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Aerial shot capturing a lone surfer navigating the turquoise waves at Shell Cove, Australia.
📷 Ben Mack · Pexels

Ripcurl

4.0 — based on 23 community signals
4.2 12 species 22 contributors

Ripcurl is a year-round surf destination near Point Danger Light in Queensland, Australia, offering consistent waves and local community energy.

⭐ Best for intermediate divers.

updated 4 months ago
Shore entry

At a glance

Activity
surf
Best months
Year-round
Marine life
Green sea turtle

Top operators here

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Map

This spot Operators POIs Airport Nearby spots
Ripcurl location map © Google · Map data © Google, contributors
Open in Google Maps

Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
2.6 kn
Wave
1.02 m
Water
20.8°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: E (18%)
Now: N (358°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 1.45m

Next: High at 01:00 (+0.32m)

+1.0 m0 m-0.5 m
▲ 01:00 · +0.32m ▼ 07:00 · -0.04m ▲ 14:00 · +0.79m ▼ 21:00 · +0.05m
Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 25
UV7.4 · high Air PM2.513 · moderate 05:39 17:40
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-19 7.4 1.16 7 0mm
09-20 7.9 0.92 7 0mm
09-21 8.7 0.92 8 0mm
09-22 11.9 1.26 6 1mm
09-23 10.8 1.44 8 3mm
09-24 10.8 1.62 8 5mm
09-25 9 1.88 7 9mm

About this spot

Ripcurl sits in Queensland near the Point Danger Light lighthouse, a landmark that guides surfers and sailors alike. The break works through the year, so you can chase waves whenever you're ready to travel. The spot has built a small but active community—three local videos show the kind of conditions and technique that work here, giving you a real sense of what to expect. Access is straightforward with no marine protected area restrictions limiting your sessions. That means you can paddle out freely without permit concerns. The area has documented species observations from the water, which gives insight into the marine environment you'll be surfing. Whether you're scoping conditions or planning a trip, those 12 species records help you understand the ecosystem. Ripcurl works as a year-round destination, so timing is flexible. The community presence—small but active—means you'll find fellow surfers and local knowledge when you need it. Check the community videos to get a feel for the break before you arrive.

📖 Guide: Diving in Australia: 61 Sites from Coral Reefs to Cold-Water Wrecks

Best months

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Marine life

Green sea turtle

Trip essentials

Everything you need before you pack — checklist, sun, logistics.

Trip checklist

  • 🛂 Visa-free or visa-on-arrival
  • 🏄 Surfboard or rental confirmation
  • 🧴 Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+
  • 🔌 Plug type I · 230V adapter
  • 💊 Seasickness meds + ear drops
  • 📱 Offline maps + emergency contact

Quick facts

  • 🌓 Moon First quarter · 47%
  • GPS
Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 16639km · ~3827kg · €69

From your departure country

United States
Origin score: 53/100
  • Visa: e-Visa · 90 days max
  • Flight: 16h · direct
  • Jet-lag: 9h east · 6 days recovery

FAQ

When's the best time to surf Ripcurl?

Ripcurl works year-round, so you can surf whenever your schedule allows. There's no single peak season, which makes planning trips flexible.

Do I need permits or special access to surf here?

No. Ripcurl is not inside a marine protected area, so you can paddle out freely without permits or restrictions.

What marine life is in the water?

The area has 12 documented species observations. Check local resources and community videos for specifics on what you might encounter.

How do I learn about current conditions?

Three community videos are available showing real sessions and conditions at Ripcurl. Watch them to see the break in action and get local insights.

Operators near this spot

Dive centres, kite & surf schools within 10 km, sourced from OpenStreetMap.

Kirra Dive

1.1 km
4.7 (209 reviews) closed
Dive centre
Verified Booked 43+ times this month
Hours: Friday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

Verified marine species observations

3 records · 3 species · sources: OBIS, GBIF

Hydrozoa

Hydrozoa
OBIS
Last seen:
19 Sept 2016
×1records

Siphonophorae

Hydrozoa
OBIS
Last seen:
19 Sept 2016
×1records
Depth:
500 m

Deania quadrispinosa

Elasmobranchii · Centrophoridae
OBIS
Last seen:
Invalid Date
×1records

Data: 187,991 observations from OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System) and GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility). CC-BY 4.0.

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

Rip Curl's Postcards From Morgs feat. Mick Fanning, Tyler Wright, Owen Wright & more! | #TheSearch

Rip Curl
💬 3 top comments
  • Vaughan Blakey’s ideas are next level what a video idea he brought to life

    @TMFtoomuchfun · 👍 47
  • The most damn enjoyable surf flick I've seen in ages, was smiling to myself the whole way through. I don't usually comment on Youtube vids but just wanted to say bloody good job to the team involved, more of this!

    @DeanSpinks · 👍 99
  • Safe bet for an Oscar there Morgs

    @NovocastrianWaves · 👍 25

Rip Curl: Surfing Is Everything

Rip Curl
💬 3 top comments
  • Surfing is getting away from everything!

    @Saucebottle696 · 👍 7
  • Great Guillermo Sexo song!

    @erodmidriff · 👍 0
  • surf surf surf!!!

    @eduardodemski1 · 👍 0

Australian Indigenous Surfing Titles Presented by Rip Curl | Day 1 Highlights

Rip Curl
💬 2 top comments
  • I really want to learn more about indigenous Australian people. I’m American and I love learning about Indigenous American tribes, their cultures, traditions and artwork.

    @Windds · 👍 2
  • 😃👏👏

    @uponsurfboards1 · 👍 1
wind peaks Oct-Sep-Nov, calmest May-Jul-Jun, dry Apr-Dec.

5-year monthly climate

60 samples
0 5 10 15 20 25 JFMAMJJASOND
p25–p75 range Median Wind (kn) Air (°C)

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