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Surfing locations in the Capes region of South West Western Australia

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Coordinates: 34°S 115°E / 34°S 115°E / -34; 115
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34°S 115°E / 34°S 115°E / -34; 115

Wydalup Bay

Many surfing locations are found along the coast of the Capes Region in Western Australia. The Capes Region, also known as Cape to Cape,[1] is situated between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin,[2]: 11  within a larger region known as the South West.[3] Despite their wide geographic range, most surf breaks in the Capes Region tend to be associated with Margaret River,[4] situated roughly central to the stretch of coast along which they are located.

Context

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Surfing in this region was well-established in the 1970s,[5][full citation needed] with a 1970 government mapping guide to the region identifying surfing locations.[6] By the 1990s, the names of the individual breaks were so well-established[7] that online and print published guides were able to locate and identify the behaviours of the breaks. The surfing culture of the region is well-embedded in the communities along the coast.[8]

The roads named below run off Caves Road, the main western route between Dunsborough and Augusta. The identification of nearby roads does not guarantee that there is access to any of these locations. Some systems of describing locations have Margaret River North[9][full citation needed] – this list divides as below,[incomprehensible] using Yalingup, and Gracetown, as boundaries of smaller surfing regions. The Ngari Capes Marine Park has some of the many breaks listed below in 'Special Purpose Zone (Surfing)' locations within the park.[10][11]

East of Cape Naturaliste

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These breaks are in the south-west corner of Geographe Bay, sheltered by Cape Naturaliste, and are not directly exposed to westerly winds and surges.

  • Castle Rock – north of Dunsborough, and south of Eagle Bay[12]
  • Rocky Point – north of Eagle Bay, and east of Bunker Bay
  • The Farm and Bone Yards[13] – east of Bunker Bay
  • The Quarries – north-west corner of Bunker Bay

South of Cape Naturaliste and north of Yallingup

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These breaks are in an isolated and difficult to access area of the coast north of Yallingup.

  • Windmills – north of Sugarloaf Rock[a]
  • Three Bears – midway between Sugarloaf Rock and Yallingup[a]
  • Yallingup[a] and Rabbit Hill[b] – just north of Yallingup

South of Yallingup and north of Gracetown

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The beaches Three Bears, Yallingup, Smiths Beach and Injidup are all considered "beaches of Yallingup" with related surf breaks of the same names. These breaks are mostly more accessible, but not all.

  • Smiths and Supertubes – at Smiths Beach
  • Injidup Point/Carparks and Pea Break – south end of Indijup Beach and just north of Cape Clairault
  • Cape Clairault – just south of location with same name
  • Wildcat and The Window – west of Quinninup Road
  • Moses Rock – at west end of road with same name
  • Honeycombs – isolated and south of Moses Rock Road
  • Gallows – at end of Cullen Road
  • Guillotine – west of Juniper Road
  • North Point – at northern side of Cowaramup Bay
  • Mousetraps – south of Supertubes

Gracetown and south to the Margaret River mouth

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Gracetown is a locality on the coastline at Cowaramup Bay, and Prevelly is situated on the southern shore at the mouth of the Margaret River.

Prevelly and south to Redgate

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Just south of the Margaret River mouth, Surfers Point is the location of Margaret River Pro surfing events,[15] and the central point that tourism promotions and simplified explanations of the surfing region focus upon.[16]

  • Surfers Point and Southside
  • Bombies and Boatramp
  • Grunters
  • Gas Bay
  • Boodjidup
  • Redgate[17]

Redgate and south to Cape Hamelin

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Breaks and locations between Redgate and Cape Hamelin are more spread out, and not as easily accessed as some northern breaks.

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c The surfing area has been allocated a 'special zone' for surfing within the Ngari Capes Marine Park.
  2. ^ Also found with incorrect spelling of Rabits.[14][full citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ Litchfield, Bob; Litchfield, Caroline (2000). Cape to Cape: Images and Impressions of the Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin region. Perth: Bob Litchfield. ISBN 978-0-646-40580-3. OCLC 223108581.
  2. ^ Gaynor, Andrea; Kendrick, Amrit; Westera, Mark (July 2008). An Oral History of Fishing and Diving in the Capes Region of South-West Western Australia (PDF) (Report). School of Humanities and School of Plant Biology, The University of Western Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 February 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  3. ^ "South West Capes Region". Holiday-WA.net. Archived from the original on 20 June 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  4. ^ "Surf Spots Near Margaret River". Margaret River. 2013. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  5. ^ Margaret River & Districts Historical Society
  6. ^ Western Australia. Dept. of Lands and Surveys. Mapping Branch (1970), Busselton-Augusta, Dept. of Lands & Surveys, retrieved 28 November 2013
  7. ^ Terry, Matt (1999), A guide to surfing hot spots in south western Australia, Waxed, ISBN 978-0-646-37794-0
  8. ^ Holt, Robert A; Edith Cowan University. Faculty of Regional Professional Studies (2012), Cape crusaders an ethnography investigating the surfing subculture of Cape Naturaliste, Western Australia, retrieved 28 November 2013
  9. ^ "Rabits - Surfing in Margaret River North, Australia - WannaSurf, surf spots atlas, surfing photos, maps, GPS location".
  10. ^ "Ngari Capes Marine Park" (PDF). Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  11. ^ "Ngari Capes Marine Park Frequently Asked Questions" (PDF). www.fish.wa.gov.au. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 April 2014.
  12. ^ Maritime Cartographic Services (March 2005). Cape Naturaliste (PDF) (Map) (3rd ed.). 1:50000. Australia – West Coast, Western Australia. Department for Planning and Infrastructure, Government of Western Australia. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  13. ^ "Boneyards Surf Forecast and Surf Reports (WA - Margaret River, Australia)". www.surf-forecast.com. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  14. ^ "Rabits - Surfing in Margaret River North, Australia - WannaSurf, surf spots atlas, surfing photos, maps, GPS location".
  15. ^ "Surfing". Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  16. ^ "Top 10 Surfing Spots - Tourism Western Australia". Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  17. ^ "Redgate Beach". beachsafe.org.au.
  18. ^ "Cape Hamelin Swell Forecast, WA - WillyWeather".

Further reading

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Note: these items occur in multiple editions, the editions here might not reflect either the most recent or most accurate guides to locations or names.

  • Blair, Larry (2004), Wave-finder : Australia (3rd ed.), Hedonist Surf Co, ISBN 978-0-9581726-6-0
  • Rennie, Chris (2002), The surfer's travel guide Australia (3rd ed.), Liquid Addictions, ISBN 978-0-9577754-8-0
  • Thornley, Mark; Wilson, Peter; Bartholomew, Wayne; Dante, Veda (2003), Surfing Australia (Rev. ed.), Periplus, ISBN 978-962-593-774-8
  • Warren, Mark (1998), Mark Warren's atlas of Australian surfing (Rev. ed.), HarperSports, ISBN 978-0-7322-5926-6
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