Oz Gold Coast..... Sharks and Locals!

[sasquatch]

I'm off to Oz for a six week trip. (Teachers!!!!) and have been doing some research into some of the breaks that I might visit on my travels.

Wannasurf.com had some great guides but nearly all mentioned Sharks and locals as potential hazzards!!!!

I surf Devon and Cornwall and so this was something of a shock and also and this is my first surfing trip abroad.... I am not taking boards apart from some body boards, as I will hire sticks if I need them.

Any general advice on travel, or specifics on how to avoid getting my nose flattened or becoming lunch on the Gold Coast will be greatfully recieved! I could end up anywhere between Sydney and Brisbane.

cheers

The S@ss

... It also says that locals are hazzardous in Newquay.... so all in perspective I guess!

[Guest]

if ur planning on hiring boards and take a body bord (a.k.a gut slider, eskylid, shark biscut) then i advise not to bother going to burliegh snapper - all that super bank, south straddie or dbah, as u need to know how to surf generally, but if u stick to the beach breaks from coolongatta up to surfers paradise u can actually get some nice waves and the crowds arent too bad(excluding those spots mentioned earlier). don't worry about sharks theres too many surfers in the water so the chances of a shark getting u are small. actually i think the canals are the worst place for shark and u shouldnt have any reason to go in there and the seaway, but as i said u prob dont want to go to south stradie unl3ess u can surf.(btw i think it has to be one of the best beach breaks in the world)

[somerset]

Shouldn't worry about the sharks or locals - usually overblown BS by numpties. You've more chance of annoying a basking shark off Croyde than seeing a meat eater in Sth East Oz (Sydney anyway). You might be more surprised by how cold the water is than what's in it.

[chilli]

The only sharks you need to be aware of on the Gold Coast are Real Estate Agents and Night Club owners. Where ever you surf in Oz, just respect the local community and dont drop in. I havent seen any agro in the water for years and most of my surfing is on the northern beaches in Sydney. The gold coast is a bit of a hot bed for localism so be on your back foot and you should be OK