Little Makaha
- Advanced riders
- Best for
- Advanced to Expert
- Skill Level
- Swell
- Spot Type
- Quiet
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Little Makaha is an exposed right-hand reef break at the northern end of Avalon Beach (NSW). Surf is described as fairly consistent, but the wave is heavy and breaks on a shallow rock ledge, making it a high-consequence option that strongly rewards correct swell and tide selection. When it’s firing, the break is known for powerful, hollow barrels with short, intense rides. A solid South swell is highlighted as the key to the wave wrapping properly into the reef, and conditions are generally best around mid to high tide to reduce the risk of striking the shallowest parts of the ledge. Wind plays an important role: West to Northwest winds are preferred, with NW described as perfectly offshore. In contrast, Southeast winds can blow the wave out, reducing ride quality. Safety is a major factor at this spot. Reported hazards include sharp rocks, shallow reef, sea urchins/urchins, sharks, and strong currents. Localism is also emphasized—there is an established local crew—so visitors should respect the lineup and plan for limited rescue availability outside seasonal coverage.
- Heavy, hollow right-hand reef barrels
- Best month: June
- NW/West winds are preferred (NW offshore)
- Heavy, hollow right-hand reef barrels with excellent wave quality when conditions line up.
- Typically consistent surf around the best season (June).
- NW/West winds can be notably offshore.
- Very hazardous reef environment (shallow ledge, sharp rocks, sea urchins).
- Strong currents and high-consequence wipeouts on a difficult wave.
- Requires expert-level ability and careful tide/swell selection.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Offshore directions
- W, NW
- Reliability
- moderate
- Best Months
- June
- Shadow Zones
- Sheltered from southerly winds by the headland but can be turbulent
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Swell
- Beach
- Rocks — Reef/rocky environment
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Big — Big, powerful reef wave
- Launch
- Small — Jump off rocks or paddle from the north end of Avalon Beach
- Launch Difficulty
- Expert only — Expert-only entry described for the reef/rock launch
Through the year
Highest in summer and on weekends; the break itself has few surfers due to difficulty
Rain is possible year-round, with slightly higher rainfall in autumn and early winter
By sport
What to expect for each.
Exposed reef break with fairly consistent surf; a heavy right-hand reef wave breaking on a shallow rock ledge at the northern end of Avalon Beach. Known for intense, hollow barrels and high physical risk due to sharp reef hazards.
- Wave Direction
- Right
- Optimal Swell
- S, SSE
- Swell Height
- 1.5–3 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid, High — Mid to high tide helps avoid the shallowest parts of the ledge.
- Shelter
- Semi-sheltered — Exposed reef setting; sheltered from southerly winds by the headland but can be turbulent.
- Wind Effect
- Offshore in West and Northwest winds; Southeast winds blow it out. (Best wind is anything from the West; NW is perfectly offshore.)
- Bigger Swell
- Holds significant size but becomes extremely dangerous as it breaks closer to the rocks
- Wave Quality
- Excellent
- Wave Power
- Very powerful
- Wave Shape
- Hollow
- Peel Speed
- Fast
- Ride Length
- Short — Short, intense rides often starting with a vertical take-off into a barrel
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–100 m
- Ride Length Details
- Short, intense rides often starting with a vertical take-off into a barrel
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Little Makaha in the full forecast view.
Little Makaha wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 3–12 ktsGusts 27 kts
- Direction
- ENE74°
- Strongest day
- Mon, Oct 2612 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.9–2.2 m8s period
- Temperature
- 13–30 °C
Over the next 7 days, Little Makaha is forecast for daytime winds of 3–12 kts, peaking around 12 kts on Monday, October 26 with gusts to 27 kts. The prevailing direction is ENE. Waves run 0.9–2.2 m with a period of about 8s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Rocks
- Sharks
- Urchins
- Sharp rocks
- Heavy wipeouts
- Strong currents
- Sea urchins
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Seasonal lifeguard service at the main Avalon Beach to the south.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Limited rescue availability at the spot; wider Northern Beaches patrol coverage is more reliable during the season (September to April).
- Emergency Info
- Lifeguard service available seasonally at the main Avalon Beach to the south. Swim between the flags; emergency services: 000. Rescue availability is limited outside seasonal coverage.
- Localism / Vibe
- Heavy — Established local crew; respect the lineup.
Rules of the spot
Respect the local lineup; this is a high-consequence wave with an established local crew.
- Wait for a solid South swell for the wave to wrap properly into the reef.
- Best surfed at mid to high tide to avoid hitting the shallowest parts of the ledge.
- Choose West to Northwest winds for better wind conditions; NW is perfectly offshore.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Sydney
- Nearest Town
- Avalon Beach
- Nearest Airport
- Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) (~30–40km)
- Parking
- Limited parking at the North Avalon carpark; can be very crowded on weekends
- Public Transport
- Well-serviced by the B-Line express bus service and the Manly Ferry to the CBD.
- Access
- Accessible via the northern end of Avalon Beach or by walking along the headland track
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Holiday rentals and guesthouses available in Avalon and Palm Beach
- Food & Drink
- Numerous cafes and restaurants in Avalon village
- Equipment Rental:
- Surf shops in Avalon village offer boards and wetsuits
- Gear Repair
- Local surf shops provide board repair services
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Little Makaha?
The best overall months at Little Makaha are June.
What skill level is Little Makaha suitable for?
Little Makaha suits these riding levels: Surfing: Advanced to Expert.