5 best surf spots to hit for Autumn Break

What’s the first thing you want to do when you head out on holiday? If you said surfing, we’ve got the ultimate rundown for you. Autumn Break is a great opportunity to step away from school, work and responsibility to let go a little, relax and spend some days in the water with your board.

April also happens to be a great month for surf travel. It’s when the northern hemisphere calms down and the southern hemisphere starts to ramp up. It’s also a time when crowds haven’t reached their peak and you may even have the beach to yourself. If you pay special attention to the weather and charts, you’ll have the chance to score plenty of awesome waves in April no matter where in the world you are travelling (as long as you purchase the right travel cover, of course).

Sticking around the country has become more popular in recent months, and that’s no surprise. With the dollar decreasing in value, it make a lot of sense to stick closer to home for your fun and freedom. We’ve put together a list of some of the best surf spots to hit in Australia and around the world in April.

Gold Coast, Australia

Speaking of close to home, the Gold Coast of Australia is home to plenty of beaches with superb swells for surfing. Plus, the area doubles as an international party destination. The Gold Coast boasts some of Australia’s best, most consistent waves and plays host to international surfing competitions. The coast’s 35 beaches are patrolled year round by professional lifeguards and have surf to suit all levels of experience.

South Africa

To put it simply, South Africa offers travellers plenty of opportunities to maximize the weather found there in April to their advantage. The combination of swells and wind conditions are perfect for catching some incredible waves. Plus, once the storms in the southern oceans start to ramp up, there’ll be a better chance of getting swells along the coastline. The Atlantic side of South Africa sees the most storm activity and thus has the most solid swell in South Africa.

Puerto Rico

Stay in Aguadilla when you come to Puerto Rico for surfing. Not only is it the closest spot to the airport, but it also has the best proximity to the most surfing spots. Rincon is another option for a surfing holiday in Puerto Rico. And don’t worry about shipping your board to Puerto Rico—there are plenty of places on island that will rent quality surfboards by the hour, daily or even weekly. If you are interested in taking a surfing class, there are also a plethora of surfing instructors and schools to help surfers of every level.

Noosa, Point Break, Queensland

Noose has one of the best and most photogenic long-board breaks in the world. If you time it right, the point at Noose can create a genuine 200m ride. When there’s a decent swell, look for the hordes of locals who come to ride it. They are the ones who really know how to “walk the plank”. Even when the swell is smaller, beginning surfers can get comfortable and have a good day out on the water.

Uluwatu, Bali, Indonesia

Uluwatu is Bali’s most famous wave and for lots of good reasons. Uluwatu picks up tons of swell, making it one of the islands most consistent, and it peels beautifully at nearly any size. It’s basically the perfect wave or, more accurately, a series of 5 perfect waves: Temples, Bombie, The Peak, Outside Corner and Racetrack. Temples is the section furthest south of Uluwatu. It picks up a lot of swell, making it the best choice on smaller days. It also tends to be a bit less crowded, although that is mostly due to the longer paddle.

If you are going to be bringing or renting your equipment for your sun and surf holiday, consider the importance of travel insurance. When you stay domestic, cheap travel insurance becomes even more affordable and if you can afford to rent or bring your own board, you’ll want to spend the little amount to make sure your equipment (and the rest of your holiday) is protected. Consider youGo’s domestic travel insurance plans before you head out on autumn break.