The Surf Window

Gnaraloo

Western Australia, Australia

Reef breakExpert

At the tip of the Ningaloo peninsula north of Carnarvon, Gnaraloo is one of Western Australia's most legendary surf stations, a remote homestead on an extraordinary reef system where powerful Southern Ocean swells deliver world-class left-hand reef breaks to a tiny community of dedicated surfers.

Typical Conditions

The Surf Window

Swell Window

N
OptimalW (270°)
WindowSSW–NNW (210°–330°)
Size–W 1.5–3m at 14–18s

Wind

SE

Light to E under 15 knots

Tide

Mid to high

LowMidHigh

Season

Apr–Oct

JFMAMJJASOND

The Wave

Type

Reef break

Bottom

Coral and rock

Shape

Long left-hander, hollow sections

Length

100–300m

Skill Level

  • •Who it's for: Advanced to expert surfers
  • •Why: Remote, powerful reef break with no assistance, serious self-reliance required

Hazards

  • •Very remote, Gnaraloo is 3 hours of dirt road from Carnarvon
  • •Coral reef, injuries are serious given the remoteness
  • •Strong currents in bigger swells

Local Tips

  • •Gnaraloo Station has basic accommodation, book ahead, demand is high
  • •Tommy's is the main break, a long, hollow left that is one of WA's finest
  • •The manta rays and whale sharks at nearby Ningaloo are accessible on flat days

Location

Map showing the location of Gnaraloo in Western Australia, Australia

-23.0500, 113.5333