The wave that gives the area its name, Cactus in South Australia is an excellent left reef break over a rock and sand bottom. Although it is the most approachable wave in the area, waves here are still tricky to surf, This wave breaks for up to 200 meters. The wave features an easy entry leading to a steep-walled section perfect for manoeuvres and the occasional barrel. Cactus is a bit of a classic but isn’t usually overly crowded as the locals will generally surf elsewhere better… and more dangerous!
What are the best surf conditions for Cactus?
This spot gets good between waist high to triple overhead. We recommend a longboard for smaller days and a shortboard or step up when bigger here. Cactus is suited to intermediate and advanced surfers. The waves are pretty consistent here (6/10) and isn’t usually too crowded (5/10) unless it is flawless. The best winds are offshore from the Northeast, the best tides are low to mid (although it works on all tides), and the best swell are from the South, Southwest, and West.
We recommend wearing a 3/2 in the summer with water temperatures rising to 21 degrees in February. In winter a 4/3 is necessary with temps dropping to 16 degrees. See the temperature chart below for more data on this.
