10, 2015 8:00 am

Getting soft is a small price to pay for living there I guess...

Was always funny being out in the line up the only one in boardies surrounded by aussies in suits!

There was one local lass though that was ALWAYS the first out in the season without a wetsuit, putting the lads to shame!
beachbumuk
Surfer
 
Posts: 86
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2011 4:58 pm
Location: South Coast England

Re: Moving from N.Ireland to East Coast Oz

Postby louloubelle » Thu Sep 10, 2015 11:49 am

shorts and a rash vest will have to do, wont fit a wetsuit in my rucksack haha
beachbumuk i'm heading out on a working holiday visa, so i've got maximum 2 years in oz. My brother lives in Maroubra, so my starting point is going to be Sydney. After that head up the gold coast. Basically work, travel, surf, repeat. I'm drawn to east coast, but will definately try to spend time on the other coasts. Also seeing Asia, Indonesia, NZ, Fuji.. basically living out of a rucksack for the next few years on one massive surf holiday....

so its going to be a massive change from surfing the north and west coasts of Ireland where all you have to worry about is cold water and rips... not jelly fish and sharks...
louloubelle
New Member
 
Posts: 5
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Mon Sep 07, 2015 1:42 pm
Location: Belfast

Re: Moving from N.Ireland to East Coast Oz

Postby beachbumuk » Thu Sep 10, 2015 12:53 pm

Yeah Loulou! that's the spirit!
I ran a watersports centre in Sydney for 7months then explored. IF you have to do farm work to get your 2nd year DO NO PICK FRUIT!

and please PLEASE make it over to the west coast...very few make it but OMG its incredible!

If after any advice, shout!

Enjoy yourself, I am working on getting myself back there!
beachbumuk
Surfer
 
Posts: 86
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2011 4:58 pm
Location: South Coast England

Re: Moving from N.Ireland to East Coast Oz

Postby dtc » Thu Sep 10, 2015 1:37 pm

Watch out for sharks....

As a NSW South Coast (that is, south of Sydney) surfer, although its marginally colder and yes doesn't have the world class breaks of the northern areas, its (a) far far far less crowded and (b) less aggro as a result and (c) more beautiful... (maybe). Also, there is a good to better beach surf break every 2-3km pretty much. Or more frequently. Basically just turn eastwards anywhere you want and you can surf. I get a bit blasé, but when I read about the efforts you far northerners go to, I realise its pretty much presented on a plate down here. Sydney, by the way, has some good areas to surf but is generally pretty crowded (as you would expect given there are 4m people)

Anyway, don't forget to head south as well. The Sydney northwards backpacker trail is well established, so its easy to get around and its full of backpackers all wanting work - southwards there are many less people competing for those jobs (but less backpacker infrastructure).

In my totally personal opinion, March - May is the most enjoyable time to surf the east coast. The water is the warmest, the waves may not be winter huge but are at least fun most of the time, the air temp is a bit lower than mid summer and so the winds pick up a bit later in the day or even no winds (April/May). Its not really crowded like around Jan.

As DBB said, most afternoons will be on shore windy and often not really surfable - but there is nothing better than surfing on a bright bright warm sunny day at 630am. Esp if you are from Ireland. Find a good sunscreen (invisible zinc is good for the face)
dtc
Surf God
 
Posts: 3833
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Mon May 21, 2012 4:58 am

Re: Moving from N.Ireland to East Coast Oz

Postby drowningbitbybit » Thu Sep 10, 2015 9:17 pm

louloubelle wrote: Maroubra... so its going to be a massive change from surfing the north and west coasts of Ireland...

Oh, good lord, yes... the very first wave that you paddle into at the 'bra will let you know just how different :shock: :lol:

I still remember the very first wave I paddled into in Australia 8 years ago... ooh, I was slapped down hard :shock:
Just as a suggestion - for your first session in Australia, take a trip a touch further south and go surf 'Greenhills' at Cronulla. It's a much more user-friendly wave than Maroubra for relative newbies.
You'll probably find me surfing, but if not, I'll probably be in the photography studio
User avatar
drowningbitbybit
Surfing Legend
 
Posts: 6459
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Tue Feb 15, 2005 11:16 am
Location: Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.

Re: Moving from N.Ireland to East Coast Oz

Postby louloubelle » Thu Sep 10, 2015 9:43 pm

Thanks all for taking the time to reply! I've ordered my rash vest and I'm ready to rock! Get me on that plane!

Currently I have to drive 60 miles and 1 1/2 hours to get to the beach..... I cannot wait to live beside the sea!!! I also have no friends that surf... ahhh pity party. Haha who wouldn't want to befriend a lonely girl in the water? So not only will the move to Australia and beyond be an adventure in its own but I cant wait to meet like minded people who hopefully will point me in the right direction!
Being a relative newbie, I am still trying to understand the weather, swell and best tides for my own little island and I depend heavily on the surf reports from the surf shops at the coast before I decide on making that 60 mile journey.
I haven't been in the water in about 4 weeks because it's been flat and I'm getting very itchy feet. Autumn needs to hurry up!
louloubelle
New Member
 
Posts: 5
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Mon Sep 07, 2015 1:42 pm
Location: Belfast

Re: Moving from N.Ireland to East Coast Oz

Postby dtc » Thu Sep 10, 2015 10:15 pm

DBB - yeah, those soft irish waves vs the jacked up aggro Aussie beach breaks .... your pop up needs to be pretty good. And you need to learn to love 3 second 'down and bottom turn close out waves'. But its not that bad, probably just a few adjustments.
dtc
Surf God
 
Posts: 3833
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Mon May 21, 2012 4:58 am

Re: Moving from N.Ireland to East Coast Oz

Postby beachbumuk » Fri Sep 11, 2015 7:00 am

If it helps, I reckon the paddle out on the Aussie beaches is easier as its a shed load shorter and there are proper rips to use!

Yeah stay away from Marubra for a bit, there is such a selection south of Sydney that you will not go wrong!
Check out Uncle Jaffa on here, he's a local down that way!

Enjoy your time, you'll make a heap of friends from all kinds of backgrounds and countries! Enjoy the coffee (GOD I miss Aussie coffee)

It will be epic...I am not jealous at all!
beachbumuk
Surfer
 
Posts: 86
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2011 4:58 pm
Location: South Coast England

Re: Moving from N.Ireland to East Coast Oz

Postby drowningbitbybit » Fri Sep 11, 2015 7:34 am

beachbumuk wrote:If it helps, I reckon the paddle out on the Aussie beaches is easier as its a shed load shorter and there are proper rips to use!

Hell yeah - I reckon if I was to come back to the UK and try the Llangennith paddle out these days, I'd just die :shock: :oops:

You gotta love the maroubra freight-train rip at the south end :unuts:

And these days I just jump off the point :D
You'll probably find me surfing, but if not, I'll probably be in the photography studio
User avatar
drowningbitbybit
Surfing Legend
 
Posts: 6459
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Tue Feb 15, 2005 11:16 am
Location: Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.

Re: Moving from N.Ireland to East Coast Oz

Postby DottySkee » Fri Sep 11, 2015 10:28 am

I'll be watching this thread with interest LouLou. I'm just starting to take up surfing but I had been planning to go travelling next year already. with a friend introducing me to surfing recently, why not combine the two!

Similar plan to me too, I was going to try starting out in Sydney or Melbourne (I have friend in Melbourne who'll let me crash on their couch when I first get there to get settled) then travel up the Gold Coast working and surfing. It'll be a big change from urfing the west coast of Scotland to Australia, I'll be that guy in boardies and rashie when everyone else is in wetties :lol:
I've no plans for when my travels finish, my house is going up for rent while I'm gone and most of my stuff is being sold. Stay as long as I'm welcome in Oz (if I can get all I need to extend my first VISA) then take in as much of Asia and the pacific islands as I can until the money runs out!

I'm not planning on leaving until April/May (got to wait until then so that work will give me a career break) so if you put up any of your learning curve on here I can learn from it which would be great. Be a bit less of a kook when I land :lol:
DottySkee
New Member
 
Posts: 8
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Wed Sep 09, 2015 9:57 am

Re: Moving from N.Ireland to East Coast Oz

Postby louloubelle » Fri Sep 11, 2015 12:09 pm

beachbumuk wrote:If it helps, I reckon the paddle out on the Aussie beaches is easier as its a shed load shorter and there are proper rips to use!
Yeah stay away from Marubra for a bit!


HAHA rips, please, I spend my time trying to avoid the rips, that'll be something to work on with lots and lots more experience!
Although my Bro lives in Maroubra, I'll not be staying with him. I plan to go straight to a hostel when I land. No idea what part of sydney yet. Nothing booked.
So Maroubra will probably not be the first beach I try out.

Any other beach suggestions for relative newbies in the sydney area? I've made really good progess in the last few months here, thats with only getting out on the water every couple of weeks and so hoping to make a lot more progess before i go in February! I just need to learn how to turn my board now...

DottySkee i must PM you!
louloubelle
New Member
 
Posts: 5
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Mon Sep 07, 2015 1:42 pm
Location: Belfast

Re: Moving from N.Ireland to East Coast Oz

Postby DottySkee » Fri Sep 11, 2015 12:57 pm

louloubelle wrote:
Any other beach suggestions for relative newbies in the sydney area? I've made really good progess in the last few months here, thats with only getting out on the water every couple of weeks and so hoping to make a lot more progess before i go in February! I just need to learn how to turn my board now...

DottySkee i must PM you!


Sure! A surfing buddy/travel buddy for a bit would be awesome. Especially as you'll be settled in by the time I get there. I've been contemplating a camper van for a while to explore the coast properly too, not sure if it's an expensive idea or not though.
DottySkee
New Member
 
Posts: 8
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Wed Sep 09, 2015 9:57 am

Re: Moving from N.Ireland to East Coast Oz

Postby jaffa1949 » Sat Sep 12, 2015 5:27 am

The classic east coast camper van holiday trip.
The full Thelma and Louise, great way to , Uncle Jaffa might be in heaven on the planet right now but he comes from Merimbula near Eden :lol:
I've taken up troll hunting just for fun, instead of a rifle I'll just use a pun! 冲浪爷爷
User avatar
jaffa1949
Surfing Legend
 
Posts: 8182
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Thu Jul 08, 2010 12:01 am
Location: The super secret point breaks of Ober Österreich ( how many will notice the change)

Re: Moving from N.Ireland to East Coast Oz

Postby dtc » Sat Sep 12, 2015 7:27 am

Yeah, any surf or geography related questions between the NSW/Victoria border and up to around Noosa we can answer between the regulars on here.

Backpacking questions, however, will get you replies from 20 to 40 years out of date...
dtc
Surf God
 
Posts: 3833
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Mon May 21, 2012 4:58 am

Re: Moving from N.Ireland to East Coast Oz

Postby billie_morini » Tue Sep 15, 2015 5:37 am

Sounds wonderful, louloubelle. Hopefully, this adventure will exceed all of your expectations.
billie
User avatar
billie_morini
Surf God
 
Posts: 3467
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Mon Nov 19, 2007 2:07 am
Location: Santa Barbara

Re: Moving from N.Ireland to East Coast Oz

Postby beachbumuk » Tue Sep 15, 2015 7:15 am

I can hit you up with a limited knowledge of East Coast knowledge, but much closer to the traveling scene having come back a year ago and still trying to get back out.

On of the standard things to do is be in Manly. its full of traverls from all over, lots of surfing on crowded beach but nowhere NEAR as bad as Bondi.
Some OK hostels, its a pick and choose place really.

Sydney is a nice place, but at the end of the day a city is a city....I'd suggest getting out and exploring!
I wish I had had a van, but I did the coast (eventually in my 2nd year) on the GreyHound Bus.
As you are going up the coast try YAMBA! I missed it but heard nothing but good things :) frined of mine was running the Youth Hostel there! nice waves uncrowded!

There's a starter, if you want any more, give me a PM so as not to keep filling walls! :)

OH and Gumtree is your friend - surfboard, housing, cars...everything.
beachbumuk
Surfer
 
Posts: 86
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2011 4:58 pm
Location: South Coast England

Next

Similar topics

Return to Surfing Travel Tips, Spot Locations and Info