The ultimate guide on learning to surf in NSW

Renowned for its beautiful sandy beaches, warm summer water and consistent swell, New South Wales is a surfer’s paradise. It’s also the birthplace of surfing in Australia, with the country’s first surf clubs opening in Manly and Bondi in the early 20th century. Now, the state has more than three million surfers and is a famous surf destination worldwide. If you’re keen to drop into the world of surfing, read on and in no time, you’ll be trimming across waves with ease.

Learn to surf from the experts with lessons

Kick-start your new pastime with surfing lessons from professionals. Most surf schools offer group and individual lessons. Expect to learn surfing fundamentals including ocean safety, board control, how to catch waves and how to stand up. You’ll usually run through the basics on land before getting into the water. When you get in the water instructors typically stay with you and coach you during your surf. Lessons also tend to include board and wetsuit hire so you can try it out before buying your own gear. If you do decide to buy your own equipment, you’ll need a learner-style board (ideally a round-nosed soft-top or foam surfboard), a leg rope to keep your board attached to you, surf wax for grip, and a wetsuit if you’re going to surf in the colder months (mid-April to about November).

Sapphire Coast, South Coast and Wollongong

On the Sapphire Coast, learn the basics with Coastlife Adventures during a two-hour lesson at Tathra or Pambula beaches. On the South Coast, former world champion led Pam Burridge Surf School offers lessons at Bendalong, Mollymook and Narrawallee beaches.

In Wollongong, Illawarra Surf Academy runs classes at several beaches including Corrimal, Thirroul and Warilla beaches. Pines Surfing Academy offer classes at North Wollongong Beach and The Farm in Killalea Region Park. Find more lessons near your holiday stay.

Sydney

Manly Surf School offers lessons at Manly Beach and many other spots on the Northern Beaches. Let’s Go Surfing has locations at the iconic Bondi Beach (where they also offer women-only group lessons) and Maroubra. For a southern option try The Shire’s Cronulla Surfing Academy.

Join a lesson or get coaching to learn a new skill at Sydney’s only surf park, URBNSURF. Featuring a central lagoon split down the middle to generate both left-hander or right-hander waves, each side generates up to 200 waves per hour, ranging from gentle whitewater for beginners to steep barrels for seasoned surfers looking to perfect a new trick.

Newcastle and Central Coast

Newcastle Surfest Surf School, Newcastle Surf School and Philippa Anderson Surf School run lessons at the famous Nobby’s Beach as well as other nearby beaches including Caves Beach and Blacksmiths Beach. Learn to Surf Newcastle also operates at Stockton Beach.

Central Coast Surf School hosts lessons at Avoca, Terrigal and Umina beaches.

North Coast

Near Coffs Harbour, catch waves at Darlington, Sawtell and Emerald beaches with Solitary Island Surf School. For a surf trip to remember at secluded beaches, book a few days with Mojosurf to enjoy lessons during the day, afternoons lazing in hammocks and evenings around the campfire.

Further up the coast, stop by Port Stephens Surf School to catch waves at One Mile Beach, Fingal Bay Beach, Birubi Beach and Anna Bay.

Offering daily surf lessons, Port Macquarie Surf School is great for those venturing onto softboards for the first time at Rainbow Beach and Town Beach.

In Byron Bay, enjoy a tailored surfing lesson in a small group or one-on-one with Soul Surf School. In The Tweed, learn to surf with In2surf Surf School at the home of longboarding in Kingscliff and Cabarita Beach. Find more surf schools on the North Coast.

Beginner-friendly beaches

Generally, beginner beaches have small waves that break gently and roll into shore, giving you lots of time to practice getting up on your feet. Look for waves about waist-high that break slowly. If you check a surf report online (such as Swellnet or Surfline), look for an ideal learner’s wave size of one to two feet. You should also look for beaches without strong currents, rips or “dumping” waves, which are very fast-moving, steep and break onto shallow sand. The best wind direction for surfing in NSW is typically from the west, called ‘offshore’, because the wind is blowing from land out to sea, literally off the shore. Offshore winds smooth the surface of the ocean, resulting in rounder waves and a smoother ride.

Sapphire Coast, South Coast and Wollongong

On the Sapphire Coast, with gentle waves, sandy bottoms and easy access to amenities, Merimbula Main, Pambula and Tathra beaches are popular with those learning to surf. Protected from strong winds behind a break wall, Moorehead Beach near Bermagui has small waves less than one-metre high.

Along the South Coast, Mollymoon and Merry beaches have rolling waves on shallow sandbanks suitable for beginners. Warilla Beach is just south of Wollongong and offers gentle rides as long as the surf is small. Just north of Wollongong, the south end of Thirroul and the north end of Corrimal Beach are slightly protected spots and usually offer good learning conditions.

Sydney

Manly usually has quite gentle waves, particularly in the southern corner where there’s often an offshore southerly wind in winter. North Bondi offers the gentlest waves in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, very suited to learners. Summer afternoons often have an offshore, northeast wind.

South Maroubra also has regular offshore winds, it’s protected from southerly swells and there is often a sandbar where you can walk out to catch waves rather than having to paddle. Further out from the sandbar, the conditions can be more difficult. In the south, Greenhills (the northern end of Cronulla) has an offshore, north or northeast wind and offers uncrowded, long and gentle waves for learners.

Newcastle and Central Coast

Just south of Newcastle, Blacksmiths and Caves Beach also offer uncrowded and typically slow-breaking waves. Nobby’s Beach is protected from southerly swells and, unless the swell is big, there are usually a few nice spots for learners. Merewether and Stockton Beach are often a little less crowded and, if the surf is small, will offer some nice learner waves. 

Umina on the Central Coast is a favourite for those looking for gentle waves, whilst Avoca Beach is sheltered by two headlands offering ideal conditions for learning.

North Coast

Nambucca Heads is well known as the home of several beginner-friendly beaches including Main, Shelly and Beilbys. Head to Arrawarra Beach for a great point break.

Byron Bay’s Main Beach and Clarkes Beach offer gentle, protected waves, whilst the laid-back Wategos Beach known for its mellow conditions.

Five tips for safely catching your first waves

1. Get in the right position on your board. You should be forward enough to paddle, but far back enough so you don’t nosedive the board into the water.
2. Start paddling before the wave reaches you. You want to have momentum before the wave comes.
3. As a learner, try riding on your belly first, then your knees while still holding onto the sides of the board and finally standing. Most people won’t stand up the first time they try so don’t be disheartened if it takes a few goes.
4. Keep safety front of mind at the beach. Don’t paddle out in waves that exceed your skill or comfort level and never surf alone. If in doubt about the conditions, ask a lifeguard or another surfer for advice.
5. Watch for rips. If you get stuck in a rip, rather than swimming against it and towards the beach, swim across it so you are parallel to the beach and using less energy.

Surf etiquette

Surf etiquette centres around sharing waves. The key to surfing etiquette is to avoid two major faux pas:

Dropping in: catching a wave when someone is already on it.

Snaking: queue-jumping, where a surfer paddles out closer to the start of where the waves break, past others who are waiting for a wave.