Uncrowded Surf Spots on the East

[skidane]

Hi all,

I am an intermediate level surfer from North California. I am traveling with my wife and 7mo daughter to Australia for holiday end of November (about 10 day duration). We are flying into Sydney and will probably spend some time in Melbourne as well. I would like to get at least two half day surf session if possible. My question is, does anybody know uncrowded surf school/camp/beach in the East that I can drive to to surf (I need to rent equipment)? I don't mind if I have to pay for boat excursions to point breaks to avoid crowd.

thanks
Sam

[jaffa1949]

Oh that is an impossible question ............surf school, rental equipment, you need a crowd to make it viable.
Every beach on the east coast north and south has a surf crew experienced in their own spot.
The high school graduation exams will have finished and the newly freed frothers will be hard at it trying to catch up with the surfs they feel they missed.

Depending on how you plan to travel Sydney to Melbourne, buy a cheap board on eBay as similar as what you are using now. Sell it on leaving!
All point breaks are onshore, California island spots do not exist. Sydney itself has 50 easily accessible beaches servicing the surfing population among 4 million people.

Cruise the coast on the Princes highway ( which bears only a partial resemblance to freeway) lots of beaches heading south to explore!
Remember to drive on the opposite side of the road to California.

A warning summer has lots of hazards,
In the water rips , crowds, sunburn, bluebottles ( Portuguese man o war )
Seriously on land, snakes, deadly venomous spiders, more snakes most in the top,ten venomous snakes of the world.
Flies, you will be issued 10 million flies for your personal use, ( they await just beyond the city).

But it will be a great trip truly, if you pass down the Prince Highway near Merimbula uncle Jaffa may just catch up with you.

Don't not watch the Movie " Wolf Creek"


Have fun!

[dtc]

I'll be a bit more optimistic than Jaffa - if you head south of sydney (1-3 hrs drive) you will easily find a spot with less than 5 surfers. But that makes for a long day or an overnight trip (which I encourage as its a great area of Australia; but whether you have the time I dont know).

If you surf in Sydney after about 9ish then you will find that the crowds arent very bad (Jaffa, school holidays arent at end of Nov! Yes the year 12 finishers will be out and about but there arent 1000s of them). There will be a group of people out in most sydney beaches but it wont be ridiculous and most people are polite by that time of day. But dont go too late as there are usually on shore winds from midday/early afternoon

Your hardest issue will be finding gear to rent outside of the main Sydney beaches; I'm thinking you probably are best off just going to Bondi or Manly and hiring some gear and having a surf there - they are surf lesson/backpacker central but that means you can easily find a board to rent and/or a surf instructor if that is what you want, just keep an eye out for the backpacker kooks. Manly has beaches to the north if you have a car (but is harder to get to with a car from the city centre) or I imagine there are some private surf instructor s who are willing to take you around if you want to pay. For a fun holiday surf, picking up a rental and surfing Bondi or Manly should be fine. It wont be a memorable surf but if you are in a the middle of a city with 4m people then you take what you can get! Your family will probably enjoy the trip over the Manly via the ferry and there are cafes etc

Melbourne doesnt have any nearby surf beaches; they are all an hour or more away (generally more). Although Melbourne is on the coast, its on a huge bay that doesnt get any waves.

Have a good time

[jaffa1949]

That's true after tradie o'clock surf crowds do lessen but try to,surf before 3.30'in the afternoon before school gets out.
About an hours drive south of the south of Sydney some classic beaches near Wollongong, can be uncrowded.
Your wind enemy is the NE wind except in the deep north corners of many beaches the NE also brings in the bluebottles.

Main thing welcome to Oz and enjoy thoroughly

[Big H]

Don't not watch the Movie " Wolf Creek"

Curiosity got to me....
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf_Creek_(film)

[skidane]

You guys are awesome and welcoming. Very helpful, thanks. It sounds my best bets are Bondi or Manley.

Jaffa, you are freaking me out , is it really that dangerous if we go to say Bondi and Manley. Not so much for me but I would hate to endanger my girls. I am hoping they can hang out by the beach while I catch a few waves.

Sam

[jaffa1949]

Manly and Bondi are your best bets, Manly is a much longer beach and is less populated by non surfing tourists in a concentrated area. From the centre of Sydney there is one of the best ferry rides through Sydney harbour and Manly has a bigger range of surf schools.
Your girls will be safe at either beach, no snakes or spiders on the beach, be sure if you are swimming to swim between the red and yellow flags, they are the lifeguarded areas for swimmers and boogie board craft only.
If you are not sure of rips and hazards talk to the lifeguards, they would rather advise you than rescue you.
If you do head into the bush or stop at bush camping areas simple awareness is mostly what you need.
let us know your approximate travel plans we can point out things to see or even meet and greet you. I'm happy to do that, recovering from surgery but i would be able to lend you a board for a day in my area.

[skidane]

Thanks much guys. I will ping when en-route. Another question, do I need to bring a wetsuit/booties for Bandi/Manley in late November? What is the weather like at the beach - temp and sunshine wise?

Sam

[jaffa1949]

You are right on the beginning of summer here, a rashy and board short can be the go, 2/3 wetty is pretty much all you need if you feel the cold, Victoria will be colder but the 2/3 will ok there too.

The beaches are Bondi and Manly. Lots of surf shops and schools at both , just not so condensed in crowds at Manly.

Bondi think Venice Beach Style without the muscles, not sure what I'd compare Manly to.

Now actual temps can to 100F with scorching sand and if the NE wind blows ( cross shore at best) water temp is very cold, you run across scorching sand, hit the water and get two lumps in your throat.
Sydney beaches equal high headlands each end and each end reacts to a prime swell direction.

[dtc]

At the moment water temps in Sydney are 19C and air temps mid 20s (sorry can't do American temps!). So not particularly cold and you definitely do not need booties. a wetsuit will let you stay out longer; but just a wetsuit top or shortie will be fine (you will need sun protection). Most places that rent boards I think will rent wetsuits as well ( I've never looked - certainly surf schools provide them, but most schools are aimed at beginners so make sure you check what you are signing up for if you take a lesson) It will be similar temps at end of nov - air temp might be slightly higher but water probably the same

As Jaffa said, the ferry trip from circular quay (Sydney centre) to manly is worth doing whether or not you surf at the end. Goes past the opera house and views of the bridge etc. there is about a 5 min walk from the ferry terminal to the beach.

Bondi is closer but harder to get to in a way - you need to get a bus.

The beaches I doubt are any more dangerous to the ones you are used to. So there will be waves and rips and so forth, but both Bondi and manly will have lifeguards (swim between the flags - surf outside the flags)