Surfing Perth
Perth has 100km of surfing coastline, most of it surfing beaches. Western Australia is home to more than 12,000 kilometres of sparkling Indian Ocean coastline, which covers more than a third of Australia's waterfront, as well as a fair share of Australia’s premier surf breaks. From the white sands of Rottnest Island to the rugged waves of the south-west. Check out the top surf spots near Perth, Western Australia on the Google Map of Perth Surf Spots.
This boogie bording photo is from the surfing video page.
PERTH SURFING Information
The surf in Perth should be a lot better than it actually is. The problem is Rottnest Island - it blocks all the swell to the busiest beaches in Western Australia. Waves still break on Perth city beaches but if you are serious about your surfing then head north, south or west to Rottnest.
Surfing photos
Most of the surfing photos on the surfing Perth photos web page were taken by me except for this great surfing photo of Tim Larcombe a Perth PR consultant and big wave surfer, surfing at a Perth northern beach. More Perth surfing photos at surfingphotos.info
SURFING IN PERTH considerATIONS:
Swell direction
This is an extremely important consideration, especially here in Perth. Why you ask? Well the answer lies 20 km off the coast of Perth in a small island known for its odd looking rat like marsupials (quokkas). Yes you got it, Rottnest Island.
Rottnest Island (and a shallow reef system surrounding it) acts as a barrier for the predominant swell that reaches Perth’s shoreline. Perth’s swell has travelled great distances across the Indian Ocean, created by huge storm systems hundreds of kilometres away. It is these storm cells that create the swell that arrives on Perth’s beaches. The swell travels from a south westerly direction and before it reaches Perth’s coastline, the cheeky little Quokka’s on Rottnest Island cop the full force of the swell. So the 3 metre swell that the local news team promised ends up being only half the size.
Perth Suring Locations
It is generally the Perth beaches located between Fremantle and City Beach that have smaller surf due to Garden Island and Rottnest Island blocking waves. Beaches north of City Beach such as Brighton Beach, Scarborough Beach, Trigg and the reef breaks beyond receive more swell than their southern beach counterparts.
One thing I would suggest you do before you head out for your surf is to check the swell direction. Popular websites such as seabreeze.com.au have this information available.
Perth surf spots of Trigg Beach and Trigg Point about 2Km north of Scarborough Beach.
Wind direction
Perth has a somewhat predictable weather pattern. Summer equals hot days, easterly winds until 10am and a howling south-westerly wind in the afternoon.
If a westerly swell is arriving, more of the swell will reach our coastline = larger surf. The offshore easterly wind holds a better shaped wave but after a couple of days pushes wave heights down.
Winter equals cold days, the odd storm system and plenty of days where there is next to no wind. Easterly winds are the ideal wind for surfing and when they are blowing, all beaches in Perth will have nice clean conditions. But what happens when the south westerly wind is blowing and there is swell? Don’t surf? Wrong.
During the winter if there is a large swell and strong onshore breeze head to Cottesloe Beach or Sandtracks (located in Fremantle). Both of these breaks are slightly protected from the south west wind by breakwalls. Don’t expect lovely clean conditions, but if your itching for a wave then they are often worth a look.
Surf Further up and down the coast
Further up and Down the Coast: If you’re not having any luck locally, I’d suggest packing up your gear and heading off on a road trip.
South: Mandurah, Yallingup, Margaret River
North: Yanchep, Lancelin, Kalbarri and if you’re up for a 13 hour drive Gnarlaoo.