Angourie

Discovered in the 1960s by the first generation of Australia’s surfing counter-culture, Angourie remained relatively unheralded for the next three decades. Famous these days for being Aussie surfing legend Nat Young’s home break, Angourie remains a pristine environment bordered by a National Park, but plenty of surfers know about it. The swell needs only be one or two metres for the point to start breaking, at which stage it’s rideable for surfers of most abilities, but anything bigger should only be tackled by confident board-riders. Typically for such an esteemed wave, the local surfing tribes are quite protective and occasionally disgruntled by the appearance of a few blow-ins, but adherence to proper surfing etiquette is all that’s necessary. Accommodation near the point is mostly moderate to expensive rental properties or otherwise a secluded resort. The town of Yamba is 6km away and has a greater choice of places to stay as well as a range of restaurants and other services. Angourie Beach was declared a National Surfing Reserve in 2007, the second site in Australia to be recognised for its significance to recreational surfing and, as such, is considered sacred by Australian surfers.