Surfing Spots - Merimbula Bar, Pambula River Mouth, Tathra, Saltwater Creek

Just a short walk from Main Beach car park or a short paddle from Bar Beach across the river mouth. This is a world class left hand wave, distance is about 50mts to 150mts on a normal day around 3ft – 5ft, much longer when smokin at 6ft – 8ft. Its located just at the river mouth, sandy bottom, hollow and loads of fun, it needs a SouthEast swell with winds North West to North East, tide low to mid. Respect the locals and wait your turn and you’ll live to see another day. This can be a dangerous when big so have some common sense when paddling out across the mouth from Bar Beach.

Main Beach Merimbula

Turn left over the bridge into Fispen Rd, turn first right and drive straight into the Carpark. There’s a viewing platform where you can see Merimbula Bar and the most of Main Beach. Its all beach breaks with rights and lefts all over the place, best times are low to mid tides and can hold anything from 3ft to 4ft, rides can be super quick and short. Watch out for the under currents and rips, great place to learn to surf and have a swim when small, showers and toilets are provided. Its a family beach so wear leg ropes as there will be loads of kids around in the summer months.

Tura Beach

5kms out of Merimbula heading north towards Tathra on the Sapphire Coast Rd turn right turn into Tura Beach, drive straight down Tura Beach Drive, at the bottom of the hill on the left there is a Carpark and kids playground. There’s a track leading you to beach on the right, be careful on a big day as the rips and undertows can be very dangerous. Its all beach breaks with rights and lefts all over the place, it gets deep very quickly so finding a good bank is never easy, best times are low to mid tides and can hold anything from 3ft to 4ft, rides can be hallow, super quick and shallow. North end down near the head land you can find some good waves in the summer months as its protected by the NE’s. Most of the time there’s no one out so it’s just a matter of been lucky.

Head towards Pambula Beach from Pambula, turn left at the Pambula Beach Life Saving Club, once at the car park you can see the beach. All surfers can enjoy Pambula Beach which is very consistent, the beach breaks are loads of fun and can be as long as 50mt to 150mt. Best around mid tides with swell directions from the SouthEast, East to NorthEast and winds from West to South West, waves can be anything from 3ft to 10ft. Just be careful of rips and undertow, its patrol in the summer months by the local surf club. When small to medium size waves are on its a great spot for beginners to intermediate levels.

Pambula River Mouth

This is an Australian classic wave, works only on a big swell, its fast, hollow and very powerful and for the very experience surfer only, holds tubes for up to 10 seconds if ya fast enough. On a good day at 8ft, it’s the perfect right hander, length can be from 50mt to 150mt breaking on a sandy bottom with some rocks around, best on low tide, swell direction East to North East, wind direction East to SouthEast. You can either walk from Pambula Beach around the rocks or drive passed the turn off to the Lifesaving club and turn left at the Rotary Park which will give you a good view on what’s going on or drive down to the very end carpark and walk up the Pambula River to the mouth. Again respect locals as this doesn’t break very often so you have to understand why they dont want to share but you’ll find most of the crew very friendly, dangerous rips and undertows appear when big.

Best if you get a map from the National Parks & Wildlife Service on Ben Boyd National Park as there is lots to see if the surfs not working, you’ll have to turn off the Princess Hwy about 20kms South from Eden. Once at the car park just walk (10min) to the beach and paddle out or you can jump off the rocks. Makes a great day trip from the major tourist towns. This is another World Class wave when working, it’s a point break, right hander with sandy bottom and rocks. Wave length from 50mts to 200mts on a good day, it can hold up to everything from 6ft to 12ft, experienced surfers only please. It doesn’t great crowded during the week and breaks regularly.

Tathra

Tathra is 23kms north from Merimbula. Drive along the Sapphire Coast Road, turn right at the end and this will take you to this spectacular town with magnificent views and clean beaches. Tathra Beach is 3kms long and is patrolled during the busy summer months at the southern end. Right and left beach breaks with sandy bottom is perfect for all standards of surfing, wave length is normally 50mts but on a good day 150mts, some banks can hold 3ft others can hold 6 – 8ft depending on the conditions, rise and falling tides are the best with crowds very low most days. If the conditions are right it’s something to write home about, very friendly locals, clean beach with loads of wildlife.

Camel Rock

Two ways from Merimbula, inland drive to Bega and head north towards Cobargo, turn right at CobargoBermagui Rd at the end turn left onto Wallaga Lake Rd or coastal road drive to Tathra (see above) drive north along Andy Poole Drive which will turn into Tathra Bermagui Rd, about 90kms later you will reach Bermagui, turn left into Cutajo St over the Wallaga Lake bridge, turn right at the Beauty Point turnoff follow the sign Camel Rock this till the top carpark. You should be able to see the break from there. This surf trip will be worth it if the conditions are right, it’s a left on a sand bar with some rock but its loads of fun, fast and perfectly hollow on a good swell and matching wind, its one of the best spots on the South Coast if ya lucky enough. Best swell direction is South, SouthEast to East with the wind West to South West, during the week it’s not that crowded but on weekends it can be if its 4 – 10ft. Sharks can be seen now and again, watch out for the rips and undertows on a big day, when taking off watch out for the rocks in front

Gillards Beach

Head north to Tathra, along the foreshore road, drive along the Tathra Bermagui Road for about 5kms. Turn right into Gillards Beach (Mimosa Rocks National Park), this is a dirt road so be aware of weather conditions. There are camping spots down here, toliets, take your own water if possible, fees do apply. If theres some swell, great waves can be found along the short beach. During the week you will be surfing by yourself, gets crowded on the weekend if the beach is working.

Moruya Rivermouth

On a good day length can be from 100 to 200mts, its fast and powerful with right and left wave, sandy bottom, need swell from the East, South East or North East, best wind direction is South West to South East, tide between mid to low on falling tide, high tide tends to be fat and sluggish. Watch out for rips and undertow, mid week is best for low crowd. One of the best waves around Moruya and on the South Coast, there another right hander across the channel, worth a visit. Go to Shelly Beach, see the rock wall as it breaks this side of it. Regional Classic is sometimes held there, all experience surfers can apply.

Kianga and the Narooma Breakwall

Head towards Kianga and the Kianga Recreation Reserve over the Narooma Bridge, turn right into Centenary Dr and have a little search along the coast line, some tracks may require a 4x4 if the conditions are wet. Left side of the break wall, on a sandy bottom has a right hander, fast and hollow for all surfers. Good day 100-150mt in length, falling tides with NorthWest to South East swells with same winds directions. During the week its pretty much too yourself, weekend a few more crew. Holds anything from 3ft-5ft.

Drive a little more north to Kianga along the Dalmeny Drive you’ll find loads beaches with sandy bottoms and a few beach breaks if the banks are right. At the point theres a right hander, sandy bottom with a few rocks around, can hold up to 6ft, very crowded on the weekends, great right hand barrels all the way to the beach. Check it out....

Surf Spots