Seven Mile Beach
- Wave, Shortboard
- Best for
- Beginner
- Skill Level
- Small waves, Medium waves
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Seven Mile Beach is a long, sandy shoreline on the NSW coast with clean water and a beach-break surf profile. The setup is generally exposed, but it can still produce reliable, good-quality surf on the right swell and wind combination. For wind sports, the seasonal pattern is defined by summer NE sea breezes and year-round S/SSE frontal winds. Thermal-driven winds typically strengthen during summer afternoons, aligning with favorable wind directions (NE through S). However, at least one kitesurfing-focused assessment reports very low wind-day reliability, which can make kiting inconsistent even when the directions look promising. Kitesurfing may be approached as a summer-oriented option with common kite sizes in the 9–12 m range for NE sea-breeze conditions, with skills often described as beginner-friendly in calmer moments. That said, quick wind changes can happen when southerly shifts arrive, so riders should plan for variability rather than assuming steady wind. Surfing works best with offshore winds and suitable swell from the S/SSE/E range. The beach can hold swell up to around the ~2 m range, but larger swells can eventually push beach breaks toward closing out. Expect a sandy bottom, small shore break, and a cool-water experience through the year.
- Long, straight sandy beach with room to launch and progress
- Summer NE sea-breeze pattern for wind sports
- Good-quality beach-break surf when winds are offshore
- Long, sandy beach with clean water and plenty of space to set up and launch.
- Strong summer NE sea-breeze pattern supports wind sports during the warmer months.
- Surf generally has good quality on suitable days and can handle small to medium swells.
- Kitesurfing wind reliability can be very low (around 1.3% wind-day reliability), with reports of average winds near 5 knots in low-wind scenarios.
- Surf can be exposed and can involve rip currents common to NSW ocean beaches.
- Wind can change quickly with southerly shifts ('The Change').
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- N, NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE, SSE, S
- Offshore directions
- NNW, N
- Wind Range
- 15–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Sea breeze — NE sea breezes in summer; S/SSE frontal winds occur through the year.
- Reliability
- Low for kiting at ~1.3% wind-day reliability, despite favorable directions and summer sea-breeze periods.
- Best Months
- January, February, March, December
- Shadow Zones
- Slight wind shadow possible at the very northern end (Gerroa) in strong northerly winds.
- Thermal Window
- Sea breeze · Afternoon · +15–25 kts · Months: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar · Dir: NE · Thermal-driven NE sea breezes during summer afternoons.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Small waves, Medium waves
- Beach
- Sand
- Beach Size
- Big
- Waves
- Medium — Reported as small wave to medium wave depending on conditions.
- Launch
- Big — Expansive sandy beach with plenty of space for setup and launching.
- Launch Difficulty
- Easy — Launch setup is described as easy with ample beach area.
Through the year
Peak crowds during summer school holidays (January) and weekends; very quiet during weekdays and winter.
East Coast Lows can bring heavy rain and storm surges between March and June.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Potentially suitable in summer directions, but overall kitesurfing performance is hampered by very low wind reliability (around 1.3%) with average winds near 5 knots in the low-wind scenarios reported.
- Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Works as an iconic windsurfing destination in summer, with cross-shore wave riding possible across NE and S wind directions.
- Sail Sizes
- 4.7–5.7 m²
Long beach and sand bottom make it a popular foiling venue; the northern end is preferred for easier access to cleaner swell.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes — Foil-friendly conditions reported.
- Min Depth
- 1.5 meters
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
Exposed sandy beach break with reliable surf. Summer is often mostly flat, but the spot can handle small to medium swells and tends to work best when winds are offshore.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- S, SSE, E
- Swell Height
- 0.5–2 m
- Optimal Tide
- All tides
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed beach break; the northern headland can create some protection compared with the rest of the shoreline.
- Wind Effect
- Offshore winds provide the best conditions; NE/N are offshore for the northern section, while W/NW are offshore for most of the beach.
- Bigger Swell
- Holds size, but beach breaks can eventually close out on large swells.
- Wave Quality
- Good
- Wave Power
- Soft — May range from soft to moderate depending on swell size/day.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Peeling waves; longboard-friendly character can occur on the right setup.
- Peel Speed
- Slow
- Ride Length
- Short — Overall sessions tend to be shorter on the main beach; longer, peeling rides can occur when swell wraps around the headland.
- Ride Length Details
- Soft beach break with short rides; long, peeling waves can be produced on suitable swell when wrapping occurs.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Seven Mile Beach in the full forecast view.
Seven Mile Beach wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 3–11 ktsGusts 23 kts
- Direction
- ENE70°
- Strongest day
- Fri, Oct 3011 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.8–1.9 m8s period
- Temperature
- 11–31 °C
Over the next 7 days, Seven Mile Beach is forecast for daytime winds of 3–11 kts, peaking around 11 kts on Friday, October 30 with gusts to 23 kts. The prevailing direction is ENE. Waves run 0.8–1.9 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
- rip currents
- wildlife
- sun exposure
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Patrolled by Surf Life Saving Australia at the northern and southern ends during summer season and school holidays.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue coverage is seasonal and centered around the northern (Gerroa) and southern ends.
- Emergency Info
- Shoalhaven District Memorial Hospital (Nowra) is the nearest major medical facility. Emergency services via 000.
Rules of the spot
Observe local National Park regulations; stay clear of swimmers near the main flags at the northern end during busy periods.
- Kiting restricted in some swimming zones (National Park rules apply).
- Expect a wind shift with S winds that can change conditions quickly ('The Change').
- Be cautious around swimmers and follow seasonal signage and flag areas.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Wollongong
- Nearest Town
- Gerroa
- Parking
- Large parking areas available at Gerroa (Black Head) and multiple National Park picnic areas.
- Public Transport
- Limited regional bus services connect Gerroa and Shoalhaven Heads to Kiama and Bomaderry rail heads.
- Access
- About 100 miles south of Sydney. Access via several entries along Seven Mile Beach National Park or from Gerroa at the north end.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Camping grounds, holiday parks, and rentals are available in Gerroa and Shoalhaven Heads.
- Food & Drink
- Cafes and shops are located in the town of Gerroa at the north end.
- Equipment Rental:
- Equipment rental is available via surf shops in Gerroa; specialized windsurfing/kitesurfing rentals are described as more limited.
- Gear Storage
- Typically provided by local holiday parks for staying guests; no dedicated public lockers.
- Gear Repair
- Minor repairs via local surf shops; major sail/kite repairs may require travel to Wollongong or Sydney.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
A blend of pristine natural coastline and rural charm, anchored by the nearby towns of Gerroa and Shoalhaven Heads, combining wind sports with coastal hiking and local day trips.
Vast coastal reserve featuring forest walks, picnic areas, and diverse birdlife.
Commemorates the 1933 first commercial flight to New Zealand which took off from this beach.
Scenic coastal walk through littoral rainforest and banksia forest.
Popular local cafe and restaurant located at the northern end of the beach in Gerroa.
Famous local institution in the nearby town of Berry, popular for family outings.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Seven Mile Beach?
The best overall months at Seven Mile Beach are December, January, February, March. The best wind months are January, February, March, December.
Which wind directions work at Seven Mile Beach?
Seven Mile Beach works with N, NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE, SSE, S winds. Offshore directions are NNW, N.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Seven Mile Beach?
Recommended equipment sizes at Seven Mile Beach: Kitesurfing: 9–12 m² · Windsurfing: 4.7–5.7 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 15–25 kts.
What skill level is Seven Mile Beach suitable for?
Seven Mile Beach suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Beginner · Windsurfing: Intermediate · Wingfoiling: Intermediate · Surfing: Beginner.