Snapper Rocks surf heralds the start of the Superbank, offering some of the most iconic right barrels in the whole of Australia. If it was good enough for Mick Fanning…
An introduction to Snapper Rocks surf
When people talk about Snapper Rocks surf, what they’re really talking about is the first spot in a long line of truly legendary spots that together form the Kirra Superbank. They’ve all garnered endless international attention in the last two decades, since the removal of sand from the Tweed River estuary started building up the engine room for what can only be described as a barrel machine.
Prior to 2001, Snappers was a bit fickle, a touch mushy, but nonetheless a decent left-right break for intermediates. Today, it’s a crowded take-off zone for riders chasing the long peelers that can shift them from the head all the way to Kirra Beach in one interconnected medley of hollow and heavy sections. It’s the land that crafted names like Mick Fanning and it’s understandably awesome stuff.
This guide will take a look at the ins and outs of Snapper Rocks surf, but also offer some insights into the surf that goes on all the way down the Superbank, through pit sections like Greenmount all the way to the famous Kirra Big Groyne.
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!
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 guide is just one part of our complete guide to Australia surfing and surfing the Gold Coast
Snapper Rocks surf at a glance
The good…
The bad…
What’s in this guide to Snapper Rocks surf?
Where is Snapper Rocks?
Snapper Rocks is the big, barreling welcome to Queensland. It marks the start of the state and the iconic surf territory of the Gold Coast, which spans north from there. One beach over to the south and you’d be in New South Wales. More specifically, Snapper Rocks surf happens at the end of a long, gnarled headland that pokes out of the south side of Kirra. The nearest airport is the Gold Coast Airport, which is, conveniently, less than 10 minutes’ transfer away to the west.
A guide to the Snapper Rocks surf spots
The breaks that make up the Superbank really begin with Snapper Rocks, the most outside section. From there, they bend in through a series of north-facing beaches, ending with the old-school groyne at Kirra. Let’s take a look…
Duranbah
Duranbah is the locals’ playground. The spot gets big, strong, feisty and fast on good SE swells. It forms up as an A-frame peak in the middle of the bay, with a rippable right and a boogie boarder left. The shoulder is tailored to wide, arcing bottom turns and then shreds off the lip, so it’s a real performance wave. The best swells here are SE combined with winds from the west. Watch out for the vibe – locals rule.
Snapper Rocks
Snapper Rocks is a legendary QLD spot in its own right. Breaking on the outside pinnacle of Danger Point, it’s the most exposed of the take-off zones here, so can suffer more on southerly winds. However, that also brings more size on SE and E swells, which hit the so-called Superbank that’s created by the sand funnels at the end of the Tweed River. The result? When it’s on, this one is a marching phalanx of hollow and hard right handers that flow straight into Rainbow Bay.
Even smaller days are okay, when the wave crumbles a little and mushes through into the inside sections. Bigger swells in the E and SE quadrant with good offshores can help this one connect to the greater series of the Kirra surf breaks that form the Superbank and it’s actually possible to ride all the way through from here, so long as you can navigate backwash and double ups on occasion.
Rainbow Bay
The intermediary between the frothing sections of Snapper Rocks and the shapely barrels of Greenmount, Rainbow Bay has long been one of the most popular beaches in the Kirra region. It bridges the gap nicely between the start point and the famed middle sections of the Superbank with wedgy walls that are a touch steeper than where you finish if you manage to cruise it all out to Kirra. Not often hollow like Greenmount can be, this part of the run is more for whipping out bottom to lip turns and hotdogging a bit. That is if you can dodge the inevitable hordes of paddlers that will be coming at ya’ in the opposite direction.
Greenmount Point
Lots consider Greenmount Point to be the piece de resistance of the Superbank. We can see why. The rocks meet the sandbanks again here and that provide a little extra power and a little extra moxie after the mellower Rainbow Beach runs. The result is that bigger days with SE head-on swells will hollow out and you get real tight barrels to wedge yourself into. Sadly, it’s ALWAYS busy here because this a quality section and it’s closer to the Kirra beaches.
Coolangatta Beach
The shoulder of the wave fattens just a touch as it runs off the end of the Greenmount sandbank and into wider Coolangatta Beach. That makes this a good longboard section before the heavier drops of Kirra Point take over. This part of the Superbank can be seen as the weakest link in those coveted link-up sessions. It’s the most fickle part of it all, needing much bigger swells to get around the Kirra breakwater and create those epic 2k runs. Crumbly knee-high waves will dominate on the inside section of the quay when it’s small. They are fun too.
Kirra Point
Kirra Point churns out barrel after barrel on those winter SE swells. The waves hook around the Big Groyne that points 30m out from the headland and lip up into a sectiony peeler that plays out much more like a wave garden wave than something the ocean created. For that reason it’s very much the spot of choice for the Gold Coast’s performance rippers and hotly contested when it’s shining its best.
Where to stay when surfing in Snapper Rocks?
You want to look for stays that string along the Duranbah Beach headland to the west of Kirra town to get near Snapper Rocks. The good news is that there are quite a few pretty fantastic options in those parts. Check out…
The Pink Hotel Coolangatta
Super-cool The Pink Hotel Coolangatta is a chic and vintage stay that puts you right above the Greenmount section of the Superbank – just think about being able to stroll over the road and hit one of the finest right barrels in the world! The rooms have a boutique and kitschy air – old vinyl players here, dangling retro lamps there. Some even have sun-kissed balconies.
Coolangatta YHA Backpackers
We mention the Coolangatta YHA Backpackers because it’s the solid budget choice if you’re keen to surf the Superbank and Snappers but don’t have a huge wad of dollars to spare. The accommodation is shared dorms and it’s a bit of a walk from Snapper Rocks itself – think 35 minutes. Still, the upside is that you get bargain stays and a good, young vibe. Surfboards can be rented on site.
Mantra Coolangatta Beach
The serviced suites at Mantra Coolangatta Beach are darn lovely to look at – think plush doubles and curved balconies out front. Some come with fully fitted kitchens but the main draw is an outdoor pool tucked behind a whitewashed garden wall.
Step-by-step guide to planning your snapper rocks surf trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the snapper rocks 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 Snapper Rocks?
The angle of Snapper Rocks and the string of Kirra beaches beyond it really need E or SE in the swell. That means holding off for the Southern Ocean to do its thing in the winter months from June to August. However, some say the best time of all is when the spring is just beginning as that’s when the Superbank has had months of storm run off to beef up in size and really set into position. Summers tend to be smaller but there will be rare days of E swell that angle nicely. Just don’t expect Greenmount and Kirra Point to be churning out barrels from November to February.
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!
