Surf camps in Australia are a great way to go if you’re keen to hit the waves of legendary spots like Byron or the Gold Coast but don’t quite know where to begin. We’ve picked out five of the best to get you started…
There isn’t quite the same abundance of surf camps in Australia as there is in Europe right now. But things are changing up and down the shores of wave-rich Oz, especially in key surf towns like Byron Bay, Yamba, and along the Goldie. The focus is largely on backpacker-friendly packages that cater to the young crowd of shoestring travelers that flock this way in abundance, but there are also some fantastic options when it comes to female-only surf camps and surf camps for families.
This guide has picked out just a handful of the top surf camps in Australia to get you started. You’ll notice that they’re largely in the east, and largely around Byron and the NSW surf coast. That makes sense, because there’s good infrastructure there and – importantly – very reliable surf conditions for all levels.
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 is just one part of our complete overall guide to surfing in Australia
Mojosurf Australia
- Location: Byron Bay, NSW
- Price: 7 days/ 6 nights starting at $708 (£580) per person
There’s probably no surf camp that quite sums up the Byron attitude like Mojo. Chilled, easy-going, and as welcoming as they come, these guys have crafted arguably the best 7-day package on the East Coast. We say that for many a reason…
First off, the place you stay, in the teepees and shared dorms of the Mojo Camp on the doorstep of the town’s famous Arts Factory Lodge, is kinda’ cool. It’s proper backpacker stuff with a whiff of outback Oz about it – think decks that open onto the ponds of the Cumbebin Swamp reserve and resident cockatoos to keep you company.
Second, there’s plenty of surf to keep you busy. They tend to plan a daily session that lasts between three and four hours. That’s a whopping 24 hours of surfing in total across the six days, which is in line with the upper limit of what you see in most camps.
Third, they’ve crafted an itinerary that melds the all-important chill factor of Byron with some serious surf instruction. As such, every day begins with a 7am yoga sesh, but there are also extras like Reiki workshops, meditation, and simple chill time by the pool to get you through.
Our two cents: This is one of the best surf camps in Australia, though it certainly lends itself to the 18-30s backpacker crowd, but you can hardly find anything better in the Byron region.
A note on why we partner with BookSurfCamps.com: Book Surf Camps are probably the biggest online aggregator of surf camps and surf-yoga packages in the world. We sounded out a quite a few potential partners before we affiliated with them. But, in the end, the abundance of choice for beginners, intermediates, and female-only surfing sealed it. We also love the simplicity of their booking system and the trusted brand name, along with the focus on connecting with homegrown local businesses on the ground.
Soul Surf School
- Location: Byron Bay, NSW
- Price: 3 days/2 nights starting at $229 (£190) per person
If all you’re after is a quick taste of the famous surf-culture of Byron Bay then Soul Surf have you covered. They run this accalimed 2-day package out of everyone’s favorite NSW wave town. Above all, it’s cracking value for money, offering 2x days of surfing and 2x nights accomodation (bearing in mind that beds in Byron can cost a pretty penny) for around just $229 per person.
A lot of attention has been paid to the vibe of the place. Expect to find a super-cool beach-hut style lodge with a bar-reception space that oozes East Coast vibes. The atmosphere is friendly to the T. All it takes it one session or a couple of beers and you’ll be making new surf pals in no time.
Soul Surf are well orientated for starter surfers and have the perfect playground for that up and down the beaches of Byron Bay, which offer all-level breaks throughout the summer months. Main Beach – the best break for learners in the area – is literally 30 seconds’ walk from the front door here.
Salty Soul Wellness
- Location: Yamba, NSW
- Price: 4 days/3 nights starting at $718 (£585) per person
Everyone loves Yamba. But shh! This tiny, pint-sized surf town south of Byron isn’t in the spotlight yet and most would like to keep it that way. The beaches are empty compared to other NSW mainstays, the people aren’t showy. It’s just nice to be around.
That makes it probably the best backdrop for what we’d rate as the finest women’s only surf camp in Australia. Cue Salty Soul Wellness, who’ve put together this four-day package that’s all about unwinding, detoxing, and reconnecting with nature, while getting some smashing surf sessions in between, of course.
You’ll stay at the incredible Higher Ground Retreat. It’s a 146-acre glamping site that spreads through the coastal bush of the Clarence Valley. Or, to put it another way: Pure bliss. You’ll bed down in bell tents or teepees and spend the evenings warming yourself by the crackling fire pits.
The package is very much wellness focused and they never lose touch of the communion between yoga and surfing. Participants do Yin yoga, Nidra meditations, and beach yoga sessions to wake up, and are even taught how to incorporate yoga practice into surf techniques. It’s pretty cool stuff and you’ll leave feeling like a new woman.
Wake Up! Bondi Beach
- Location: Bondi Beach, Sydney
- Price: A week’s surf stay starting at $300 (£240) per person
There’s perhaps no more iconic a place to paddle out in Oz than Bondi. The surf beach of Sydney and a veritable mainstay on the backpacker trail through the country, this is a great place to get your first hit of those warm-water waves and learn to surf – it’s kinda’ like Australia’s answer to Kuta in Bali.
Anyway, Wake Up! remains one of the most popular picks in the region. They have a boho-cool hostel right on the edge of south Bondi that promises a) bargain dorm beds that won’t break the bank and b) free use of the in-house surfboards during your stay.
For us, that almost ticks all the boxes of what you’re after from a surf camp. But remember that this is booking accommodation only and making the most of the perks. You won’t have the bells and whistles of fully planned surf camps – think organized surf lessons and whatnot. On the flipside, you will have the freedom to surf whenever you like and a pretty cool pad in the midst of one Sydney’s most happening hoods.
Cool Bananas Backpackers (Gnarly Tours)
- Location: Agnes Water, Queensland
- Price: 2 days/1 night starting at $92 (£75)
Our last pick is a slightly left of field option when it comes to surf camps in Australia. The reason? It takes you right up to what’s probably the most northerly of all the Aussie surf beaches, beyond the start of the Great Barrier Reef.
The upside here is that you get STUNNING beaches of cloud-white sand to practice on, and the surf school do note that the water is (mostly!) too cold for jellies and too hot for sharks, which is nice. What we like the most is that the location almost guarantee you’ll be totally alone, which is something very nice for beginner surfers nervous about contending with the line ups of Byron or Kirra.
The package itself is just two days and one night long, including accommodation in the well-rated (like 4.5/5 on Goog) dorms of the Cool Bananas Backpackers. Surf sessions are run by local surf school Gnarly Tours. More specifically, they’re run by the trio of Lorenzo, Pauly, and Alice, who are simply fantastic at explaining the basics and laying the foundations for good surf technique.
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!
