The Surf Window

Lee Point

Northern Territory, Australia

Beach breakBeginner

North of Casuarina Beach, Lee Point is Darwin's most exposed surf location, a rocky headland where northwest swells arrive with more size and power than the sheltered city beaches, surrounded by the extraordinary monsoon woodland of Casuarina Coastal Reserve.

Typical Conditions

The Surf Window

Swell Window

N
OptimalN (0°)
WindowNNW–ENE (330°–60°)
Size–W 1–2m at 10–14s

Wind

SE

Light to E under 15 knots

Tide

Mid tide only

LowMidHigh

Season

May–Sep

JFMAMJJASOND

The Wave

Type

Beach and reef break

Bottom

Sand and rock

Shape

Peaks around the headland

Length

40–80m

Skill Level

  • •Who it's for: Advanced surfers
  • •Why: Rocky headland, crocodile territory, and extreme tides require experience and vigilance

Hazards

  • •Saltwater crocodiles, genuine and serious threat
  • •Extreme tidal range
  • •Box jellyfish October–April

Local Tips

  • •Never surf alone at Lee Point, saltwater crocodile incidents have occurred in Darwin coastal areas
  • •Shorebirds at Lee Point are extraordinary, migratory waders gather here in thousands
  • •Darwin Surf Club monitors conditions, connect with them for current safety advice

Location

Map showing the location of Lee Point in Northern Territory, Australia

-12.3333, 130.9000