Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Surfing & Windsurfing
Beginners, intermediates, wannabe pros and adventure surfers will all find excellent condi-
tions to suit their skill levels. WA gets huge swells (often over 3m), so it's critical to align
the surf and the location with your ability. Look out for strong currents, sharks and territori-
al local surfers.
WA's traditional surfing home is the southwest, particularly from Yallingup to Margaret
River. This stretch has many different breaks to explore.
Around Perth the surf is smaller, but there are often good conditions at bodyboard-infes-
ted Trigg and Scarborough. If the waves are small, head to Rottnest Island for (usually)
bigger and better waves. Check out Strickland Bay.
Heading north, there are countless reef breaks waiting to be discovered (hint: take a
4WD). Best known are the left-hand point breaks of Jakes Point near Kalbarri; Gnaraloo
Station, 150km north of Carnarvon, and Surfers Beach at Exmouth. Buy the locals a beer
and they might share a few more secret world-class locations.
Windsurfers and kitesurfers have plenty of choices with excellent flat-water and wave
sailing. Kitesurfers appreciate the long, empty beaches and offshore reefs.
After Perth's city beaches, head to Lancelin, home to a large summertime population of
surfers. Flat-water and wave sailing are excellent here. Further north, Geraldton has the
renowned Coronation Beach. The Shark Bay area has excellent flat-water sailing and Gn-
araloo Station is also a world-renowned wave-sailing spot.
