Newcastle surf regularly ranks among the best in NSW and the town has hosted major competitions year in, year out for decades now. This guide peers into what all the fuss is about and offers some insight into the various breaks…
An introduction to Newcastle surf
Newcastle is unquestionably one of the headline surf towns of the NSW North Coast. The city is enfolded on two sides by bending runs of cream-colored beaches. There are waves to be had all over, but the stars lie on the south side of the Newcastle Breakwater, where those strong SE winter sets don’t have too much trouble making their way inside and around the points. Big, heavy take-offs beckon those willing to stray past Nobby’s but there are calmer, cruisier waves that help Newcastle cater to the learner crowd in the smaller summer months.
Newcastle sometimes gets a bad rap. While crime has been a problem and this certainly ain’t no Aussie OC a la Byron Bay, we still think there’s lots to be said for a surf trip in these parts. For one, it sure will be cheaper than Byron. For two, the waves are highly consistent and localism isn’t too much of an issue. Newcastle also puts enthralling national parks laden with rainforests and Aboriginal cultural sites right on the doorstep.
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This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing Australia
Newcastle surf at a glance
The good…
The bad…
What’s in this guide to Newcastle surf?
Where is Newcastle?
Newcastle is located just a smidgen over two hours’ driving north of Sydney in the heart of central New South Wales. The drive there from the capital of the state is a pretty famous one, taking you past some of epic surf towns – Manly to Avalon to Belmont. You don’t have to take to the roads, though. Newcastle Airport is served by direct flights from Sydney, plus oodles of other Australian towns, from Brisbane to the Gold Coast.
Newcastle surf spots
Here’s a look at the most popular and best-known surf spots in Newcastle, NSW. We’ll start just south of the breakwater, where some heavy waves cater to performance surfers. From there, we’ll track south to the urban beaches, which have waves for all levels depending on the season.
Newie Harbour
Folks with a death wish and a board to break can sometimes be seen paddling out past the breakwater that marks the south side of the Newcastle river mouth. There’s a bomb of wave there that will get pumping on strong SE or direct E swells. It’s an unforgiving mutha that sucks off a shallow seabed strewn with industrial waste. Not really for us.
Nobbys Beach
Nobbys Beach has a special place in the annals of New South Wales surfing. This is the playground of former WSL champs and other pros. We can see why. There’s not just one break here. There’s a handful. The most famous of them is probably the fast and hollow left that runs off the central sandbanks. That’s a performance wave with real quality that likes a mid-pushing tide and some good action in the SW channel.
Head far north the bluff that hosts the Port Authority Nobbys Control Centre and you can also find a sucky little beast that runs left off the breakwater wall. None of the spots here, to be frank, are that good for learners. They’re shifty and there are rips thanks to the strange channels cut during the construction of the harbors.
Newcastle Beach (Newie Beach)
The namesake beach of Newcastle hosts a trio of very decent waves that really shine on their day. Good northeasterner winter systems send swells straight into the rocky reefs that skirt the shore bluffs. Shark Alley is the northernmost one, but it’s a fickle wave that peters out into mush after a promising starter section. The middle of the bay has an A-frame with a stronger left that can pump out almond barrels and bombs on bigger days. Newie is best surfed on a mid-tide; low tide things get a bit shallow and the rocks start poking their heads up.
Merewether Beach
Merewether Beach is now listed among the crème-de-le-crème of Australian National Surfing Reserves. The main reason for that is the break that’s known as Ladies. It’s a right-hand reef that can handle just about any size short of ridiculous. It forms on the rock bed at the south end of the bay and sends marching lines straight parallel to the beachfront. It’s proper down-the-line stuff with the potential to wrap overhead on anything that’s 8-foot+. Usually the stomping ground of local pros and crews. Everyone’s good.
Dudley Beach
Escape the urban crowds by making the quest down to Dudley Beach. The spot is beautiful, backed by dunes and clusters of coastal scrub forest. It’s purely beach break and can be rippy but on smaller days is well suited to learners. Sadly, winter storms can totally blow the sandbanks to pieces and there can be months here when there’s nothing worth surfing at all.
Where to stay when surfing in Newcastle?
There are plenty of attractive hotels in Newcastle, many of which are aimed squarely at the family holiday crowd since this is such a wholesome vacation escape. Some get you nice and close to the top-quality surf breaks mentioned above…
Brezza Bella Boutique Bed & Breakfast ($$)
A bit of a local secret, this one’s a charming Aussie B&B with local charms aplenty. It gets you close enough to Merewether Beach for dawnies to not be too much of a chore.
Beach Haven on The Hill ($$)
A whole apartment for up to four people, within easy car reach of all the local beaches, and flaunting a fantastic rooftop garden with 360-degree views of the NSW coast. What more could you want?
Noah’s On the Beach ($$)
Basic but kinda’ easy on the wallet, Noah’s really does live up to its name. You’ll step from the front door and be on Newie Beach in seconds. You can even check the swell from your balcony.
Step-by-step guide to planning your Newcastle surf trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the Newcastle 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: 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 Newcastle?
Newcastle surf is best in the winter months. They last from May to September in New South Wales and see regular SE swells push through from the Antarctic Ocean even further south. Some days during that time are sure to be too big for surfing here, since the town’s main beaches face head-on into the dominant swell channel and winds can play havoc with the water at the take-off zones during storms. Summer months (November-March) still have plenty of surf and can be excellent for families and beginners.
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!
