Kirra surf is one of the best surf spots in Queensland, offering some legendary right-hand points. It’s the endpoint of the iconic Superbank…
An introduction to Kirra surf
The very name of Kirra is the stuff of legends in Oz. First, it was the groyne at Kirra Point, which bred Aussie pros and rippers by the bucket load in the 80s and 90s. Then, the attention shifted up the point to Snapper Rocks and Greenmount, which are the spots that filter off the north side of the Tweed River. They were blessed by the coming of a coastal regeneration project that planned to filter sand from the inside of the bay to the outside sections, effectively bulking the sandbars past the Duranbah Seawall into the beefiest things this side of an Argentina steak kitchen.
It took some time for the locals to truly understand what was happening. Soon, though, barrels were rifling through what became known as the Superbank, spinning down all the way through Coolangatta Beach to meet the Kirra Beaches. A later extension of the Kirra groyne has meant that some of the former glory of Kirra Point has returned. But, really, this one’s best seen as a gateway to a whole string of spots that are a right point heaven. Some of the best in the world, no less.
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This guide is just one part of our complete guide to Australia surfing and surfing in Queensland
Kirra surf at a glance
The good
- Legendary right-hand point
- Steady SE swells in winter and spring
- You get access to the whole Superbank
The bad
- Busiest spots on the QLD coast
- Some local attitude
What’s in this guide to Kirra surf?
- An introduction to Kirra surf
- Where is Kirra?
- The top Kirra surf spots
- Surf hotels and surf camps in Kirra
- When to surf in Kirra?
Where is Kirra?
Kirra is a small town just north of the border between NSW and QLD. In fact, a couple of steps (literally, steps!) to the south and you’d be changing states. It’s fronted by Kirra Beach, which bends north into the heart of the Gold Coast to meet cities like Surfers Paradise along the shore. The famous surf breaks – Kirra Point and Snapper Rocks among them – lie to the east of town down the headland. The airport you’ll want to jet in here is the Gold Coast Airport. It’s actually right there in Kirra downtown.
A guide to the Kirra surf spots
Kirra Point is the finale of the Superbank, a string of breaks that starts with the exposed outers of Snapper Rocks in the east. Here’s a look at the whole lot of them, all of which are within walking distance of Kirra town itself.
Snapper Rocks
Snapper Rocks is the first place to feel the full hit of the SE swell channel in the Kirra surf lineup. That means it’s usually the largest and the most exposed, so there can be issues with getting clean water walls to rip up here if the wind isn’t playing ball (SW or W winds are the best of all). However, when this one’s on, it’s hard to ignore its pedigree – it’s the start of the Superbank, after all, meaning it’s the point where you hitch those thigh-burning rides all the way down to Kirra proper, gods willing.
Check out our complete guide to Snapper Rocks surf
Greenmount Point
The Superbank really gets into the swing of things at Greenmount Point and we can see why lots of veterans of Goldie list this as their single favorite take-off zone of the whole Kirra surf offering. The drop is steep and puts you straight onto a sucky wall of water that’s constantly asking to loop overhead. The key aspect to Greenmount is the speed. Shortboarders with thrusters will be able to push it here and really gather velocity, enough to get airs and sprays on the cutbacks. The final section is the steepest and hollowest of the lot and you’ll need to pump those legs to stay fast enough to keep up with it, Impossibles-like.
Kirra Point/Big Groyne
Calling all rippers – the Kirra Big Groyne is the last real hurrah of the Superbank. Recently restored to its former glory thanks to the restoration of the breakwater that pokes some 30m out from the shoreline, it’s now back to being the barrel factory line that everyone knows it as. When the winter S-SE swells come curling into the bays past Snapper Rocks, they gather energy and shape on the sandbanks before walloping Kirra Point and turning into something you might see in a wave pool – think a peeling, hollow then rippable, section break that’s tailored to the real performance shortboarders out there. It’s not considered one of the best advanced spots in Australia for nothing!
Kirra Beach
Kirra Beach is sort of the endpoint of the Superbank, where the marching sets of rights finally leave off and the crumbly beach break lefts and rights take over again. It can be good here with a SW offshore and some summer NE swells but it’s not got the rep that its southernmost point – Kirra Point – does. Fun for practising and learning when it’s smaller. You’ll want to be on the Snapper points when it’s bigger.
Where to stay when surfing in Kirra?
The hotels in Kirra aren’t just uber-accessible from the Gold Coast Airport. They also offer okay-ish walking access to the string of surf breaks that form the Superbank. The town does well with serviced apartments but we’ve also picked out some bargain hostel accommodation to boot.
X Kirra Apartments
Give yourself some extra space and arguably the finest location for surfing the Big Groyne by opting for a stay in this serviced apartment bloc. Modern and stylish, they have all the mod cons you’d need. Some even have balconies that open straight over the main breaks so you can check the surf without even having to leave your front door.
Coolangatta YHA Backpackers
Okay, so it might not have the most gushing reviews, but this is arguably the only true backpacker-budget option in this Gold Coast town. We like the location, which is right on Kirra Beach, a 5-minute walk from the Big Groyne. They also do surfboard and bike hire on site and have some pretty lovely outdoor areas for hanging.
Points North Apartments
Spacious and breezy flat rentals await in the complex of the Points North Apartments. They come with family dining spaces and generous lounges. The best of the bunch also tout balconies that gaze right over the end of Coolangatta Beach to one side and the main Kirra Point to the other – surf checks are super easy!
Step-by-step guide to planning your Kirra surf trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the Kirra surf…Lately, we like Omio for searching flights. It’s a nice interface and has lots of airline options. We also use Skyscanner because that sometimes offers deals that even beat going direct to the carrier!
Step two: Book your surf camp Book Surf Camps is the numero uno online booking platform for fully-fledged surf-stay packages on the internet right now. Then there’s Booking.com. That has consistently unbeatable rates for hotels and a nifty map feature that lets you check EXACTLY how close your hotel is to a surf break.
Step three: Get insuranceThis is kinda’ important. Not just for surf trips but for any trips. SafetyWing is great for nomad travelers. They offer rolling contracts that cover amateur surfing.
Step four (optional): Rent a car If you’re surf camping then you might not need wheels. If you’re not then we’ll just say this: We’ve never been on a surf trip that wasn’t improved by having our own car. Use RentalCars – they’re the best.
Step four: Enjoy!
When to surf in Kirra?
The sweet spot for the Superbank is in the transition time between winter and spring. That’s when the SE swells are still going good but there’s been enough water run off to really beef up the deposits at the end of the Tweed River. These are the days that could potentially hold those epic all-spot rides down the front of all the Kirra Beaches. That said, the spots here work great most of the winter time and fall. They don’t do so well on small summer days with NE swells but there will be waves on Kirra Beach for the beginners at that time.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
This article is just one part of our complete guide to Australia surfing and surfing in Queensland
