Sandon Point
- Shortboard, Longboard
- Best for
- Advanced
- Skill Level
- Swell, Ocean
- Spot Type
- Moderate
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Sandon Point is an exposed right-hand point break on rocky reef, known for consistent, high-performance surfing near Wollongong in NSW’s Illawarra region. On the right setup it can deliver long, fast rides with powerful wave faces and hollow/barrel potential, making it a focal wave for advanced surfers. The wave is described as a point-break that performs best with solid south swell energy, and the most consistent tide is reported as mid-tide by one provider (while another notes it can work across all tides). West and southwest winds are generally favorable offshore, helping groom the wave faces; north winds are reported to reduce quality, so shelter and wind direction matter. Safety considerations are central here. The lineup involves jumping off rocks to reach the water, with hazards including rocks and reefs, slippery rock approaches, sea urchins, and a rip-and-sweep current system (including fixed, flash, and travelling rips). Surfing etiquette is also important: the point has a well-established local hierarchy, and locals are noted as a major factor during busy conditions. In terms of planning, conditions and crowds can vary, but the spot is sometimes/can be frequently busy when the point is working. Lifeguard presence is reported as seasonal and rescue availability is described as limited in the wider area, so it’s important to surf within patrol coverage and follow local safety rules.
- Exposed, consistent right-hand point break
- Long, fast rides with high-performance/hollow potential on optimal south swell
- Offshore grooming reported in west/southwest winds
- Seasonal lifeguard presence and strict local lineup culture
- Very consistent right-hand point break with long, high-performance rides
- Can offer very powerful, high-wall/barrel-type surf on solid south swells
- Strong community presence and established lifeguard/local surf structure (seasonal)
- Exposed rocky/reef launch area with slippery footing and submerged hazards
- Strong rip current and sweep hazards (fixed/flash/travelling rips reported)
- Heavy localism and strict lineup hierarchy
- Not all conditions are equally friendly—wind can quickly change wave quality
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- SW
- Offshore directions
- W, SW
- Wind Range
- 10–20 kts
- Wind Type
- Gradient — Provider data describes wind as gradient; regionally the area can shift between sea-breeze patterns and strong southerly frontal changes.
- Reliability
- moderate
- Gust Factor
- Steady — Steady gusting reported by one provider.
- Best Months
- June
- Shadow Zones
- The high headland can create wind shadows very close to the cliff base.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Swell, Ocean
- Beach
- Sand — Mixed sand/rock approach described by providers; sand reported in beach composition.
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Medium — One provider rates medium; another notes big waves and very powerful conditions on optimal days.
- Launch
- Medium — East-facing arc beach reported (~900m long) and rocky shoreline entry; most surfers jump off rocks to reach the lineup.
- Launch Difficulty
- Easy — One provider lists easy launch; another lists difficult due to rocky jump-off and slippery walk out—both appear condition- and approach-dependent.
Through the year
Always crowded when the point is working; weekends are extremely busy.
Rain can occur year-round, with occasional heavy East Coast Lows bringing storm surges in autumn and winter.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Right-hand point break on rocky reef with a history of high-performance, contest-style surf; it can hold significant size and produce fast, long rides on the right conditions.
- Wave Direction
- Right
- Optimal Swell
- S, SSE, SE
- Swell Height
- 1.5–4.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid — One provider calls mid-tide the most consistent; another reports working across all tides.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Reported as exposed; one provider describes semi-sheltered conditions.
- Wind Effect
- West and southwest winds are reported as offshore/grooming the wave faces. N winds reduce quality; SW is best with preference for shelter from N wind for cleaner afternoon waves.
- Bigger Swell
- Holds significant size; becomes very heavy and challenging as swell increases above ~3 meters.
- Wave Quality
- World class — World-class/high-performance quality is reported for optimal conditions.
- Wave Power
- Powerful — Described as powerful; another provider uses 'very-powerful' and highlights hollow/barrel potential.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — One provider reports peeling; another describes hollow barrel sections.
- Peel Speed
- Fast — Peel speed reported as fast.
- Ride Length
- Long — Long rides reported; one provider notes rides can exceed 200 meters on optimal days.
- Typical Ride Length
- 150–200 m
- Ride Length Details
- Fairly long and fast on good days; rides can be long when the point is working.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Sandon Point in the full forecast view.
Sandon Point wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–13 ktsGusts 26 kts
- Direction
- E82°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2513 kts
- Windy days
- 2/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.7–1.9 m8s period
- Temperature
- 12–31 °C
Over the next 7 days, Sandon Point is forecast for daytime winds of 2–13 kts, peaking around 13 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 26 kts. The prevailing direction is E. Waves run 0.7–1.9 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
- Reefs
- Littoral currents
- Fixed rips
- Flash rips
- Travelling rips
- Slippery rocks
- Sea urchins
- Locals/local hierarchy
- Sharks
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Seasonal lifeguards reported.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — One provider indicates rescue availability 'no', while regional baseline indicates seasonal patrolled rescue at nearby beaches and 'limited' for the area.
- Emergency Info
- Nearest major hospital is Wollongong Hospital (~15 minutes south). Nearest SLSC reported as Sandon Point SLSC; lifeguard service reported by Wollongong City Council.
- Localism / Vibe
- Heavy — One provider describes strong/heavy localism; other data also flags locals/local hierarchy.
Rules of the spot
Swim between red and yellow flags; no swimming at unpatrolled times. Strict surfing etiquette is required in the lineup.
- No dogs
- No alcohol
- No glass
- No vehicles
- No trailbikes
- No model planes
- No littering
- Fires prohibited
- Picking plants prohibited
- Watch out for rips, rocks and locals.
- Swim between red and yellow flags.
- Avoid unpatrolled beach times.
- Wait your turn in the lineup and respect the local hierarchy.
- The walk out to the jump-off point can be slippery—watch your step on the rocks.
- Check the tide; while it works at all tides, mid-tide is often the most consistent for barrels.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Wollongong
- Nearest Town
- Bulli
- Parking
- Large car park at the northern end near Sandon Point SLSC; dedicated car park at the end of Point Street in Bulli fills up quickly during good swells.
- Access
- Located about 1.5km south of Bulli; accessible via Bulli Lookout turnoff on Princess Highway. Dedicated car park at the end of Point Street in Bulli with a walking track down to the point; large car park at the northern end near Sandon Point SLSC reported.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Far — Various hotels/holiday rentals in Bulli and Thirroul; camping available at Bulli Beach Tourist Park.
- Food & Drink
- Cafes and restaurants are located within walking distance in the town of Bulli.
- Equipment Rental:
- Surf shops in nearby Thirroul and Wollongong offer rentals.
- Gear Storage
- Limited public storage; most visitors use private vehicle transport or local accommodation.
- Gear Repair
- Local surfboard shapers and repair workshops are available in the Northern Illawarra area; fiberglass/epoxy repairs are mentioned by one provider.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
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From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Sandon Point?
The best overall months at Sandon Point are June, July. The best wind months are June.
Which wind directions work at Sandon Point?
Sandon Point works with SW winds. Offshore directions are W, SW.
What skill level is Sandon Point suitable for?
Sandon Point suits these riding levels: Surfing: Advanced to Expert.