Sydney Surf Beaches

National Surfing Reserves

Five Sydney beaches feature on the National Surfing Reserve Register, a list of iconic surfing spots in Australia chosen for their excellent waves and importance to the surfing community. They are:

• Manly
• North Narrabeen
• Cronulla
• Bondi
• Maroubra

Beaches in the east & south

One of Australia's most famous surf beaches is Bondi Beach, less than an hour on a bus from Sydney's city centre. You'll find serious surfers at the southern end of the beach, while boogie boards and bodysurfers occupy the northern end. Visitors to the area can all enjoy the myriad bars and cafes by the waterfront.

Further south is Maroubra, a kilometre-long curve of sand that attracts surfers, swimmers and families. The Cronulla area comprises four beaches; Wanda, Elouera, North Cronulla and Cronulla, and has a lively surf scene with local board-riding communities and lifesaving clubs.

Northern Beaches

Sydney's Northern Beaches, stretching 30km from Manly to Palm Beach, offer some of the city's prime surfing spots, including Freshwater, Narrabeen and Dee Why and Curl Curl. The Vissla Sydney Surf Pro takes place in Manly in March, with top surfers from around the world competing.

Learn to surf

If it’s your first time on a board, get some advice from the experts at one of the city’s many surf schools. Catch a wave at Bondi with Lets Go Surfing or Waves Surf School. On the Northern Beaches, Manly Surf School and Manly Surf Guide will show you the local breaks. Down south, Cronulla Surfing Academy runs regular lessons or you can join world champion surfer Lilly Pollard at The Bodyboard Academy.

Before heading to the beach, check Beachsafe for the latest updates.