Cactus is Australia's most remote quality surf zone—a collection of breaks at the edge of the Nullarbor Plain in South Australia, where the Southern Ocean delivers raw power to an isolated stretch of coastline. The main break is a hollow left that peels along a limestone reef, with nearby spots including the slab Supertubes. Getting here requires a 12-hour drive from Adelaide through desert scrub. The reward is empty lineups, powerful waves, and genuine wilderness surfing. Bring everything—nearest help is hours away.
Water temp
17°C
Wetsuit
3/2mm fullsuit
Difficulty
7/10
Crowd level
3/10
Access: 12 hours drive from Adelaide. Remote camping.
Peak: Apr-Sep
Secondary: Mar, Oct
Winter-spring. Remote Great Australian Bight. Southern Ocean power.
Verified by Surf-forecast/Swellnet cross-reference
How well swell angle matches the spot
Wave height in the ideal range
Each spot has different period requirements. Points and reefs can handle longer periods than beaches.
Offshore/glassy conditions