Sellicks Beach
- Freeride, Shortboard
- Best for
- Beginner
- Skill Level
- Flat
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Sellicks Beach is a sheltered beach-and-reef break on Adelaide’s coastline, known for quite reliable surf and crystal-clear water. For surfing, the waves are typically mellow and peeling, making it a good fit for longboarding and beginner progression, with ride lengths often described as medium (and longer when swell lifts on reef sections). The spot is best in October for surf-focused visits. For wind sports, Sellicks Beach is particularly strong in summer. SE winds are highlighted as the key direction for kitesurfing, with January, February, and December called out as best months. Wind is described as building from around 1:00 PM and peaking in the late afternoon, aligning with consistent afternoon sea-breeze patterns—supporting freeride and foiling styles on the wide beach with generally clear water. Water conditions are described as generally mild/flat for kitesurfing at the beach scale, though there can be chop and small waves. Wind reliability is described as high during summer, while winter tends to be more dependent on frontal systems rather than the same steady thermal build. Safety planning matters here: rocks and sharks are repeatedly listed hazards for the water and nearshore reef areas, and vehicle traffic/parked cars can increase the risk on busy days. Check tide levels before driving onto the beach, keep clear of parked cars during kiting, and aim to ride with a conservative mindset given limited/no rescue coverage at the spot itself and seasonal lifeguard presence.
- Quite reliable sheltered beach-and-reef surf
- Best surf month noted as October
- Reliable summer SE sea-breeze winds for kitesurfing/wingfoiling
- Crystal-clear water
- Vehicle access onto the sand via a ramp (unique feature)
- Sheltered beach-and-reef break with quite reliable surf
- Crystal-clear water and a small sandy beach setup
- Summer sea-breeze conditions support kitesurfing, windsurfing, and wingfoiling
- Longer surf rides possible on reef sections with sufficient swell
- Rocks and sharks are a noted hazard
- Beach can be crowded at peak times (including vehicle presence)
- Some sections can be unpatrolled; self-sufficiency is required
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- SE
- Offshore directions
- SE
- Wind Range
- 12–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Sea breeze — Summer sea breezes common; summer winds typically reinforced by thermal/gully effects.
- Reliability
- High during summer season; winter relies more on frontal systems.
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts — Gustiness described as light.
- Best Months
- January, February, December
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 9–14 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Flat
- Beach
- Sand — Firm sand suitable for shoreline access/vehicle use.
- Beach Size
- Tidal
- Waves
- Small — Surf described as mellow/soft; typical wave size listed as small.
- Chop Level
- Light chop — Kitesurf/foiling water described as generally choppy with small waves.
- Launch
- Big — Very spacious sandy beach; vehicle traffic/parked cars must be considered during setup.
Through the year
Very popular with families and 4WD enthusiasts during summer weekends; surf lineup rarely overcrowded.
Winter months (June to August) see more frequent rain and frontal storms.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Suitable for flat-water kitesurfing with SE winds; also described as popular for freeriding and foiling. Wide beach provides room; water can be choppy with small waves, with SE winds producing flatter water but sometimes slightly cross-offshore.
- Kite Sizes
- 9–14 m²
Suitable for freeride and bump-and-jump; consistent summer sea breezes provide reliable conditions for mid-to-large sail sizes.
- Sail Sizes
- 5.5–7.5 m²
Good foiling conditions due to clear water and deep-water access just off the beach; southern reef provides some protection from swell in southerly winds.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes — Foil-friendly described as yes.
- Min Depth
- 1.5 meters
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
Sheltered beach-and-reef break with quite reliable surf; listed as one of the more sheltered spots on the Adelaide coastline.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- W, SW
- Swell Height
- 1–2 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid
- Shelter
- Semi-sheltered — Described as sheltered; also noted as sheltered/semi-sheltered depending on source framing.
- Wind Effect
- South-easterly winds described as providing clean, offshore conditions for waves.
- Bigger Swell
- Can hold slightly larger swells than other metro beaches due to orientation, but often remains smaller than the south coast.
- Wave Quality
- Average
- Wave Power
- Soft — Mellow/soft waves described; good for longboarding and beginners.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling
- Peel Speed
- Slow
- Ride Length
- Medium — Longer rides possible on reef sections when swell is large enough.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–100 m
- Ride Length Details
- Typical ride length given as 50–100 m; longer rides possible on reef sections on larger swell.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Sellicks Beach in the full forecast view.
Sellicks Beach wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 4–14 ktsGusts 24 kts
- Direction
- S172°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 2414 kts
- Windy days
- 3/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.3–1.2 m9s period
- Temperature
- 10–20 °C
Over the next 7 days, Sellicks Beach is forecast for daytime winds of 4–14 kts, peaking around 14 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 24 kts. The prevailing direction is S. Waves run 0.3–1.2 m with a period of about 9s. 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
- vehicles on beach
- reef patches along the nearshore area
- turbulence near the southern cliffs in pure southerly winds
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Seasonal lifeguard presence is noted.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — Rescue availability indicated as no (spot-level note).
- Emergency Info
- Emergency services: 000. Nearest major hospital referenced as Noarlunga Hospital (about 20 minutes north).
Rules of the spot
Vehicle access on the beach may apply seasonal fees/permit systems; where vehicles are allowed, strict speed limits (10 km/h) are noted.
- Seasonal vehicle access fees
- Dog leashing laws in certain zones
- Check the tide before driving onto the beach to avoid being trapped by a rising tide near the cliffs.
- The southern end near the rocks usually has the cleanest wave but also more hazards.
- Kitesurfers should keep a safe distance from parked cars and other beach users.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Adelaide
- Nearest Town
- Onkaparinga
- Parking
- Parking is available in the paved lot at the top of the ramp or directly on the beach for vehicles with a permit or during allowed times.
- Public Transport
- Limited public bus services connect to Aldinga; private vehicle recommended for transporting gear to the coastal stretch.
- Access
- Accessible via Sellicks Beach Road. A boat ramp provides vehicle access directly onto the sand.
- Cost Level
- Budget
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Holiday rentals are available in the immediate township; caravan parks and camping are located in nearby Aldinga and Moana.
- Food & Drink
- A general store is located near the beach entrance; more extensive options are available in the Aldinga shopping precinct.
- Equipment Rental:
- No rentals available on the beach; equipment must be brought from Adelaide or shops in Moana.
- Gear Storage
- None available.
- Gear Repair
- None available locally; services are found in Adelaide.
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 Sellicks Beach?
The best overall months at Sellicks Beach are December, January, February, March. The best wind months are January, February, December.
Which wind directions work at Sellicks Beach?
Sellicks Beach works with SE winds. Offshore directions are SE.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Sellicks Beach?
Recommended equipment sizes at Sellicks Beach: Kitesurfing: 9–14 m² · Windsurfing: 5.5–7.5 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 12–25 kts.
What skill level is Sellicks Beach suitable for?
Sellicks Beach suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Beginner · Windsurfing: Intermediate · Wingfoiling: Beginner · Surfing: Beginner.