Best Surfing Beaches In The World

Best surfing beaches - find out where to catch a perfect wave.

Fancy a surfing holiday?

Here are the best surfing beaches you can currently find from Australia to Portugal and California. All you need to do is book your flight and take your board with you.

1. Gold Coast, Australia

The Gold Coast has the best selection of surf beaches in the world. If one is blown-out, another is pumping. Whether you are a beginner surfer or an experienced surfer, there are plenty of options.The sixth most populous city in the country, Gold Coast City is located in the southeast corner of Queensland and is renowned for its sunny subtropical climate, popular surfing beaches and the canal systems.

Though expensive, it's a great tourist attraction. It's the 70km of beaches and four epic point breaks (The Spit, Main Beach, Narrowneck, Palm Beach and Mermaid beach) that made people call it, the surfers' paradise. Other great places to check out are Snapper Rocks Superbank, Burleigh Heads, Kirra and South Stradbroke Island (Straddie).

2. California, North America

If you are looking to surf in North America then head on out toCalifornia. Most of the Californian coast is blessed with the pacific coast highway that stretches the length of the coastline and enables easy surf checks and access to hundreds of spots. It is worth the trip to catch the big wave surfers riding the mountains of Maverick's during the huge winter swells.

If you just want to enjoy a good wave but you're not into big waves then why not choose a spot betweenSanta Cruz and Half Moon Bay, it's great. Some other great places include Steamer Lane, Malibu and Rincon so don't miss them.Keep in mind that the water is cold almost all year round (only hits 24 °C in July and August) and that the surfing spots are most likely going to be crowded with very good surfers.

3. Oahu, Hawaii

For monster waves and huge wipeouts - Hawaii' Oahu, and especially the North Shore of Oahu is the state's Holy Grail.Waikiki was the playground for Hawaiian royalty and where they came to surf so if you are just learning then the calmer waves of Waikiki will help you find your feet but if its pro waves you are after head up to the North Shore and hit the likes of Sunset Beach, Pupukea Beach and of course the much celebrated Banzai Pipeline.

For beginners, the best time to go is between March and May, whereas experienced surfers enjoy the big waves at their best between November and February.

4. Jeffreys Bay, South Africa

In the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, about an hour's drive southwest of Port Elizabeth, Jeffreys Bay is one of the most famous surfing destinations in the world. Especially great during the winter months of June, July, and August, surfers come here for a great ride on beaches like Super Tubes, Boneyards, Kitchen Windows, Magna Tubes, Point and Albatross.

Apart from being a popular surfing destination, Jeffreys Bay is also renowned for its blue flag beaches and for hosting the annual Billabong Pro WCT surfing event at Supertubes during July.

5. Fuertaventura, Canary Islands

The second biggest island in Canaries, Fuertaventura is located in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa. There is surf to suit all standards of surfer but also some absolute gems for the more advanced adventurous types. Fuerteventura provides quality fun waves and is best suited for those surfers who want a quick, warm destination with mild water temperatures year round with October to March being the top season.

The most popular waves are Rocky Point, Harbour Wall, Shooting Gallery, Generosa, Suicides, Mejillonas, Majanicho, El Hierro, The Bubble, German Rights, Cotillo and Esquinzo.

5. Sagres, Portugal

The Algarve is gaining a reputation as being one of Europe's best surfing destinations, with Sagres as its surfing capital. Its position at the bottom corner of Portugal is not only far from the mass touristic activities of most of the Algarve, but also there are nearly always excellent surfing conditions, whatever the weather. The swell "wraps" round Cabo de São Vicente, giving relatively gentle waves in the bays between Sagres and Lagos, ideal for the less experienced.

With swell sizes of up to 5 metres, the beaches north of Cabo de São Vicente face the full brunt of the Atlantic so are ideal for experienced surfers - legs of the World Surfing Championships are held at nearby Praia do Amado. Indeed, it can be decidedly dangerous and inexperienced surfers are best off going with a surf school - which can give one-off lessons or courses - or a surf camp, which throws in accommodation and transport to the best beaches.

6. Coast Rica

The Republic of Costa Rica is a legendary surfing location bordered with the Pacific Ocean to the west and south and the Caribbean Sea to the east. Mostly 'hardcore' surfers come here mainly because of the consistent waves year round and also to the many great surf spots. Both coastlines produces great waves with the major swell season starting from April and ending in October.

This could be the trip of your life so better prepare yourself for the "country's best waves" in Playa Naranjo and the quality right river mouth point break at Potrero Grande (Ollies Point). Just bear in mind that the road systems are not very good.

7. Bali, Indonesia

It's been 25 years since the island of Bali became the epicentre of exotic surf adventure. Bali is still an excellent destination a quarter of a century on and offers true surfing magic. There is no denying the quality and quantity of Bali surf.A few of the best spots include the area around Bukit Peninsular -Dempasar, Kuta Beach, Dreamland, Uluwatu or Padang Padang. With the swells coming from the Southern Ocean, Bali sees consistent waves up to 12 ft high, from April to November.

There are many fantastic surfing spots in the world and we've only outlined a few of them here.