The Ultimate Guide to Surfing in Margaret River

Rocky Point

There can be swells that swing around to this eastern side of Cape Naturaliste at the far north end of Margaret River, they just need to be big – like 2.5 meters+ big. When that happens, a fat, squidgy left runs off the rocks at this lovely white-sand beach just around the headland from Eagle Bay. It’s good for loggers but you need some experience on the reef.

The Farm

The first break of note in Bunker Bay – still on the eastern side of Cape Naturaliste – is The Farm. It’s an all-level wave that goes left and right. The bigger the swell the punchier it is but we’re talking a decent improvers spot that has the crowds to show for it.

Boneyards

Named for the fact that it can close out like nobody’s business if the sandbanks move even an iota to the left or right, Boneyards is the heavier of the two in Bunkers Bay. It’s on the north point of the beach where the reefs converge on the sand. Gives lefts and rights but the rights almost always hold better on the wrap-around N swells that get this region kicking. Not often busy and can be a touch of localism about.

Windmills

Windmills can give a barrel run of a left on one of the most rugged parts of the whole Margaret River stretch, though that’s rare. Generally, it needs an easterly or a southeasterly wind to hold up and hollow out and can’t do anything over 5-7 foot because it’ll just turn to mush. We’d put it down as a summer break because it suffers so much on turning winds. The fact that it needs small swells means it lends itself to beginners, who usually chase head-high peelers on larger boards in these parts. It’s a hefty drive to the north of Cape Naturaliste.

The Three Bears

Yep, there are three separate breaks at the Three Bears just north of Kabbijgup Beach. Papa Bear is the alpha here. It’s a strong outer section that can tame the largest winter systems into something rideable, though it’s often guns and pros only. Mama Bear is a better quality wave that can give backdoor pits on its left and steeper, faster performance drops on its right. Then there’s Baby Bear, a great place to learn on smaller days. Don’t underestimate the child of the trio, though – it can get gnarly here when it’s heavy so it’s not an out-and-out starter spot.

Yallingup

All hail the geography gods who placed Yallingup Reef just in front of this buzzy surf town in northern Margaret River. Angled beautifully northwest into the Indian Ocean, it’s a tailored point that catches SW swells and easterly offshores to provide long, shouldery lefts that cruise across the rocks into the main beach. It’s one of the more manageable reef lefts in Oz, so middle-skill surfers eat your heart out (just be sure you know when to lip out because there’s rocks at the end, too).

The rights are harder and faster. They tend to tube faster and then open into rip-worthy banks of water. There’s one section here called Super Tubes which is the hardest of the bunch, giving empty pits over waters that run no deeper than a puddle.

Interestingly, Yallingup is the place where surfing is said to have started in WA way back in the 50s. You’re in hallowed ground here.

Check out our complete guide to Yallingup surf

Pea Break

Usually named among the spots of Indjidup because it’s right on the beach there, Pea Break deserves a mention on its own. The reason? It’s one of the highest-quality waves in the whole of surfing in Margaret River if you ask us. When its on – and fickleness is an issue – it will shift right from a steep take off into a rifle barrel that fizzes fast and then opens into a neat wedge you can ride up and air if you wanna’. Needs a southeasterly to hold well and will be overprescribed when working its best.

Indjidup

If Yallingup is working then Indjidup is working and that means most of the local crews track south to this headland break (and its neighbor of Pea – see above). The reason? It’s generally better quality and shows more potential for barrel hunting. However, it’s busy and the folks aren’t always the nicest. There are two main take-offs but the best is called The Point, which gives quick performance rights on big SW swells and a mellower left that you’ll need to work to ride to the end.

Gallows

Don’t be too put off by the name. Most locals don’t really know why this one has such a gruesome moniker. It’s actually not all that bad, but it is a quick and can get hollow. The best swells are when there’s a lot of W in the compass and the lip can wedge up to give lefts and rights. Usually, though, it’s only the superior left that works hot. Depending on the shape of the set, you’ll get a crumbly wall to work or a tube to nestle into. It’s all reef bottom.

North Point

The more welcoming surf enclave of Gracetown is a top spot for beginners and families, but also improvers – it’s basically got all the breaks you could hope for in a single, short drive. North Point happens to be the most gnarly of the lot. Winter SW pushes here can bring double, triple overheads that hold like a monster will ram through the opening of Cowaramup Bay and offer tubular rights that close pits three or four board lengths in front of the rider if there’s enough skill. It’s not for nothing the Margaret River Pro will move here when it’s sketchy at Main Point.

South Point

The mellow bro of North Point, South Point sits just across the opening of Cowaramup Bay on the other side of Gracetown. It’s a good stomping ground for intermediate surfers and longboarders who want to cruise, since it rarely – AKA never – gets the same attitude as its compadre over the water. Again, this one’s good on wrap-through SW swells and morning winds from the east.

Cobblestones

The best of a group of breaks that lies down a track south of Gracetown, Cobblestones is a lippy little wedge that only really gives a right hander. The trick here is knowing when to stop riding because the reef shelf approaches fast. There’s often a crowd out and it’s okay on direct W swells as well as SW pushes. Can’t hold that well in big storms.

Ellensbrook Mainbreak

The Ellensbrook Mainbreak does consistency better than just about anywhere else up and down the Margaret River shoreline. It’s similar to many of the other little wedges that peel into the region (and there are like 20 breaks to pick from here) in that it goes left and right, though the left is a touch longer as it curves into a bowl along the beachfront.

The Box

Sucking out of a strange canyon below the surface and rising into a shock right-hand barrel before fizzling out into boils and whitewash, The Box is a strange little customer. And it’s brutal to boot. You gotta’ be super-fast at the take off and commit for the whole ride. Getting caught in the machine here means being churned up and then spat out onto shallow rocks. Notice the pros will paddle out over this side of Surfers Point to warm up before the pro sometimes.

Mainbreak

The one everybody’s talking about – Mainbreak is the home of surfing in Margaret River these days. That’s mainly because it’s the home of the eponymous Margaret River Pro. A true swell sucker, it can handle 20-foot-plus from west and southwest channels and really is quite impervious to the wind direction.

The take-off to the right is steeper but quickly leads to a fatter line that then fizzles out as it meets the point reefs. The left is the money wave, giving the best riders the chance to run past the boils into a rippable section that feels like it goes on and on as you draw squiggles in the water. Often busy, it’s the premier spot of the whole area. Watch up on Surfers Point before paddling out to make sure it’s a-okay and get a feel for the angles.