Yallingup is a protected reef break on the Cape Naturaliste peninsula that offers a more forgiving alternative to the heavy slabs further south. The right-hand wave breaks in a picturesque bay surrounded by granite headlands and pristine bushland. When massive swells hammer the Margaret River region, Yallingup provides a safe haven with smaller, more manageable waves. The wave suits intermediate to advanced surfers with its long walls and occasional tube sections. Indigenous Noongar people have lived on this coast for over 50,000 years, and the area retains a spiritual quality.
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
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Water temp
19°C
Wetsuit
3/2mm fullsuit
Difficulty
5/10
Crowd level
6/10
Access: Short walk from carpark.
Yallingup is a reef break in Cape Naturaliste, Australia, that mostly breaks right.
Yallingup picks up swell from the SSW round to the W, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the SW. 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 13s or longer, as anything under 10s tends to be weak. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
An ENE wind is dead offshore at Yallingup, and anything from the NNE round to the ESE 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.
Yallingup isn't especially fussy about tide and generally works through the cycle, so swell and wind matter more here. Big tides can still change how it breaks, so it's worth checking before you paddle out.
The most reliable run of swell at Yallingup comes Apr to Sep. There's a second window in Mar and Oct too. Winter is prime. Protected from bigger swells than Margs.
The water at Yallingup averages around 19°C, so you'll want a 3/2mm fullsuit. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
It's more of an intermediate wave, rated 5/10 for difficulty, so newer surfers are best off sticking to the smaller days. Expect a moderate crowd (6/10) when it's on. Rocky entry. Can get crowded on good days.
The nearest airport on our list is PER, then it's roughly a 3-hour drive. Short walk from carpark.
The closest breaks we track are Smiths Beach (3.4 km), Injidup (7.9 km) and Three Bears (8.4 km), handy when Yallingup isn't working.
Peak: Apr-Sep
Secondary: Mar, Oct
Winter is prime. Protected from bigger swells than Margs.
🏖️ Forgiving sandy reef • Yallingup beauty • Margaret River for all
🏝️ Hidden bay beauty • Multiple peaks • All abilities welcome
🐻 Yallingup left • Barrel reef • Consistent
🔪 Gracetown reef • Very consistent • Uncrowded
🏔️ Australia's biggest wave • 2km offshore • Margaret River power
🌿 Gracetown left • Beginner friendly • Works in onshore