Palm Beach Surf Guide
Surf spot guide
Ideal Surf Conditions
Swell Direction
Medium sized mixes of east and south swell.
Wind
West.
Surf Height
waist-high to overhead.
Tide
Medium tide
Palm Beach Surf Guide
Long, coarse-grained sand beach running around three km (two miles) between a solid rock headland to the south and a remarkable tombola-style headland to the north. This headland, called Barrenjoey, which means “young kangaroo” in the Indigenous Garigal language, is the last piece of the northern Sydney coastal puzzle. Palmy has a variety of wave micro-climates: tucked away in the southern end is “Kiddies” Corner”, an ideal learner’s playground and longboarding haven, while up north under Barrenjoey’s lee is a series of occasional beautiful sandbars, well protected from summer NE seabreezes. In between lies a pile of variable-quality sandbars. Best in an ENE swell and light W-SW winds, but can cope with many conditions.
Ability Level
All Abilities
Caters to everyone.
Local Vibe
Welcoming
Relaxed and cruisy up north, lots of wealthy older residents down south.
Crowd Factor
Mellow
Lots of surfers, no aggression.
Spot Rating
Poor
Nothing overwhelming.
Shoulder Burn
Light
Minor work at times to push out or around sandbar close-outs.
Water Quality
Clean
Clear, sometimes polluted during heavy rains.
Hazards
Some rips in mid-beach.
Bring Your
Shortboard, Longboard, Fish, Funboard, SUP
Access
Parking at either end and street parking in between. Easy walks along the beach.
Bottom
Sand framed by rock headlands.
Best Season
Best on crisp autumn days.
Do you have local knowledge about Palm Beach?
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