North Narrabeen
North Narrabeen is Sydney's premier beach break—a long stretch of sand where lagoon run-off creates ever-shifting sandbanks that produce world-class lefts on their day. The northern corner is famous for long, peeling waves that have nurtured generations of Australian surfers, and the beach became a National Surfing Reserve in 2009. The sand moves constantly, rewarding local knowledge and patience. When autumn NE swells combine with NW winds, Narrabeen delivers some of the best beach break waves in Australia.
North Narrabeen surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
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Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- ENE (70°)
- Direction range
- 45° - 135°
- Size range
- 0.8m - 2.5m
- Ideal size
- 1.6m - 2.1m
- Height multiplier
- 0.90×
- Ideal period
- 12s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- NW (315°)
- Offshore range
- 270° - 360°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- all
- Optimal range
- 0.4m - 1.6m
Water temp
20°C
Wetsuit
3/2mm fullsuit
Difficulty
6/10
Crowd level
8/10
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is North Narrabeen?
North Narrabeen is a beach break in Sydney, Australia, that mostly breaks left. It's on our list of the world's 100 best waves.
What's the story behind North Narrabeen?
The beach became a National Surfing Reserve in 2009. The 1974 Coca Cola Surfabout at Narrabeen, billed as the world's richest board contest with $7,000 in prize money, helped spark professional surfing.
What swell works best at North Narrabeen?
North Narrabeen picks up swell from the NE round to the SE, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the ENE. It starts working at around 0.8m and handles up to about 2.5m, with the sweet spot around 1.6 to 2.1m. Period matters too: aim for 12s or longer, as anything under 8s tends to be weak. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
What wind is offshore at North Narrabeen?
A NW wind is dead offshore at North Narrabeen, and anything from the W round to the N keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 5am to 10am. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
What tide is best at North Narrabeen?
North Narrabeen has a preferred tide range, roughly 0.4m to 1.6m on the local chart.
When is the best time of year to surf North Narrabeen?
The most reliable run of swell at North Narrabeen comes Mar to May, through the southern autumn. There's a second window in Jun to Oct too. Autumn best. Sand shifts constantly - rewards local knowledge.
How cold is the water at North Narrabeen?
The water at North Narrabeen averages around 20°C, so you'll want a 3/2mm fullsuit. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
Is North Narrabeen good for beginners?
It's more of an intermediate wave, rated 6/10 for difficulty, so newer surfers are best off sticking to the smaller days. It gets busy (crowd 8/10), so mind the pecking order. Strong rips. Gets crowded. Sand constantly shifting.
How do I get to North Narrabeen?
The nearest airport on our list is SYD, then it's roughly a 35-minute drive.
What other surf spots are near North Narrabeen?
The closest breaks we track are Long Reef Bombora (3.5 km), Long Reef (south side) (3.6 km) and Dee Why Point (3.8 km), handy when North Narrabeen isn't working. We track 5 spots around Sydney in total.
Best Season
Peak: Mar-May
Secondary: Jun-Oct
Autumn best. Sand shifts constantly - rewards local knowledge.
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Long Reef Bombora
⚡ Sydney's big wave spot • Offshore bombora • Northern Beaches power
Long Reef (south side)
🌊 Lefts and rights • Reef • SE swell, Northern Beaches
Dee Why Point
➡️ Sydney's quality right • SE swell magnet • Local point break
Queenscliff
🏄 Where Australian surfing began • NE swell magnet • Manly's northern end
Manly Beach
🇦🇺 Australian surf birthplace • Ferry from Sydney • Crowds guaranteed
Little Avalon
🌊 Right-hand reef • SE swell magnet • Northern Beaches
Plan a trip around North Narrabeen
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