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A stunning aerial shot of Narrawallee Beach in NSW, Australia, with crashing waves and lush green coastline.
📷 Ben Mack · Pexels

Sideways

4.0 — based on 23 community signals
4.2 12 species 19 contributors

Sideways is a year-round Australian surf spot with consistent waves and local appeal. A growing community shares video sessions and species data.

⭐ Best for beginners.

updated 4 months ago
Difficulty
Beginner
Shore entryFamily-friendlySeasonal

At a glance

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

Top operators here

See all operators ↓

Map

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

Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
2.5 kn
Wave
1.28 m
Water
20.8°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: E (18%)
Now: N (353°)
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 PM2.510 · good 05:39 17:40
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-19 7.4 1.42 7 0mm
09-20 7.9 1.18 7 0mm
09-21 8.7 1.12 8 0mm
09-22 11.9 1.6 6 1mm
09-23 10.8 1.68 8 3mm
09-24 10.8 1.72 8 5mm
09-25 9 1.88 7 9mm

About this spot

Sideways sits in the Tweed Heads region of Australia and delivers waves throughout the year. The spot attracts surfers seeking reliable conditions without seasonal dead zones. Local community engagement is strong—three videos document sessions and conditions, while 12 species observations indicate active marine monitoring by visiting surfers. The break remains outside marine protected areas, keeping access straightforward for travelers. Year-round rideable swells mean you can plan trips on your schedule rather than chasing narrow seasonal windows. Regular visits from the local crew maintain current knowledge of sandbar shifts and optimal tide windows. Species data collected by community members suggests a healthy marine environment worth exploring. Whether you're scouting your next trip or adding another Aussie break to your roster, Sideways offers consistency and an active local scene. Check the three community videos for real-time reads on current conditions and wave quality.

📖 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 ↔ 16642km · ~3828kg · €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

What's the best time to surf Sideways?

Sideways works year-round, so you can plan trips whenever conditions suit your schedule. No seasonal closure means consistent opportunities across all months.

What skill level suits this break?

Difficulty data is not available. Review the three community videos to assess wave shape, power, and crowd dynamics before your first visit.

What marine life should I expect?

Twelve species observations are recorded by the community. Check local reports and community data for current marine activity and wildlife sightings.

Do I need permits to surf Sideways?

The spot is outside marine protected areas, simplifying access. Confirm local beach regulations with Tweed Heads authorities before heading out.

Operators near this spot

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

Kirra Dive

2.9 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

12 records · 10 species · sources: OBIS, GBIF

Oikopleura (Vexillaria) labradoriensis

Appendicularia · Oikopleuridae
OBIS
Last seen:
19 Sept 2016
×2records

Anthoathecata

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

Oikopleura (Vexillaria) vanhoeffeni

Appendicularia · Oikopleuridae
OBIS
Last seen:
19 Sept 2016
×1records

Phyllodocida

Polychaeta
OBIS
Last seen:
19 Sept 2016
×1records
Depth:
300 m

Rhizophysa filiformis

Hydrozoa · Rhizophysidae
OBIS
Last seen:
19 Sept 2016
×1records
Depth:
75 m

Megaptera novaeangliae

Humpback whale
Mammalia · Balaenopteridae
OBIS
Last seen:
22 Jun 2014
×1records

Megaptera novaeangliae

Humpback whale
Mammalia · Balaenopteridae
OBIS
Last seen:
2 Jul 2003
×1records

Donax kindermanni

Bivalvia · Donacidae
OBIS
Last seen:
3 Mar 1992
×1records

Thoracophelia longiseta

Polychaeta · Opheliidae
OBIS
Last seen:
25 Apr 1984
×1records

Dicranodromia

Malacostraca · Homolodromiidae
OBIS
Last seen:
31 Mar 1983
×1records

Varicopeza pauxilla

Gastropoda · Cerithiidae
OBIS
Last seen:
10 Nov 1902
×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.

Dogman SUP Surfing: The long, the short and the sideways.

SUP Surfing Sessions
💬 3 top comments
  • Keep on bringing the fun mate

    @ellemenophee1 · 👍 3
  • Guest appearance by Bob the lizard

    @scottybeegood · 👍 0
  • Spinny winny

    @scottybeegood · 👍 0

Duranbah Sideways Peaks - Sunday 23 January 2022

Surf Days
💬 2 top comments
  • Bang Bang!!

    @LIVEONLIGHT · 👍 0
  • Love your footage. Such a great watch!

    @eminent0405 · 👍 0

POV RAW SURF glassy perfect sideways wedges Australia

Kale Brock (Kale Brock)
💬 3 top comments
  • 2:05 underrated behaviour: calling someone into a wave because you cant make it and watching him catch it and go yew! We need more people like you in the line up :)

    @MrBreakthompson · 👍 7
  • In Portugal we call this Coca Cola surf. Nice and easy

    @bernardofidalgo1808 · 👍 24
  • Conditions look amazing! Beautiful

    @jonc2037 · 👍 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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