Surfing in Australia in May
In May the best surfing in Australia is at Sydney – Bondi Beach, Noosa – First Point & Angourie.
Updated November 2026 · weather data 2022–2026
In short
- Waves: 1.9 m on average (daily maximum)
- Water: 15–26°C, 5/4 wetsuit and boots at 15°C; 4/3 wetsuit at 16–18°C; 3/2 wetsuit at 19–21°C; shorty at 22–23°C; no wetsuit at 26°C
- Air: 21°C by day, 14°C at night
- Weather: sun (6+ hours) on about 26 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 13; a day can have both
- Warm enough for no wetsuit: Gnaraloo – Tombstones.
- For beginners: Sydney – Bondi Beach, Noosa – First Point & Sydney – Manly Beach.
When are you planning to go?
1
MayPEAK SEASON
Bondi Beach
Sydney · Australia
2.1 m waves21° water20° air
Beginner-friendly · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ SYD 11 km
2
MayPEAK SEASON
First Point
Noosa · Australia
2.1 m waves23° water23° air
Beginner-friendly · shorty · ✈ MCY 23 km
3
MayPEAK SEASON
Angourie
Australia
2.1 m waves22° water21° air
Advanced only · shorty · ✈ LSY 73 km
4
MayPEAK SEASON
Lennox Head
Australia
2.1 m waves23° water22° air
Advanced only · shorty · ✈ BNK 5 km
5
MayPEAK SEASON
Manly Beach
Sydney · Australia
2.1 m waves21° water20° air
Beginner-friendly · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ SYD 20 km
6
MayPEAK SEASON
Noosa River
Noosa · Australia
2.1 m waves23° water23° air
Beginner-friendly · shorty · ✈ MCY 22 km
7
MayPEAK SEASON
Crescent Head
Australia
1.9 m waves23° water21° air
Intermediate and up · shorty · ✈ PQQ 30 km
8
MayPEAK SEASON
Snapper Rocks
Gold Coast · Australia
1.4 m waves23° water22° air
Intermediate and up · shorty · ✈ OOL 4 km
9
MayPEAK SEASON
Kirra
Gold Coast · Australia
1.4 m waves23° water22° air
Intermediate and up · shorty · ✈ OOL 2 km
10
MayPEAK SEASON
Duranbah
Gold Coast · Australia
1.4 m waves23° water22° air
Intermediate and up · shorty · ✈ OOL 4 km
11
MayPEAK SEASON
Burleigh Heads
Australia
1.4 m waves23° water22° air
Advanced only · shorty · ✈ OOL 10 km
12
MayGOOD
Lancelin
Australia
2.7 m waves22° water23° air
Intermediate and up · shorty · ✈ PER 119 km
13
MayGOOD
Surfers Point
Margaret River · Australia
2.5 m waves21° water20° air
Advanced only · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ PER 244 km
14
MayGOOD
Yallingup
Australia
2.5 m waves20° water20° air
Intermediate and up · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ PER 208 km
15
MayGOOD
Esperance
Australia
2.3 m waves19° water21° air
Intermediate and up · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ EPR 19 km
16
MayGOOD
Cactus Beach
Australia
2 m waves18° water20° air
Intermediate and up · 4/3 wetsuit · ✈ CED 69 km
17
MayPEAK SEASON
Shipstern Bluff
Tasmania · Australia
1.9 m waves15° water14° air
Advanced only · 5/4 wetsuit and boots · ✈ HBA 46 km
18
MayGOOD
Bells Beach
Australia
1.8 m waves16° water16° air
Intermediate and up · 4/3 wetsuit · ✈ AVV 40 km
19
MayGOOD
Coronation Beach
Australia
1.5 m waves22° water25° air
Beginner-friendly · shorty · ✈ GET 30 km
20
MayGOOD
Tombstones
Gnaraloo · Australia
1.4 m waves26° water29° air
Advanced only · no wetsuit · ✈ CVQ 113 km
21
MayGOOD
Byron Bay
The Pass · Australia
1.3 m waves23° water22° air
Beginner-friendly · shorty · ✈ BNK 23 km
22
MayGOOD
Woolamai
Phillip Island · Australia
1.2 m waves16° water16° air
Intermediate and up · 4/3 wetsuit · ✈ MBW 66 km
Averages of the 22 spots on this page. Wave height: average daily maximum.
Questions
Where to go surfing in Australia in May?
Sydney – Bondi Beach: 2.1 m waves; Noosa – First Point: 2.1 m waves; Angourie: 2.1 m waves.
How warm is the water in Australia in May?
15–26°C: 5/4 wetsuit and boots at 15°C; 4/3 wetsuit at 16–18°C; 3/2 wetsuit at 19–21°C; shorty at 22–23°C; no wetsuit at 26°C.
Where can beginners go surfing in May?
Good spots for beginners this month: Sydney – Bondi Beach, Noosa – First Point & Sydney – Manly Beach.
Which airport is closest?
Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD), 11 km from Sydney – Bondi Beach; Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY), 23 km from Noosa – First Point; Lismore Airport (LSY), 73 km from Angourie.
