Byron surf breaks

Byron Bay is the most easterly point of the Australian mainland and home to a unique surf culture like none other. Byron Bay has a sensational range of surf spots and has been the breeding ground for many world class surfers over the last few decades. The crowd in Byron Bay is an ecletic mix of alternative lifestyle seekers, tourists, die hard locals and at the core of the Byron Bay culture are the surfers.

Here is our guide to Byron Surf Spots:

Belongil Beach is a consistent, fun beach break suitable for all levels of surfing ability. Belongil is an easy beach walk 1 km north of The Wreck surf break and Byron town centre. Can be fickle on small swells and tends to work best on a south east swell, with an offshore southerly or south westerly wind.

The Wreck is central to Byron town centre and located just north of Byron Main Beach. The Wreck is a favourite break for many locals and a consistent performer amongst all the Byron Surf breaks. The Wreck works best in an East South/East swell with southerly winds. The wave peels right off the sunken shipwreck (hence the surf break’s name) SS Wollongbar, and has plenty of punch on a big swell. The Wreck is a consistent hollow wave due to the sandbank that the shipwreck creates. The level of experience required for surfing the Wreck ranges from beginner to advanced, depending on the swell size. One of the first spots to check on your hunt for Byron Surf.

Tallows Beach stretches 10km from Cosy Corner at the northern end of the beach all the way south to the river mouth at Suffolk Park and onwards to Broken Head. Tallows beach is one of the most consistent beach breaks in the Byron Bay area offering left and right hand waves, depending on the banks and swell direction. Cosy Corner works best in a North – North East swell, with a West or North West breeze. Cosy Corner is one of the very few breaks protected from the much dreaded summer northerlies. Check the waves at Tallow Beach from the Lighthouse car park & you’ll get a good feel from there as to where you need to head to score quality Byron surf waves.

Suffolk Park – is a southern extension of the town of Byron Bay. Suffolk Park surf is found upon a nice stretch of Tallow Beach. The breaks on offer at Suffolk Park are either the Suffolk beach break or the river mouth. Both can produce quality waves, usually short and hollow A-frames offering the goofys and naturals a nice directional choice.

Broken Head is the right hand point break at the southern end of Tallow Beach. Broken Head is a world class sand bottom, long right hand wave. Take off at the point on a good day and you can enjoy a 300m ride with perfect form and an occasional hollow section for a barrel, depending on the banks of course. Broken Head works best on a south east swell with offshore west – south/west winds. This break works well in small swell through to a large 8ft plus swell.

Wategoes Beach is the most easterly beach in Australia and is also one of the few East Coast Australia beaches that faces direct north. The Wategoes crowd are longboard partial and you’ll always see a diverse mix of board craft when you paddle out at Wategoes Beach. Wategoes is a long right hand point break wave, however the shifting sand banks can cause this break be inconsistent and more of a playful wave than anything too punchy.

The Pass is a right hand point break located half way between Byron Main Beach and the Cape Headland. The Pass is a famed wave that on its day is a magical experience. This wave breaks less consistently than other Byron Surf spots, however when it fires, crowds flock from everywhere. A solid set wave can see you riding a 6 foot wave for over 400m, dodging the other surfer and drop ins,

Clean faces, long lines - this is what The Pass is all about

all the way down to Byron Main Beach. Small days are great for learning at The Pass, but once the swell arrives, then it is experienced surfers only. The Pass works best in an East – North east swell with a South – South Westerly wind.