S.W. Surf Breaks
If you have arrived at this page then you are lookin’ to come down south for some great surf! It gets really good down here sometimes and there are a plethora of great breaks to surf. Some of them are great for beginners and intermediate surfers and some are most definitely not! Please respect the water down here, it is unforgiving if you go out ill prepared and plenty of people have drowned or nearly drowned from the size and power of the water here, it can change quickly and it can catch the unaware out and make their day and nightmare.
What this page is about is helping you locate and decide where to surf when you are down here. There are great surf maps available from the tourist information centre in Dunsborough, Busselton, Margaret River to show where to go. I am letting you know what the breaks are like, what conditions suit the spot best, what to look out for in the way of hazards and what levels of compenentcy are suited etc….so you enjoy your surfing time here and go home stoked not smashed!
Enjoy a read on and a for visiting!
Reference Map
Here’s a Google map to help you see where things are!!
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MARGARET RIVER - MAIN BREAK
This is a reef break with awesome power folks, not for the novice or easily freaked out. Good fun size up to around 4 feet then it gets more serious. Can hold up to 20ft+ in the right conditions. Predominently a left hand break, it does produce a fun right hander on smaller days. To the south of the break is South Side which is a deceptively fun wave in the right conditions, mostly a right hander, it does have a left on smaller days. Heavier than it looks so be careful. These place like an easterly to north easterly wind and a moderate tide. Sharks have been sighted here fairly often.
YALLINGUP
Yallingup is a fun, reef break wave up to around 4-5 ft, from there it can get quite heavy. Predominently an A-frame peak that goes left and right, it is largely governed by tide and swell direction, too much south in the swell and it is just a “straight hander”. Depending on tide, it can produce a barrel or two and is mostly ridden by Mals when smaller. There is a secondary peak in the middle called “the cove” that is a fun hollow mini version of the main peak. Further across to the point is a “Bubble” rock that breaks on decent swells. This is an easy take off followed by one of the heaviest suck out barrels around here, not for the in experienced or novice in any way as it breaks really close to the reef, the realm of locals only and experienced surfers. Many have had their holiday cut short here and broken boards are common. It is a fun wave though. Lower tides are better andit is good year round.
SMITHS BEACH
Smiths is a main reef break A-frame peak that is shallow and heavy. Not for the faint hearted, better in smaller to moderate swells, doesn’t handle size at all. Best on high tide, there are beachies there too and they are great depending on banks and tides, best year is spring and autumn/winter for the beachies. Further up is supertubes, very gnarly right hand reef break, not for the inexperienced at all. Very heavy waves, amazing barrels. Best on high tide and moderate swell, harder to surf when it is small.
INJIDUP CARPARK/POINT/PEABREAK
This one of the most over rated waves down here I feel. It is always crowded and generally not that good. Right and left hand reef break to sand bank. Very fickle, easily tide affected and always backwashy. can get good and can be quite heavy but mostly just crowded and fickle. Easy to surf, good for anyone above beginner. Peabreak is amazing. Very heavy wave, big peaky reef break. Not for the inexperienced at all. Major bashing have been had out there by kooks trying their luck! Needs a middle tide and some decent swell. Inji point is a long left hand reef bottom point break that can hold swell up to around 8 ft. Great as it is protected from the winds in winter and is a long ride. Paddling fitness is a must out here though as the sweep can be fierce when the waves are on..not for inexperienced surfers at all.
BEARS
Bears consists of three separate reefs next to each others with a bombie furtherest out. First is paps, then mamas, then babys. This is a swell magnet and is always bigger than anywhere else around the Cape Naturaliste region. Powerful waves breaking over quite shallow reef at times Bears is not for kooks! You WILL get smashed. Predominantly left handers, there are right handers to be had on smaller days that are fun, bowly and pack a punch. The bombie and associated reefs are for the water wise only…major big wave break and can hold well over 15ft with ease…experienced watermen only. The crew at Bears is pretty clicky and they will hassle the shit out of you out there..so be sure you pack your manners…many have gone home from Bears with broken boards and bodies from having poor manners! Good on E winds and low to middle tides.
Back Of Injidup
Around the back of Injidup is a haven for waves and fun on smaller swells up to around 1.5 meters, much bigger and it gets a bit maxed out. Lots of different waves along here and I am not going to spoil your fun by disclosing them, enjoy an explore and find a reef or peak for yourself. Be warned though, there are some heavy waves up there and they are not to be taken lightly..there have been heavy accidents up there and hospital is a long way away..use your brain! Good on E to NE winds and middle tides.
Shallows
Shallows is a series of little reefs and beachies along from Yallingup just down from rabbit hill. Good on smaller swells and great fun for the whole family. Good spot to take kids and great for beginners. Ok for more advanced surfers too as it can produce top quality little waves on it’s day. Good on anything from SE to NE winds.
Windmills
This is a swell magnet as well and will usually have a wave on the smallest of days…but it gets a crowd too. It is a sand bottom waves that peaks in the middle and goes left and right with fairly equal quality. Not for kooks as the crowd is usually frothing a bit. It handles swell up to 1.5 metres and is maxed out after that…good on an easterly to north easterly wind and low to middle tides.
Sandpatches/Sugarloaf Rock
This is just next door to Windmills. This is a sand bottom break that forms peaks in various places at various times of the season. Mainly surfed in spring to late summer as it is tide and sand effected as well as not coping with larger swells. Good up to 1.5 metre swell and anything from SE to NE winds and most any tide. Powerful at times and can get a sweep running so not for beginners..rarely ever maxed out with crew.
Back of The Moon/Lighthouses
Right at the tip of Cape Naturualiste sits this little bay that starts off on reef and ends on sand, produces a nice right and left hand peak. Wave magnet break and gets big quick! Good up to 1.5 metres and low to middle tides. Surrounded by some other beachies that can get good too. Not really for beginners as it can change fast and belt you hard but for experienced surfers it is a great wave producing barrels and fun walls when it is right. Cab get crowded but not overly usually. Has been BIG sharks spotted out there so eyes open!
Big Rock/Cobble Stones/Thunder Bay
Just behind South Point in Gracetown sits this place. It attracts swell very easily. All reef breaks of consequence and not for kooks. Right and left peaks at Cobbles Stones breaking over shallow reef producing deep round pits. Big rock has left and rights and thunder bay is a left and right as well and great when the swell is tiny everywhere else. This place will handle big swells though up to around 2-3metres. Lots of crew here…Gracetown is renowned locally as having some of the biggest fuckwits you’re likely to encounter in the surf..sorry bit it is the truth. Be nice, have manners and you will get a few.
North Point / South Point Gracetown
The infamous North point is a very shallow grinding rock ledge of major consequence and most DEFINITELY not for kooks or beginners. A right hander to rival backdoor pipe on it’s day, North piont is able to cope with large swells up to and over 3 meters. Usually radically crowded and this is what detracts from the place…very small critical take off spot and the local fuckwits rule it with total disregard for all others…good luck…get one if you can!
South Point is across the bay and is a left hand wrapping reef point that produces some fun walls in most swell sizes above 2metres. Again totally ruled by the Gracetown fuckwit squad but you can usually get a few if you are patient. Inside of South Point is Huzza, a smaller reef break that is fun for those bigs days and great for the family to surf. Much gentler reef bottom waves that gos left and right…be careful of the pull out zone though…can get shallow! Again like I said…strong local contingent of fuckwits and they will hassle you so just be cool and patient and you will get a few. All three spots are best on a middle tide.
Lefties/Karates/Ulus
This is the stretch of coast located behind south point at Gracetown but further along from Big Rock etc. Always has waves and is a wave magnet but can also handle swells up to 3metres+ depending on how crazy you are! Lefties is a great left hand peeling wave that is walling and super fun! Good for any level of surfer when smaller but it gets heavy when it is bigger and breaking off the outer bubble. There are a series of other peaks further along called Noisies, Karates, Ulus which produce both left and right hand peaks and fun waves for anyone..again they disappear and become heavy when the swell gets over 2 metres so it is a small wave break mostly. Best on middle to lowish tides. Crew factor is usually mega as the locals rule that too like big rock, north point etc…but if you are patient and show manners you will get a few.
Moses Rock/Goannas/Honeycombs
Down the end of Moses Rock road is moses rock! A mostly left hand reef/point set up that is fun in moderate size swells and will handle bigger swells up to 3 metres, probably best at around 1.5 metres. A long walling left and occasional right hand peak in the bay, this is a fun wave for surfers of moderate to advanced capabilities. A bit tricky to get in and out from due to the reef but nothing too major.
Just around the corner lays Goannas. This is a shallow wedging little reef break that is great on small swells to 1.5metres max. Really great fun but very shallow so not for kooks or beginners. A right hander mostly with a short left further down it is rarely ever crowded but is fickle, must have a middle tide or high tide or too shallow.
Just a bit further around again lays Honeycombs. This is a couple of little bays that are filled with sand and produce fun bank during the summer months for fun peaks . Is a wave magnet so best surfed in small swells up to 1.5 metres max. Lots of water moves around here on tide shifts so watch carefully, can make getting in a mission!
There are heaps of other waves around these main areas I have mentioned here and they are easy to find if you look a bit and ask around. You will have a great time surfing down here if you are respectful to the local guys and exercise good manners in the surf…if you hassle or drop in or snake you will get punched out! Seriously…there is very little tolerance of bullshit in the surf here…it is mean’t to keep the dipshits away and allow those that live here and come here from afar to surf a peaceful and fun environment to do it in. Visitors are welcome just remember to treat people how you would want to be treated and you will meet some great local people and have a blast and most probably score some shit hot waves.
Equipment
Just a quick word on equipment. Your general everyday board will be ok for most places except Margaret River Main Break, South Side Maragret River, The Box, Ellensbrook Bombie, Bears, Grunters, Yallingup over 6 ft. These breaks will require larger boards for paddling in. What size is up to you but most guys that surf these spots have 6′6″ to 7′10″ boards. Use your own size as your guide. If you normal daily board is 6′2″ then pack a 6′6″ or 6′8″ for bigger days and so on. What usually happen here is when those places are that big, it opens up a plethora of other smaller places so you may want to surf those…that’s what most of us do! Pack good leg ropes and you will want a good steamer except for summer when a spring suit is the go. Summer water temp is around 20 degrees and winter is fuckin cold! There are sharks down here but they are well fed usually and there is an abundance of wild sealife like dolphins, seals, whales, fish galore.
See you out there!
Local Lad!
