5 Iconic Surf Road Trips
There is nothing like the freedom of a surf road trip. With time on your side, wind in your hair and the boards in the back (or on the roof), the world is your oyster. But where to go, why and when? We’ve done the miles, so you don’t have to.
1) Cape Town to Jeffreys Bay, South Africa
Distance: 650 kilometres
Prime Time: March to September
On the Road: It's not about the destination, it's about the journey, or so the saying goes. However, when Jeffreys Bay is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, you may be tempted to rush through that “journey”. That would be a mistake. Beginning in Cape Town, you'll find incredible scenery, culture, wildness, and incredible waves. As you follow the Garden Route - one of the world’s best-known drives - enjoy the beautiful coastline dotted with empty pointbreaks and even emptier beachbreaks. Finally, arrive at Jeffreys Bay, one of the world’s premier waves and a fun, surf town to boot!
Pit Stops: Mossel Bay is a beautiful arc of coast with fun waves. Wilderness and Kynsa offer oysters, scenery, and great vibes. Plettenberg Bay is a surf town with soul, and once in Jeffreys Bay, hit Cape St. Francis and Seals Beach for mellower crowds.
WPM (Waves Per Mile): 8/10 (J-Bay is amazing, though scenery gets it a bonus point)
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2) Sydney to the Gold Coast, Australia
Distance: 1100 kilometres (plus detours)
When to Go: Between December and June
On The Road: With over 12,000 miles of coastline, Australia has more road trips than it has kangaroos. Perth to Margaret River, Victoria’s Great Ocean Road and Sydney to Bells are all iconic four-wheel missions.
Yet none quite tick all the boxes of one of the great surfing pilgrimages, which is the trip from Sydney to the Gold Coast. Following the Pacific Highway, which traces the coast for 900-odd kilometres, you'll find that with the smallest of deviations can provide empty beaches that stretch endlessly, iconic surf breaks, forgotten surf towns and global hubs like Byron Bay and Coolangatta. Depending on your vibe and visa, you can opt for a two-week adventure or extend it to two years.
Pit Stops: Surf break-wise, the beachbreaks of Pacific Palms offer the clearest water and punchiest beachbreaks on the coast. Heading north, Crescent Head is a gold-plated longboarder’s dream, while Angourie and Lennox Head are rated as two of the world’s best point breaks. That just leaves the Gold Coast, for the parties, and a secret spot called the Superbank.
WPM Rating: 9/10
3) San Diego to San Francisco, USA
Distance (plus detours): 1100 kilometres
When To Go: September-December when the sun is still out and you get a mix of summer south swells and the bigger winter northwest waves
On The Road: The sheer variety of waves here is crucial, with epic pointbreaks, weird reefbreaks, iconic big-wave locations, uncrowded beachbreaks and everything in between. The roads are flat, wide and well-maintained, and every detour to the coast can throw up a week-long diversion. With every mile, you soak up the Californian surf culture that has made its mark all over the world.
Pit Stops: San Clemente has Trestles, Los Angeles has, well, everything, Santa Monica for the cool crowd, Santa Barbara for the pointbreaks and Santa Cruz for the waves. That still leaves The Big Sur, Mavericks and Monterey!
WPM: 7 for the waves, 9 for the culture.
Tip: We recommend using our app so that you can always check where the best surfing conditions are on your road trip. You can also simply save the breaks you are planning for your road trip as favourites.
4) Lisbon To Porto, Portugal
Distance: 315 km
When To Go: September to December
On The Road: While a relatively shorter trip than the ones above, in terms of prime waves per mile, it rates on the higher end of the scale. Within 45 minutes of the capital Lisbon, lie the surf hubs of Cascais, Caparica, and Ericeira. Each offers world-class reefs, points and beachies, with an embedded surf culture, and plenty of sun. To the north lies Peniche, a peninsula that offers a rideable wave 365 days of the year. Nazare is one of the world’s geographical marvels and a must-watch. In the north, the surf hubs of Figereia de Foz and Espinho are undiscovered gems, while Porto offers a classy, sophisticated and historical bookend to a road trip that has it all!
Pit Stops: Ericeira and Peniche are iconic surf towns for a reason, and you’ll need time to explore their waves and culture. Nazare’s waves will blow your mind, but the fishing town offers its own charms and great seafood. Oh, and for an inland treat, head to Doura, east of Porto, the charming wine region of Portugal.
WPM: 12/10
5) Sligo to Portrush, Ireland
Distance: 400 km
When To Go: September to November, as the swell arrives, but before winter does.
On The Road: Starting from the buzzing little town of Sligo, head for the surf town of Bundoran. In the centre of town is the consistent wave of The Peak, but there are soft beachbreaks and heavy slabs within a 10-mile radius, as well as the big-wave spot of Mullaghmore Bay. Heading up the N15, hit the remote North Donegal region, where the scenery is unbelievable as the surfing. Aim for the quaint villages of Dunfanaghy or Downing, and Killahoey Beach. Finish up in the seaside tourist town of Portrush, which has a friendly and buzzing surf community and more than its fair share of good waves. Whiterocks is a good place to start, while Troggs Surf Shop will hand over all the equipment and local knowledge you need.
Pit Stops: Bundoran is the surf capital of Ireland for a reason and hit the Bridge Bar that overlooks The Peak. Rossnowlagh and Culfarff are two other surfing hubs in County Donegal. Away from the surf, Glenveagh National Park, once a private estate, encompasses forests, lakes and bogland in the Derryveagh Mountains. And just a half hour east of Portrush is The Giant’s Causeway, a stunning coast and Northern Ireland's only UNESCO World Heritage Site.
WPM: 7/10 (but extra two bonus points for the pints of Guinness).