Surfing locations in the Capes region of South West Western Australia explained

-34°N 115°WMany surfing locations are found along the coast of the Capes Region in Western Australia. The Capes Region, also known as Cape to Cape,[1] is situated between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin,[2] within a larger region known as the South West.[3] Despite their wide geographic range, most surf breaks in the Capes Region tend to be associated with Margaret River,[4] situated roughly central to the stretch of coast along which they are located.

Context

Surfing in this region was well-established in the 1970s,[5] with a 1970 government mapping guide to the region identifying surfing locations. By the 1990s, the names of the individual breaks were so well-established that online and print published guides were able to locate and identify the behaviours of the breaks. The surfing culture of the region is well-embedded in the communities along the coast.

The roads named below run off Caves Road, the main western route between Dunsborough and Augusta. The identification of nearby roads does not guarantee that there is access to any of these locations. Some systems of describing locations using Yalingup, and Gracetown, as boundaries of smaller surfing regions. The Ngari Capes Marine Park has some of the many breaks listed below in 'Special Purpose Zone (Surfing)' locations within the park.[6] [7]

East of Cape Naturaliste

These breaks are in the south-west corner of Geographe Bay, sheltered by Cape Naturaliste, and are not directly exposed to westerly winds and surges.

South of Cape Naturaliste and north of Yallingup

These breaks are in an isolated and difficult to access area of the coast north of Yallingup.

South of Yallingup and north of Gracetown

The beaches Three Bears, Yallingup, Smiths Beach and Injidup are all considered "beaches of Yallingup" with related surf breaks of the same names.These breaks are mostly more accessible, but not all.

Gracetown and south to the Margaret River mouth

Gracetown is a locality on the coastline at Cowaramup Bay, and Prevelly is situated on the southern shore at the mouth of the Margaret River.

Prevelly and south to Redgate

Just south of the Margaret River mouth, Surfers Point is the location of Margaret River Pro surfing events,[10] and the central point that tourism promotions and simplified explanations of the surfing region focus upon.[11]

Redgate and south to Cape Hamelin

Breaks and locations between Redgate and Cape Hamelin are more spread out, and not as easily accessed as some northern breaks.

Further reading

Note: these items occur in multiple editions, the editions here might not reflect either the most recent or most accurate guides to locations or names.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Litchfield . Bob . Litchfield . Caroline . Cape to Cape: Images and Impressions of the Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin region . 2000 . Bob Litchfield . Perth . 978-0-646-40580-3 . 223108581.
  2. An Oral History of Fishing and Diving in the Capes Region of South-West Western Australia . Andrea . Gaynor . Amrit . Kendrick . Mark . Westera . School of Humanities and School of Plant Biology, The University of Western Australia . July 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150226145708/http://www.uwa.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/199865/Oral_history_of_the_Capes_region.pdf . 26 February 2015 . 2024-11-01 .
  3. Web site: South West Capes Region . Holiday-WA.net . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140620064030/http://www.holiday-wa.net/south-west-capes-region.html . 20 June 2014 . 14 December 2013 .
  4. Web site: Surf Spots Near Margaret River . 2013 . Margaret River . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131203084858/http://www.margaretriver.com/surf-spots . 3 December 2013 . 2024-11-01.
  5. https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20090731000300/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/102549/20090731-1003/www.mrdhs.com/index9228.html Margaret River & Districts Historical Society
  6. Web site: Ngari Capes Marine Park . Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia . 5 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131214185420/http://www.oceans.uwa.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/2187719/fisheries-oceans.pdf . 14 December 2013 . dead.
  7. Web site: Ngari Capes Marine Park Frequently Asked Questions . https://web.archive.org/web/20140427015425/http://www.fish.wa.gov.au/Documents/marine_parks/ngari_capes_marine_park_faq.pdf . 2014-04-27 . www.fish.wa.gov.au.
  8. Maritime Cartographic Services . Cape Naturaliste . March 2005 . 1:50000 . Australia – West Coast, Western Australia . Department for Planning and Infrastructure, Government of Western Australia . 3rd . 2024-11-01.
  9. Web site: Boneyards Surf Forecast and Surf Reports (WA - Margaret River, Australia) . 2024-11-01 . www.surf-forecast.com.
  10. Web site: Surfing. 28 November 2013. 3 December 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131203084858/http://www.margaretriver.com/surf-spots. dead.
  11. Web site: Top 10 Surfing Spots - Tourism Western Australia . 28 November 2013 . 3 December 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131203051621/http://www.westernaustralia.com/en/Things_to_See_and_Do/Must_See_and_Do/Pages/Top_10_Surfing_Spots.aspx . dead .
  12. Web site: Redgate Beach . beachsafe.org.au.
  13. Web site: Cape Hamelin Swell Forecast, WA - WillyWeather.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Surfing locations in the Capes region of South West Western Australia".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2025, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.