Best area in NSW for decent consistent waves, minimal crowds?
I'd probably stick to the goldy to be honest, stay off the points and the crowds thin out.
Warm water, no Covid, labor government, bikinis etc. Win win
Great topic juegasiempre and I look forward to hearing others opinions .
If water temp is not an issue I would guess that south of Sydney would be more consistent but Swellnet staff would be a way more informed source .
My brother has just moved to Yamba . Never surfed that area but it does seem to have good waves .
Thing is the further south you go, the less consistent it is, away from say a couple of swell magnets.
Doesn't get the NE windswell size that Sydney gets in summer, or the easterly trade-swell, and is also shadowed by southerly swells which Sydney and further north gets. When it does get swell though the options and reefs are a big plus. And it's also less crowded.
Otherwise further north you get more consistent swell, but winds can become an issue. It's also sand dependant. It's a hard one but you want an area with a good back beach that is offshore in the NE'ly but also a point etc that handles size and S winds.
Not going to name regions either but that's my thoughts.
Great question.
This could be an extremely fun thread. Can't see people coming on and saying I live at ?????? awesome place, good coffee, allways a wave about and is just a magnet for any swell in the E to S quadrant. Come join us and hell, bring your friends. Well known contributor on here might even point out the best tide and wind combo at the Ox and provide a link to the local Real Estate Agent's website.
Or maybe there could be some some covert misinformation.
For whar it's worth Number 1 on my list is Fingal Bay, Port Stephens area.
zenagain wrote:
Ballina area.
(sorry far north coasters)
Yeah thats my pick for most consistent swell and good waves can go further south when needed, plus in reach of a city, international airport, perfect climate etc
South Coast NSW is beautiful and good waves when on but less consistent and high bush fire risk in most areas.
Sydney coast would have been awesome before white fella came.
Ballina is crowded now (and Lennox even worse) so loses too many points on the minimal human criteria.
To juegas.... ahh the original poster.
Beware of all these posts suggesting "Ballina Area" or "South Coast" they are fake news designed to lead you astray.
I've given my #1 but just between me and you my #2 Bondi Beach. Flies under the radar so you'll get plenty of waves. Keep it on the down low brah.
zenagain wrote:
Ballina area.
(sorry far north coasters)
Move to Japan , apparently youth aren’t taking up surfing and lots of good uncrowded waves if you know where to look . Skiing in winter is first class, nice people and food. Zen highly recommends the place .
Craig - Are there any spots/regions in NSW that you would knock OFF the list due to off shore islands creating a swell shadow ? Eg Solitary Islands .
You lost me when you put 'minimal crowds / NSW' in the same sentence.
If looking for relaxed crew and minimal localism etc Maroubra should be very high on the list.
Hutchy, there are areas of the coast that look to be more prone to wind and that's the main issue I reckon, also not offering a protected option from said wind. Yamba region seems to cop the S/SE-SE winds much more than other spots and doesn't get that local land breeze under synoptic southerlies as much as regions further north and south.
I've not noticed the Coffs Coast missing out on swell from those islands. Quite the opposite and a magnet for most swells.
I'd say the region south of Port Mac to Forster is a bit lacking. Sure they pump when the sand is good but usually hit and miss.
Craig-Had a quick trip to Narooma many years back . We started around Bermagui and had very small waves .
We went to the Narooma pub and the locals said they were having good waves . They weren't bullshitting as we found out the next day . Is Montague Is off shore there ?
Remember New Brighton and the region having howling Northerlies in September/November . I wonder if they will arrive early this year ?
Caloundra is full of New Zealanders....Its just like you went there anyway.....
Watch your thongs though...
Spots south of Bermagui miss a lot of south swell due to Green Cape when coming out of Bass Strait, but perform better from polar storms and lows sitting in the southern Tasman Sea,
We should have gone a bit further north of Narooma it sounds like . No idea what the swell direction was or even the time of year . The 80's . If you can remember the details you weren't having a good time .
Full swell window exposure for 180 degrees; from NE windswell, to NE cyclones swells, ENE through ESE trade swells, long range E swells, Tasman sea SE swells , refracted S swells, long period polar S swells.
Spots to surf when it's pumping, spots to grovel when its caca.
A proper surf "season".
A good flathead spot nearby for when the N'lies blow.
Everywhere is crowded.
Given that NSW and VIC could be barred from QLD for some time yet ,and the current shitshow down here,, I'd be hanging up there.
Just curious ,,how have there crowd numbers been on the Goldy since the NSW statewide lockdown started ??
Wow! Just checked and there's some great info amongst obvious misdirection.
I don't want nor was requesting an exact location, more a region.
The south coast was my pick going in but it's interesting that it's not as consistent for swell. Then the area that was suggested for an 180 degree swell window, if its the area I'm thinking it's very sharky. I'm only 35 and starting my (very basic, non Instagram) retirement so if i die/get maimed by a shark, please let it be after I've had a decent helping of waves for a year or 2!
The GC? The other day i had some guy snake me on an average 1ft day at a beachie whilst using a gopro mouth mount. Then he paddled back inside me, did it again. Then he paddled inside me, sat about 20cm to the inside of me, CT heat style! I paddled away to the next bank. That's how the GC is! I'm off it personally but that's just my opinion and not trying to influence anyone.
As for people being protective of their spots, i get it! But this is short term.
Long term I'm going to the Americas to surf great waves, a region I've been to and studied a little bit. Surfing for me is the most fun when it's you (and some mates) and the ocean and gets worse the further from that ideal i go. The east coast of Australia is fucking amazing, but it's no secret, it's a victim of its own success and its prohibitively expensive. There's places in the world where you get your own dbah blowing offshore everyday and the cost of living is peanuts. That's where you'll hopefully find me! I've got my microchips injected so im just waiting for the OK to leave. Whenever that may be.......
All the best to everyone that replied.
juegasiempre wrote:
As for people being protective of their spots, i get it! But this is short term.
Being a bit guarded isn't in respect to your situation, but more so others reading the thread who'll use the info ;) That'd be small numbers anyway, but I find it's always handy to not give too much away.
You're absolutely right Craig! I'd edit my post if I could.
Re-reading my post about the shark concerns of the areas in NSW that are open to 180 degrees of swell seem somewhat justified given the fucked up situation on the MNC this year! Will it end? I hope so! The latest one was a tragedy that's hard to brush off given his situation. Personally, IDGAF, I'm not scared (as much as you can be about getting torn apart by a super predator in their domain) and am familiar with probability. Everyone that's born is due to die at some point, but the effect on my family and young son I definitely do care about and am scared about.
Looks like south coast for me as a Plan B!
If you are 35 and retiring, head away from east coast. WA or pacific islands would be my pick.
smordue wrote:
If you are 35 and retiring, head away from east coast. WA or pacific islands would be my pick.
WA surf and tourist towns are as busy as its east coast counterparts now with Covid (unless you go south coast WA but then you'll be fighting GW's the size of small busses)
Dapto or Albion Park Rail so you are not far from the Dapto doggies.
smordue wrote:
If you are 35 and retiring, head away from east coast. WA or pacific islands would be my pick.
As above in my OP, it's only short term until I can fly away. My retirement is contingent on me moving overseas to the 3rd world, a plan I hope to carry out soon via a bit of time in NZ as soon as I'm allowed and everyday I get a bit more confident that the time is soon(a couple of months I reckon)!
There's no way I could retire in Australia now or in 20 years! I'm gen Y without rich parents!
Well you got the first non sarcastic reply from the Bos.
The shark attacks have made me wary surfing alone up here. I'll take another twat in the water with me on the open beaches MNC
All hats off to you carving out a different path mate. You may not feel like sharing but what has caused you to set flight retire at such an early age?
Queef Jerky wrote:
Well you got the first non sarcastic reply from the Bos.
The shark attacks have made me wary surfing alone up here. I'll take another twat in the water with me on the open beaches MNC
Pretty sure that surfing alone in regional NSW won’t be a problem you’ve got to worry about once they release the winged monkeys of Sydney in a few weeks.
My advice as someone from colder water is to stick where it's warmer. Nothing beats being able to just jump in and out of the water for a surf and hang out on the beach afterwards in the sun. Everywhere that used to be "uncrowded because it's so cold" is getting pretty blood crowded at times - not uncommon to surf certain spots in Tassie in the middle of winter with well over 50 people in the water. I've seen it as bad as 80-100, with air temps of 5 degrees. It's one thing dealing with crowds, but it's another dealing with them when you're shivering cold and won't warm up for another 6 hours.
For sure Dan. No way I’d be jumping out of a warm bed to surf some of the waves I’ll joyfully splash about in purely due to the fact that it’s a pleasure being in warm water or refreshing out of the heat. Summer sessions on the foamie riding utter dribble, simply would not occur if they involved any chill factor.
dandandan wrote:
My advice as someone from colder water is to stick where it's warmer. Nothing beats being able to just jump in and out of the water for a surf and hang out on the beach afterwards in the sun. Everywhere that used to be "uncrowded because it's so cold" is getting pretty blood crowded at times - not uncommon to surf certain spots in Tassie in the middle of winter with well over 50 people in the water. I've seen it as bad as 80-100, with air temps of 5 degrees. It's one thing dealing with crowds, but it's another dealing with them when you're shivering cold and won't warm up for another 6 hours.
Sounds like you need more contests and work by the local surfing association down there to increase participation levels. Surfing with only 50 to 100 out is just greedy.
Solitude wrote:
All hats off to you carving out a different path mate. You may not feel like sharing but what has caused you to set flight retire at such an early age?
I've always done my own thing and don't really care what others think, except my close friends and family. Point one, I've never kept up with the Joneses, ever. I also wanted to have a kid or two but if I did, I wanted to be a good parent and all that entails is spending time with them and giving them love IMO, so I started saving/investing 90% of my wage, always earnt above average money being in IT with the goal to live aboard, surf as much as possible, volunteer locally, do the things I like to do and be a good parent. Nothing more, nothing less.
I now have a 7 month old son and really want to be the best parent I can be; and I can't be the parent I want to be with full time work, even though the missus is a full time stay at home mum. We have enough to carve out a basic existence and live off financial products in the 3rd world forever now. I'll probably move back for the kid/s education when they get to grade 11 + 12 because I still want them to have the option of opting into 1st world society if they want, but probably in NZ instead of Australia.
I've also travelled extensively, speak Spanish and have surfed all over in the Americas, so it's not an unknown. I also have a missus that's 100% aligned which is essential.
I got my microchips injected, sold my house and invested the money in financial products, sold all my possessions except for 4 surfboard, 2 skateboards, some clothes and some electronics. Just waiting for the all clear from SloMo to leave!
Fully commited, sounds unreal. Good luck.
Make sure to keep us posted whatever you decide
X2
I didn't mean to give you a hard time that while back and I know this fucking scourge of a virus has stymied you somewhat, but totally admire you setting out into the unknown.
I sincerely wish you all the very best.
Btw the way, you wrote living "aboard" assuming you meant 'abroad'. Have you considered a yacht? I always thought to myself if everything went pear shaped in my life I'd sell up and sail off into the sunset.
No stress zenagain, I take it as good as I give it and try never to take anything personally as a rule.
I personally love the idea of a yacht, but the missus gets pretty seasick :( Beach life for us. Or island life! I would love to live on an island in the Galapagos, but really not sure how viable it would be. I didn't get to surf when I was there but I saw massive swells and I know that you can.
Here's hoping everyone gets to live there best lives soon.
It's also tempting to take responsibility for my position as I did the work and no-one gave me a dollar or any help, but the truth is that if I wasn't born in Australia I wouldn't be able to do this. I'm eternally grateful for that even though I want out and feel the country is trending the wrong way on all fronts.
I sold my house and all my stuff to go live in NZ for a year or 2. Can't do it now because the bubble is over, I still plan to but if not I need a plan B. I'm fucking over the GC and am craving decent waves with minimal humans.
So, as per the title. Where in your opinion is the best area in NSW for decent consistent waves with minimal crowds?
Cheers!