(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
“Cape Paterson is a great place to go for a holiday. It is a hidden spot and only has about 300 properties. The first surf beach is the best for beginners and is safe and patrolled in summer. The second surf beach is good for body boarders and more experienced surfers. It's not really a swimming beach however, as there are large rips and undertow on bigger days. The channel is a shallow rocky reef break which offers about a 80 meter perfect wave on a good day. I wouldn't recommend a beginner heading out there as even experienced surfers have come to grief out there. It's quite tricky to get out, but there's a channel which can sometimes be used to get out. The channel is also quite fun to jump into and swim. The channel isn't really bodyboarders wave as you may find it quite difficult to snag one in amongst the surfers. At channel there's a left and a right. The left goes for about 40m but then dies off. It gets really shallow and many fins have been lost. The right is the way to go unless you're a professional, just make sure you get off the wave before it smashes you onto the rocks. There's another wave called insides that only breaks on massive swells. It's located at the first surf beach just in font of the rocks. It's a very dangerous wave, as it's only about 1 meter deeps, but it can offer a nice long tube ride. I've only really seen bodyboarders out the but the odd surfer heads out as well. There's also a bomby near insides which can get to about 10ft plus faces. Only one person surfs it and I've seen jet skiers playing out there. Other options to surf are, Eagles Nest, Shack Bay, Twin Reefs, The Oaks, The Caves and Inverloch also is a good little beach. Hope this was helpful. Source-Been going to Cape Paterson for 4 years and is one of the 300 to own a property.”
Tom from AUSTRALIA - 30 Apr 2015
Cape Paterson Ratings
Overall: 1.0. Based on 5 votes and 3 reviews. Vote
Quality on a good day: 3.0(1 star: Even when the swell and winds are optimum, the waves are poor quality, 5 stars: If conditions are right, the waves will be World Class). |
Consistency of Surf: 3.6(1: Cape Paterson is a fickle surf spot that only works a few times a year. 5: Reliable year-round spot). |
Regional Rating: 3.8(1: Cape Paterson is usually very poor quality compared to other spots in East Coast of Victoria. 5: the best break in East Coast of Victoria). |
Difficulty Level: 3.4(1: Suitable for Groms. 3: Intermediates. 5: Expert tow-in surfers only). |
Onshore Wind: 2.8(1: even a light onshore ruins the surf. 5: Cape Paterson can offer better rides with a light wind behind them). |
Other Options: 2.5(1: If wind or tide conditions are poor at Cape Paterson, it will be poor everywhere nearby. 5: other locations nearby provide a rich variety of wind and swell exposures). |
Wind and Kite Surfing: 2.2(1: An unsuitable spot. 5: Wind and wave conditions at Cape Paterson are often excellent). |
Water Quality: 4.6(1: Known health risks from pollution. 5: Never any pollution). |
Crowds: 3.0(1: Often too crowded. 5: Cape Paterson is an isolated spot where you are unlikely to meet other surfers). |
Access: 4.2(1: Getting to Cape Paterson requires an overland expedition or chartering a boat. 3: A 30 minute walk from the nearest parking. 5: Park a vehicle right by the break). |
Scenery: 4.8(1: An ugly industrial backdrop. 5: A spectacular setting). |
Local Attitude: 4.2(1: Locals are hostile to visitors. 5: Either there are no locals who surf, or else they are accommodating and friendly). |
Accommodation: 3.3(1: No convenient places to stay indoors. 5: A wide variety of accommodation near Cape Paterson for all budgets from hostels to luxury hotels). |
Camping: 5.0(1: Camping at Cape Paterson is not possible. 3: Camping tolerated but no facilities. 5: A nearby camp ground has excellent facilities and a good vibe). |
Entertainment: 3.5(1: Besides the surf and the solitude there is nothing to do when it is flat. 5: Cape Paterson is in such an interesting area to visit that getting wet is a bonus). |
Equipment and Repairs: 2.5(1: Nothing can be sourced, not even wax. 5: Quality surfing equipment can be purchased or hired. Major repairs can be fixed too). |
Eating: 3.8(1: Bring your own food, there isn't even a shop. 5: A wide variety of places to eat and drink at Cape Paterson, from fast food and cafes to fancy restaurants). |
Drinking: 4.2(1: Alcohol is not allowed in the country. 5: There is an excellent pub near Cape Paterson where you can stay or park a camper van overnight). |
“My name is John and I've also been surfing Cape Paterson for quite a number of years now and I have never seen this place called channel. Max Combridge I think you must be thinking of Inverloch because Cape Paterson just has three breaks. I believe they are called First Surf, Second Surf and Third Surf. Second and Third spot are hard to find. Second is behind some dunes and Third is way down the beach towards Phillip Island.”
John from AUSTRALIA - 05 Mar 2011
“I'm only 15 but I've been surfing this break for years, we call it the channel....I think you pretty much nailed the write up on it. The only thing you could of written about is that it is only surfable on a half tide coming up, and the lefts are only ridable on high tide. I have dinged my board soooo many times on the left so make sure you hold off untill it is high. Well done
Max Combridge”
Max Combridge from AUSTRALIA - 26 Feb 2011
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