Where to surf in Queensland for the best waves

Starting on the Southern Gold Coast, Snapper Rocks is an amazing right-hand point break, dubbed the Superbank, that attracts a crowd of shredders and grommets. It’s home to a world championship tour event – the Corona Open Gold Coast (formerly Quiksilver and Roxy Pro). Rides of several hundred metres will give you jelly legs if you manage to paddle into a peeling set wave.

This break works best on E-SE swells and is relatively clean in southerly winds - the dominant wind throughout much of the year. While at its prime in autumn and winter, there’s rarely a bad day to go surfing at Snapper Rocks. It remains relatively consistent over most tides with the lower tide offering more barrel potential. Be prepared for a long paddle back against the current or a run up the beach in a bigger southerly swell. 

Kirra

Kirra has earned legendary status. In fact, it has been described as the best right-hand sand point break in the world. When conditions align, it will throw up some of the best barrels of your life if you maintain the breakneck speed through the sections.

Big SE swells are best but in cyclone season even E and NE swells (when the sand is right) will have you cheering. Expect to share it on a good day with a few hundred of your closest friends.

Local tip: If you’ve pulled a double shift in the water and are struggling to stand, rest your aching body at Kirra Surf Apartments, just a short walk away, or refuel at Baskk At Kirra Point - a local favourite at the south end of the beach. 

Burleigh Heads

If you are still keen for more leg burning waves, head north to the famed Burleigh Heads. Here you’ll find another sand bottom right-hand point break. You jump off from the basalt rock-strewn point to bunt for the famous thick, heavy barrels.

Burleigh works best in a big S swell and is offshore in the winter SW winds, although it does offer great protection from the S-SE trade winds.

Once the sun sets, head to Burleigh Brewing Company for a well-earned locally-brewed lager. If you’re staying around town, here’s how to spend 48 hours in Burleigh Heads.

For more recommendations on where to surf in Queensland, check out more of the Gold Coast’s top surf spots.

Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island)

Leave Brisbane City behind for a weekend and catch the ferry over to North Stradbroke Island.

Main Beach at Point Lookout offers up the best surfing on the island - next to the headland below the clubhouse - while beach breaks stretch off to the south along the 33km of sand. Being a sand island, it escapes the turbidity problems associated with heavy rain events so expect crystal clear water most of the year.

Main Beach is highly dependent on sand conditions for the beach breaks, however, being more exposed, wave heights will generally be a little bigger than on the mainland. Best in S swell events and offshore in SW winds. 

With camping and a surf school on the island, this is the perfect destination for a chilled getaway. If you’ve only got a weekend, here’s how to see the best of the island in 48 hours.

If you need all the mod-cons on your beach stay, consider booking into Allure Stradbroke Resort for modern beach shack vibes.

Mulgumpin (Moreton Island)

If you want a totally off-grid surf experience, pack the 4WD and head over to Moreton Island. Traversing the sandy tracks crisscrossing the island is half the fun and makes finding waves an epic adventure.

Exposed to swells from both north and south, waves abound on the east coast, however, you’ll have to plan your trip to hide from the winds. Offshore in SW winds, there are a few spots offering protection from prevailing SE/NE wind combinations.

Hard to find but well worth it, Boulders is a local secret spot. Head down the rough track leading to the beach about 120 metres before you reach the Cape Moreton lighthouse.

Pitch your tent at a number of campsites on the island and for those pancake-flat days, check out these must-do activities on Moreton Island.

Kings Beach

While Kings Beach in Caloundra won’t produce a world champion any time soon, it makes the grade on this list as it’s the best beach on the Sunshine Coast to hide from the NE sea breeze in summer.

As a patrolled beach, surfers are usually restricted to the southern end where you can generally find a bank offering up good times with a few closeout air sections. Bodyboarders will rejoice on the fast shallow left breaking over the rocks just south of the groyne.

Just a bit further south, in the right conditions, Caloundra Bar can throw up waves that will go viral in seconds. It’s not consistent but when a big NE swell comes wrapping down the coast, this is one spot to keep an eye on.

The Caloundra Coastal Walk links these three spots and offers a great vantage point for the early morning surf check and a warm-up walk.

Coolum Beach

Like the famed points on the Gold Coast, Noosa Heads is world-famous. Offering great longboarding waves on smaller days, you can still expect to see a skilled crowd hanging 10 when the swells roll in. With such fun waves, you won’t feel out of place here if you ride old school vintage twin fins, replica single fins or just your high-performance thruster.

Noosa National Park offers multiple points and the further you walk the more the crowd thins. These spots are best on southerly swells that wrap around the headland and are protected from SE winds. That being said, you might still find some waves on a NE swell as long as the wind is light.

If you just can’t get enough of the Noosa surf vibe, time a visit during the Noosa Festival of Surfing. When it comes time to refuel, you’re spoilt for choice on Hastings Street.

Follow these itinerary suggestions if you only have a weekend to spare in Noosa. 

Double Island Point

Once a well-kept secret by Sunshine Coast surfers, the popularity of Double Island Point exploded after a cameo role in Endless Summer 2. You’ll need a 4WD to explore the area heading out from either Rainbow Beach or Noosa North Shore. You have to time your trek for tides so be prepared for an early start.

The set-up features a wedgey beach break to the south of the headland. While to the north, if the sand is right, you will be treated to an exceptionally long peeling right. With both sides of this headland offering great waves, adjust your target destination depending on prevailing conditions.

You can camp on the beach in designated areas or if you prefer amenities then consider the Rainbow Beach Holiday Park. 

Agnes Waters

Considered the last true surf spot on the mainland coast heading north, the towns of 1770 and Agnes Water in the Gladstone region offer up fun but inconsistent waves. While these can lack the power and structure of waves around the Gold Coast, you can still whet your surf appetite here.

The best conditions are a NE swell and light winds, however, it’s offshore in a south-westerly. A rocky headland gives way to a sand bottom wave.

During wet season, the waves are dialled up a notch as the low pressure systems form in the Coral Sea. Another great perk to surfing in Agnes Waters? The water is pretty much always warm!

On flat days, head out with 1770 Liquid Adventures to explore that area on a kayak.

Great Barrier Reef