The Noosa surf has hurtled to the forefront of Aussie surfing on account of three or four fantastic right-hand points. It’s hard to argue that they’re world-class stuff.
An introduction to Noosa surf
Noosa Heads is like the Beethoven of right-hand point breaks. No one quite knows how the region does it, but it manages to throw out some of the most pristine, curving cruisers outside of the main winter surf season. The truth is that this is something of a tailor-made spot for hoovering up the NE-E typhoon storms that originate far in the north in the depths of the Coral Sea. That happens around summertime, which means there’s an added bonus: You’re going to be surfing in bath-warm, turquoise waters while the sun beats on down. Yew!
The Noosa surf is all about a trio of small coves that run along the north side of the headlands. Together they are known as the Noosa Heads. They begin with Granite Bay, an inlet blessed with sand-gathering reefs, and end at First Point, which is now established as the premier longboard wave of QLD. Within is the undisputed jewel in the crown that is Tea Tree Bay. If you can get a wave there (and the competition is stiffer than a pissed-off local who’s just had one stolen), you’re looking at the ultimate hotdogging setup.
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This guide is just one part of our complete guides to Australia surfing and surfing in Queensland
Noosa surf at a glance
The good…
The bad…
What’s in this guide to Noosa surf?
Where is Noosa?
Noosa is what most people call the main town of Noosa Shire, a region of the upper Queensland Sunshine Coast that pokes out from the south side of Teewah Beach. The main surf territory here is what’s referred to as the Noosa Heads, which include a series of coves that string along the northern side of the Noosa National Park. The closest airport for arrivals to Noosa is the Sunshine Coast Airport. It’s around 0.5 hours’ drive to the south of town.
A guide to the Noosa surf spots
The spots that really put Noosa surf on the map exist in a short space of less than 1.5 miles along the northern portion of the Noosa National Park. However, there are beaches to the south – Sunshine et al – that offer more reliable beach breaks that work in the opposite season (winter, not summer). We’ll take a look at the whole lot right here…
Sunshine Beach
A whole 10 miles of swell-sucking sand that runs directly south from the main Noosa Heads, Sunshine Beach is the place to go if it’s too small around the coves of Tea Tree and whatnot. First thing’s first – it’s a simply gorgeous stretch of sand, shimmering marble white under a few uber-lux condos on the headland above. Below, there are multiple beach peaks that hold shape real nice thanks to pockets of reef and underwater channels. These are generally the best of the beach breaks in Queensland, with the potential to hollow out and run for some distance as they curve into the bay.
Alexandria Bay
Alexandria Bay is often overlooked by the crowds of rippers that call Noosa home. The reason? Simple…it’s the hardest of the Noosa surf spots to reach, requiring a lengthy romp through the national park grounds from the nearest car park. It’s often worth the push though, since everything from easterly wind pulses to strong SW groundswells are magnetized right into the bay and give waves that can have some serious clout. You’re also going to be surfing under a halo of wild eucalyptus forests and kauri pines, with rugged headlands to the left and right. Very pretty indeed.
Granite Bay
A cluster of low-lying reef called the Fairy Pools start the action in Granite Bay, the easternmost of the major points that make Noosa so famous. They harness those NE typhoon pushes into marching rows of rights that hold well as they cruise right into the heart of the bay and wrap around another block of the reef in the middle. This is usually the emptiest part of the heads because it’s the hardest to get to. But it’s also because it rarely hosts the same quality as the other big players a touch to the west…
Tea Tree
Tea Tree (also sometimes called Ti Tree or Ti-Tri) is the holy grail of the Noosa lineup. It’s always overprescribed because it’s the accepted stomping ground of the local crews, who take first dibs on all waves whether you’re paddling for them or not. The wave is a class act. It rises and breaks on an outside section of reef that draws along into the middle of the bay over a sandbar that shifts in shape and size across the season. The wave holds shape like nowhere else on the East Coast, and can even curve up and over into a perfect barrel section when it’s bigger. Those E typhoon pushes are required and there will be crowds.
Boiling Pot
This is the take-off zone that lies just west of the main Tea Tree spot. It’s more exposed so gets beefier on any swell. Lie in close to the rocks to get caught on the sucky drop in and then you can rip some nice shortboard sections into the bay, sometimes reeling for quite some way to connect up with the next major take-off at Johnsons Corner. Sticking here is a good way to dodge the biggest crowds.
Little Cove
The wave begins to bowl and bend as it arcs into the final section of the Noosa Heads, known as Little Cove. Tempered by the continual sand bars and reefs, it’s smaller and cruisier – a taste of things to come. You can ride here in front of the pebble and rock for some good distances (up to 250 meters isn’t unheard of). The main challenge will be dodging the endless crowds and wayward foamies that are sure to come your way.
First Point
Look south on the Noosa Main Beach and you can see First Point jutting out from the car lot on Park Road. True to its name, it’s the first rock that marks the beginning of the heads. It’s also the farthest inside, which means it gets extra protection from the powerfully NE-E storm system pushes that create the waves. For loggers, it’s a dream. This uber-cruisy ride is like the 8ft-10ft dream of the East Oz shore; mellow, glassy, but impossibly busy if you don’t get out early.
Where to stay when surfing in Noosa?
If you’re keen to surf the fabled Noosa Heads then it’s a good idea to choose a hotel that’s close to the entrance to the national park, as that’s where all those right-hander points make their home. We’ve gone for two of those below, but also one hotel that’s further south on the exposed beaches that pull in swell in the winter season, just in case you’re holidaying and want to surf between May and October.
Tea Trees
Just as the name implies, this well-rated apartment hotel sits within walking distance of the national park entrance where you find epic breaks like Tea Trees and the others. The suites are clean, modern, and charming, and come with breezy balconies where you can sit and watch the ocean breezes bristling the palms and eucalyptus groves.
The Retreat Beach Houses
Literally steps off the white-wisped sands of Peregian to the south of Noosa proper, these are a top choice for surfers that come in the winter months when it’s unlikely that the main right-hand points will be working. Instead, they sit just behind a long and often empty part of the QLD coast that’s got multiple peaks for all levels. The pads themselves are also downright lovely, with chic interiors that have a sort of New England beach hut feel, and gardens complete with a curvy pool.
The Lookout Resort Noosa
The luxury option…The Lookout Resort Noosa is perched on a high hill with sweeping views of the whole of Noosa bay and the heads in the distance. It’s a short trip to the entrance of the national park and First Point and offers uber-cool apartment spaces with fitted kitchens and sprawling lounges. There’s also an on-site pool, spa, and fully fledged gymnasium.
Step-by-step guide to planning your Noosa surf trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the Noosa 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 Noosa?
We’re going to go right ahead and assume you’re coming here for the series of thundering rights that work on the north end of the Noosa Heads. From Granite Bay through to Tea Tree, they are the piece de resistance of the area and actually buck the trend in QLD when it comes to seasonality. This series of points relies squarely on the unpredictable typhoon systems that throw out deep low-pressure pulses from the heart of the Coral Sea. They stuff in strong NE-E sets that will crash onto the rocks and give those once-in-a-lifers you’ve been craving. If you’re looking to surf Sunshine Beach and the others that stretch south then it’s a case of holding out for the usual SE-SW winter swells.
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!
