Located in South West Australia just a few miles west of the town of Margaret River, Margaret River is an excellent wave that breaks over a sharp, rocky, and sometimes sandy reef. The World Tour holds a yearly event here which almost always delivers superb surf and performances (John John Florence in 2017 is required viewing for anyone who wants to visit). There is a heavy crew of locals that have the spot dialed in, as always learn from them and be respectful. Hazards here include a sharp reef, waves of consequence, and a healthy shark population. The waves here are heavy and require your A-game. They can break for up to 200 meters, serving up multiple powerful sections that demand respect but offer wonderful opportunities for massive turns, hacks, and carves.
What are the best surf conditions for Margaret River?
Gets good between about head high to triple overhead. We recommend riding your standard shortboard, step-up, gun, or tow board when bigger here. Margaret River is best suited to intermediate and advanced surfers, and is downright dangerous for novices. The surf here is quite dependable (7/10) but will be busy when it gets good (5/10). The best winds for Margaret River are East, although it can handle light sideshore or onshore breezes. The best swell direction is from the Northwest, South, Southwest and West. The break works on all tides, but mid to high will deliver the classic walls that Margarets is known for.
We recommend wearing a springsuit in summer with the warmest water temperature a pleasant 21 degrees in February. In winter we recommend wearing a 3/2 wetsuit with temps being a brisk 16 degrees! See the temperature chart below for more data on this.
