Beach Insider's Surfing Guide

If you’ve ever stood on the beach and watched a good surfer getting barrelled through a wave, effortlessly riding the swell, then chances are you’ve wanted to try it for yourself. Surfing is not, however, as easy as it looks, and if you don’t pick the right destination, you might get disheartened by challenging waves. With a little guidance from us, you’ll be able to find the biggest waves, the coolest surf scenes and the best accommodation.

For thousands of years, surfing has been a Hawaiian tradition, and Hawaii still offers some of the best surfing beaches in the world. During winter, the surf tends to be higher on the northern beaches, while the southern coastline is calm and flat. The opposite is true in the summer months. In general, only experts should attempt the North Shore in winter: it can get dangerous. Waikiki beach is a great place to learn all year round, with manageable waves and plenty of good surfing instructors. If you’re feeling more adventurous, the Banzai Pipeline on Oahu is legendary for its challenging breaks.

Surfing USA (and Australia)

Although surfing all started in Hawaii, it only began to reach international prominence when the Irish-Hawaiian George Freeth first surfed off the coast of Southern California in the early 1900s. The area remains a surfing mecca for enthusiasts from all over the world. Venice Beach, Los Angeles, is the home of the original surfer-dude culture, with quirky surf-shops and quirkier surfers jostling for space on the boardwalk. If, however, you want to catch some serious waves in a beautiful, unpolluted setting, head up to Malibu Point for winter surfing or Rincon in Ventura for summer waves. The truly adventurous should try their hand at The Wedge, in Newport. Conditions are extreme here, so only very experienced surfers should venture into the water.

Today, Australia is arguably the capital of international surfing, with many of the biggest high-profile competitions taking place there. Torquay, on the aptly named Surf Coast, is swarming with surfers throughout the year. Torquay is a big resort town, and a good place for beginners to learn the ropes before driving south down the Great Ocean Road to the more remote and challenging beaches. If you want something that’s a little off-the-beaten-track, then Thailand gets some pretty good waves along its gorgeous beaches in Phuket or Ko Samui. For a truly unique surfing experience, why not pay homage to one half of George Freeth’s heritage, and check out the interesting surfing spots along the Atlantic coast of Ireland. The water gets cold, but the beaches are rarely crowded and the Guinness is good.