Surfing in Australia in January
In January the best surfing in Australia is at Lancelin, Margaret River – Surfers Point & Yallingup.
Updated November 2026 · weather data 2022–2026
In short
- Waves: 1.7 m on average (daily maximum)
- Water: 19–26°C, 3/2 wetsuit at 19–21°C; shorty at 22–24°C; no wetsuit at 25–26°C
- Air: 27°C by day, 19°C at night
- Weather: sun (6+ hours) on about 28 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 12; a day can have both
- Warm enough for no wetsuit: Noosa – First Point, Angourie & Lennox Head.
- For beginners: Sydney – Bondi Beach, Sydney – Manly Beach & Noosa – First Point.
When are you planning to go?
1
JanGOOD
Lancelin
Australia
2.6 m waves23° water31° air
Intermediate and up · shorty · ✈ PER 119 km
2
JanGOOD
Surfers Point
Margaret River · Australia
2.2 m waves21° water26° air
Advanced only · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ PER 244 km
3
JanGOOD
Yallingup
Australia
2.2 m waves21° water27° air
Intermediate and up · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ PER 208 km
4
JanGOOD
Esperance
Australia
2 m waves20° water27° air
Intermediate and up · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ EPR 19 km
5
JanGOOD
Bondi Beach
Sydney · Australia
1.9 m waves22° water26° air
Beginner-friendly · shorty · ✈ SYD 11 km
6
JanGOOD
Manly Beach
Sydney · Australia
1.9 m waves23° water26° air
Beginner-friendly · shorty · ✈ SYD 20 km
7
JanGOOD
Cactus Beach
Australia
1.8 m waves20° water26° air
Intermediate and up · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ CED 69 km
8
JanGOOD
Coronation Beach
Australia
1.8 m waves24° water31° air
Intermediate and up · shorty · ✈ GET 30 km
9
JanGOOD
Bells Beach
Australia
1.7 m waves19° water23° air
Intermediate and up · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ AVV 40 km
10
JanGOOD
First Point
Noosa · Australia
1.7 m waves26° water27° air
Beginner-friendly · no wetsuit · ✈ MCY 23 km
11
JanGOOD
Angourie
Australia
1.7 m waves25° water27° air
Advanced only · no wetsuit · ✈ LSY 73 km
12
JanGOOD
Lennox Head
Australia
1.7 m waves26° water27° air
Advanced only · no wetsuit · ✈ BNK 5 km
13
JanGOOD
Noosa River
Noosa · Australia
1.7 m waves26° water27° air
Beginner-friendly · no wetsuit · ✈ MCY 22 km
14
JanGOOD
Tombstones
Gnaraloo · Australia
1.6 m waves25° water33° air
Advanced only · no wetsuit · ✈ CVQ 113 km
15
JanGOOD
Crescent Head
Australia
1.6 m waves24° water27° air
Intermediate and up · shorty · ✈ PQQ 30 km
16
JanGOOD
Snapper Rocks
Gold Coast · Australia
1.2 m waves25° water27° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ OOL 4 km
17
JanGOOD
Kirra
Gold Coast · Australia
1.2 m waves25° water27° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ OOL 2 km
18
JanGOOD
Duranbah
Gold Coast · Australia
1.2 m waves25° water27° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ OOL 4 km
19
JanGOOD
Burleigh Heads
Australia
1.2 m waves25° water28° air
Advanced only · no wetsuit · ✈ OOL 10 km
20
JanGOOD
Woolamai
Phillip Island · Australia
1 m waves19° water24° air
Intermediate and up · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ MBW 66 km
Averages of the 20 spots on this page. Wave height: average daily maximum.
Questions
Where to go surfing in Australia in January?
Lancelin: 2.6 m waves; Margaret River – Surfers Point: 2.2 m waves; Yallingup: 2.2 m waves.
How warm is the water in Australia in January?
19–26°C: 3/2 wetsuit at 19–21°C; shorty at 22–24°C; no wetsuit at 25–26°C.
Where can beginners go surfing in January?
Good spots for beginners this month: Sydney – Bondi Beach, Sydney – Manly Beach & Noosa – First Point.
Which airport is closest?
Perth International Airport (PER), 119 km from Lancelin; Esperance Airport (EPR), 19 km from Esperance; Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD), 11 km from Sydney – Bondi Beach.
