Old Woman Island North Side
- Advanced riders
- Best for
- Expert
- Skill Level
- Ocean
- Spot Type
- Busy
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Old Woman Island North Side is an exposed reef point break on the eastern/north side of Old Woman Island (Mudjimba Island) near Mudjimba on the Sunshine Coast. It’s a right-hand point-break wave that works best in winter, with dependable surf when the swell and wind align. Surf quality is described as good to excellent, with powerful, long, peeling walls and occasional hollow sections. The spot’s best performance is linked to east to southeast groundswells, and sources also emphasize the right direction of tide: the break is typically best around mid to high tide so you don’t get caught in the shallowest reef areas. Wind is most favorable when it blows offshore, particularly in west to southwest flows; north winds are reported to blow the surf out. Monthly wind statistics from the spot guide show the spot is often clean, but it can also be blown out a significant portion of the time. Safety is a major consideration here. The break has rocks and submerged reef/boulders, and shark risk is specifically highlighted due to the offshore location and proximity to deep water. Strong currents and long paddles are also noted, especially on larger swells, and this is rated for advanced/expert surfers only with no spot-specific rescue availability indicated.
- Winter dependence and reef point-break character
- Long, powerful rides on east/southeast swell with offshore west/southwest winds
- Advance/expert-only due to offshore distance, rocks, and currents
- Dependable winter surf
- High-quality reef point-break shape with long rides
- Best on east to southeast groundswells with offshore west to southwest winds
- Shark risk due to offshore location and proximity to deep water
- Rocks and submerged reef/boulders
- Long paddles and strong currents around the island on bigger swells
- Conditions can vary and can become very demanding for advanced surfers
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- SW, W, NW
- Offshore directions
- SW
- Wind Range
- 10–20 kts
- Wind Type
- Trade — Local wind is seasonal trade-wind/sea-breeze influenced; winter fronts can bring more offshore flow at times.
- Reliability
- Moderate (reported seasonal reliability and monthly clean/blown statistics).
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts — Described as light gusts.
- Best Months
- June
- Shadow Zones
- The island provides some protection from southerly winds on the north side.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Ocean
- Beach
- Reef — Reef/rocky composition with boulders.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Small — Some descriptions call it small-to-medium; other sources describe it as capable of producing big waves on the right swell.
- Launch
- Medium — Rocky shoreline launch or paddle out from the mainland beach; paddle distance varies by access route.
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate — Launch difficulty described as moderate by one source; another characterizes access/launch as difficult due to offshore distance and reef hazards.
Through the year
Can become very crowded during high-quality swells, especially on weekends.
Subtropical storm season typically occurs from December to March.
By sport
What to expect for each.
An exposed reef point break on the eastern/north side of Old Woman Island (Mudjimba Island). Works on east to southeast groundswells, producing right-hand point-break waves.
- Wave Direction
- Right
- Optimal Swell
- SE, E
- Swell Height
- 1–3 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid, High — Best mid to high tide to keep away from the shallowest reef parts.
- Shelter
- Semi-sheltered — Reported as exposed overall; the island itself provides some local shelter depending on wind angle.
- Wind Effect
- Offshore in West to Southwest winds is best; North winds are reported to blow it out.
- Bigger Swell
- Handles significant size; becomes more challenging and powerful as swell increases.
- Wave Quality
- Excellent — Winter surf described as dependable; quality varies with swell and wind.
- Wave Power
- Powerful — Described as powerful with long, substantial walls.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Peeling point-break form; occasionally hollow sections are mentioned.
- Peel Speed
- Fast — Fast peeling sections reported when it’s working.
- Ride Length
- Long — Long rides; can reach about 150-200 meters when the swell is large and sections link up.
- Ride Length Details
- Can offer rides up to 150-200 meters when larger swells connect sections.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Old Woman Island North Side in the full forecast view.
Old Woman Island North Side wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 3–11 ktsGusts 23 kts
- Direction
- NE48°
- Strongest day
- Thu, Oct 2911 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.6–1.5 m6s period
- Temperature
- 19–30 °C
Over the next 7 days, Old Woman Island North Side is forecast for daytime winds of 3–11 kts, peaking around 11 kts on Thursday, October 29 with gusts to 23 kts. The prevailing direction is NE. Waves run 0.6–1.5 m with a period of about 6s. 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
- Strong currents
- Submerged reef
- Long paddle distance
- Submerged boulders
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguards indicated for this specific offshore break.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — No rescue availability is stated for the spot itself; regional notes indicate high lifesaving presence at major beaches.
- Emergency Info
- Emergency Services: 000. The Sunshine Coast University Hospital in Birtinya is the primary medical facility serving the region.
- Localism / Vibe
- Moderate — Localism described as moderate in one source.
Rules of the spot
Standard surfing etiquette applies; respect the lineup.
- Watch for sharks given the offshore location and proximity to deep water.
- The island is roughly 1 km offshore; most people paddle from Mudjimba, but it’s a long haul and requires good fitness.
- This spot is best on a mid-to-high tide to avoid the shallowest parts of the reef.
- If conditions are not right, consider using a boat due to shark risk (as noted in local guidance).
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Mudjimba
- Nearest Town
- Mudjimba
- Parking
- Mudjimba boardwalk near the surf club car park; also noted: parking at Mudjimba Beach park and surrounding streets.
- Access
- Drive to Mudjimba surf club car park and paddle about 400-500 meters out to the break (east side of Old Woman Island). Some sources also describe a longer paddle from Mudjimba Beach (~1 km) or access by boat/jet ski.
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Holiday rentals and apartments are available in Mudjimba and Twin Waters.
- Food & Drink
- Cafes and restaurants located across from Mudjimba Beach.
- Equipment Rental:
- Surf shops in the wider area offer rentals; regional notes indicate equipment rental is widely available via local shops.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
The Maroochydore–Mooloolaba corridor combines ocean riding with strong visitor infrastructure and outdoor activities across beaches, parks, and waterfront areas.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Old Woman Island North Side?
The best overall months at Old Woman Island North Side are June, July, August. The best wind months are June.
Which wind directions work at Old Woman Island North Side?
Old Woman Island North Side works with SW, W, NW winds. Offshore directions are SW.
What skill level is Old Woman Island North Side suitable for?
Old Woman Island North Side suits these riding levels: Surfing: Advanced to Expert.