Surf Guide to Bryon Bay by Black Dog Surfing

Byron Bay is blessed with clear blue water, soft white sand and perfect surf. Surrounded by dense rainforest, rolling hinterland with scattered waterfalls and 220 square kilometres of protected marine park; Byron is full of nature. Off the beaten track Byron was a safe haven for renegade surfers in the 50's and 60's who made it home and converted Byron from an industrial fishing, dairy and steel town into a happy, hippy surfing paradise.

The Pass is Byron's most famous wave; a long and gentle sand bottom point break. It is perfect for beginners, families and lazy longboarders. A good wave at The Pass can carry you over 200 metres and at the end you simply hop out and stroll back up the beach for another round. At Blackdog Surfing we are lucky enough to call The Pass our office. Between waves we soak in the view of Mount Wollumbin meaning 'cloud catcher' (also known as Mount Warning as named by Captain Cook). In the autumn, winter and spring months when the winds and swell come up from the south, The Pass offers the perfect shelter providing pristine glassy conditions for surfing.

Around the corner to the east is Wategos Beach named by the Watego family who used to have a goat farm in the woody valley. The wave there is another long right hand point break, however it is broken up with scattered rocks making it more suitable for intermediate surfers with more confidence. The sand at Wategos can change like the wind; sometimes completely covering the shoreline rocks creating a large beach and other times there is almost no beach at all. Wategos is Byron's dolphins favourite surf spot. They can often be seen playfully leaping about and gliding through waves. They are by far the best surfers in town!

It is thought that Byron is home to almost a thousand dolphins who come to raise their young in our bay thanks to the abundance of fish. Turtles remain in the Bay for most of the year only leaving for warmer water in the middle of winter. The humpback whales can be seen migrating from July to November on their journey back south. Many females bring their new calves into the bay for a splash around. There are countless other marine creatures that can be seen from the surf, making Byron truly rich in marine life.

Heading South from Watego's, the landscape ascends into The Cape which is the most easterly point of Australia landmarked by our beautiful Lighthouse with stunning views. Around from The Cape is Tallow Beach; a sweeping 6.5 kilometres of uninterrupted sand and surf. Tucked in at the northern end is Cosy Corner; a popular break for intermediate surfers right through to the pros. A magnet for waves, Cosy Corner is thought to be the most consistent break in the whole of Australia. At low tide it is a fast and powerful wave that pounds the shore and as the tide returns to high it becomes more friendly. During the summer months when the swell slackens and the winds swing around to the north we can always find plenty of action and shelter in the corner.

At the southern end of Tallow Beach is Broken Head which turns into an incredible point break during the winter and spring months. Between Cosy Corner and Broken Head there are countless peaks to surf where you can often find your very own waves.

Back into the Bay and heading west from The Pass there is Clarkes Beach, Main Beach, The Wreck and then Belongil Beach all connected by soft white sand. The further West you head the larger the waves will become. Most of the year the waves are ideal for beginners and intermediate surfers but at the end of summer, if a cyclone pushes large swell in from the north or the east, the Bay is transformed from a playground to a theme park. Experienced surfers and pros head out to find barrels that they can get fired out from, but often the wave will be too fast and even the best surfers will get swallowed up, creating an exciting spectacle.

So feel welcome to come share the waves with us or jump in a lesson with one of Byron Bay's premium four surf schools. Our local schools only allow ten students per class ensuring quality control in our sacred surfy town. If you head out on your own, learn the surf etiquette for that particular beach, i.e. don't drop in (and apologise if you do), respect the beach, respect our incredible marine life and most importantly, have fun.

Love Blackdog Surf School & Crew.

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