The Byron Bay surf beaches include some of the most iconic surfing spots in Australia. The Bay side of Cape Byron is considered by many to have the safest and longest learn-to-surf waves on the east coast. The length, height and northeast-southwest orientation of the cape is critical to creating excellent surfing conditions in a wide range of swell and wind conditions.
The area has nine separate surfing locations, seven north of the cape and two to its south. To the north are the Belongil Beach, The Wreck, Main Beach Clarkes Beach, The Pass, Wategos Beach and Little Wategos Beach. To the south are the Tallow Beach and its Cosy Corner.
The cape is a pivot point for swell. It refracts large southerly and northerly swells causing them to bend into the Bay and the northern stretch of Tallows Beach. The orientation of the cape is such that the breeze is often blowing offshore at the surf spots either on its north or south side.
Tallows Beach is an open expanse. It is over seven kilometers long from Cape Byron in the north to Broken Head and its Cocked Hat Rocks in the south. It has a north-south orientation except at its northern end where it bends to the northeast. Tallows is exposed to swell and wind from most directions except at its northern stretch the cape protects it from northerly and northeasterly conditions. Cosy Corner is tight into that northern end.
Waves at Tallows are best in west to northwest breezes and a moderate swell from the southeast to northeast. Its banks are sand and change constantly. Large swell damages the banks and wave shape. Rips are common. Inexperienced surfers need to exercise caution.
Little Wategos, Wategos as well as The Pass are distinctive because they face north. No other surf locations along the east coast offer the same configuration. All three spot produce their best waves in a southerly (offshore) breeze with a moderate north swell or a large south or east swell.
Clarkes Beach also faces north but is protected from most swell is not a good spot for waves to develop. It very protected from southerly and easterly conditions since it is located tight in the corner where cape meets mainland. It is favored by learner surfers, swimmers and families with young children. Similarly, Main Beach is protected from southerly conditions. It receives more swell than Clarkes, being more exposed to swell.
Belongil Beach is an open beach break with fragile sand banks. It begins about 1 kilometer north of Main Beach. The Wreck is a spot along the beach that deserves special mention because its break can be influenced by the remains of the SS Wollongbar.
The area has nine separate surfing locations, seven north of the cape and two to its south. To the north are the Belongil Beach, The Wreck, Main Beach Clarkes Beach, The Pass, Wategos Beach and Little Wategos Beach. To the south are the Tallow Beach and its Cosy Corner.
The cape is a pivot point for swell. It refracts large southerly and northerly swells causing them to bend into the Bay and the northern stretch of Tallows Beach. The orientation of the cape is such that the breeze is often blowing offshore at the surf spots either on its north or south side.
Tallows Beach is an open expanse. It is over seven kilometers long from Cape Byron in the north to Broken Head and its Cocked Hat Rocks in the south. It has a north-south orientation except at its northern end where it bends to the northeast. Tallows is exposed to swell and wind from most directions except at its northern stretch the cape protects it from northerly and northeasterly conditions. Cosy Corner is tight into that northern end.
Waves at Tallows are best in west to northwest breezes and a moderate swell from the southeast to northeast. Its banks are sand and change constantly. Large swell damages the banks and wave shape. Rips are common. Inexperienced surfers need to exercise caution.
Little Wategos, Wategos as well as The Pass are distinctive because they face north. No other surf locations along the east coast offer the same configuration. All three spot produce their best waves in a southerly (offshore) breeze with a moderate north swell or a large south or east swell.
Clarkes Beach also faces north but is protected from most swell is not a good spot for waves to develop. It very protected from southerly and easterly conditions since it is located tight in the corner where cape meets mainland. It is favored by learner surfers, swimmers and families with young children. Similarly, Main Beach is protected from southerly conditions. It receives more swell than Clarkes, being more exposed to swell.
Belongil Beach is an open beach break with fragile sand banks. It begins about 1 kilometer north of Main Beach. The Wreck is a spot along the beach that deserves special mention because its break can be influenced by the remains of the SS Wollongbar.
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