Surfing Long Reef Bombora: The Complete Guide

Long Reef Bombora is a reef break located in Northern Beaches Sydney, Australia, offering both lefts and rights along Australia's coastline. Long Reef Bombora is Sydney's big wave playground—an offshore reef break that lurks beyond the Long Reef headland on the Northern Beaches. Rated as expert-level difficulty with uncrowded conditions, this reef break is a worthy destination for surfers looking beyond the usual suspects.

Best Conditions

Swell Direction: The ideal swell direction is ESE (120°), with workable conditions from E to SSE (80°–160°). Swells outside this window will either miss the break or produce disorganized waves.

Swell Size: Long Reef Bombora needs a minimum of 2m / 7ft to start working and handles swells up to 4m / 13ft before conditions deteriorate. When it maxes out, expect powerful, heavy-water conditions.

Swell Period: Look for a swell period of at least 12 seconds, with 15 seconds being the sweet spot. Longer periods deliver more organized, powerful waves with better shape.

Wind: True offshore here blows from the W (270°). The full offshore range spans SW to NW (230°–310°). Glassy conditions under 4km/h from any direction also produce excellent surf. Plan for early morning dawn patrol sessions.

Tide: This spot works best at all tides.

When to Go

Primary Season: The prime window at Long Reef Bombora runs April, May, June, July, August (Apr–Aug). This is when swell consistency and direction align most reliably with the break.

Secondary Season: A secondary window opens March, September (Mar–Sep). While not as consistent, patient surfers can still score quality sessions during this period.

Season Notes: Autumn-winter. Needs solid swell to break on the outer reef.

Water Temperature: Expect water temperatures around 19°C / 66°F. Bring a 3/2mm wetsuit — 4/3mm in winter months.

Getting There

The nearest airport is SYD, roughly 30 minutes by car.

Access: Long paddle from Long Reef headland. Some use jet skis.

Hazards & Tips

Known Hazards:

🦈 Sharks — Known shark activity
😮‍💨 Hold-downs — Long hold-downs possible
🌀 Strong rips — Dangerous currents

Offshore big wave spot. Long paddle or jet ski access. Serious consequences.

Safety Tips:

Avoid surfing at dawn/dusk and near river mouths. Surf with a buddy
Study the currents before paddling out. Know your exit strategy
Build your breath-hold confidence before tackling bigger days here

Skill Level: This spot is rated expert-level (9/10). Crowd Level: Typically uncrowded (2/10).

Check the Live Forecast

Planning a session at Long Reef Bombora? Check the live forecast on Strike Mission to see today's conditions and the 10-day outlook. Our Strike Score algorithm rates this spot from 0 to 100 every day, factoring in swell direction, size, period, wind, and tide — so you know exactly when to paddle out.

Don't leave your next surf trip to chance. Let the data tell you when Long Reef Bombora is firing.

*Conditions data sourced from Strike Mission's verified spot database.*