Southside
- Wave, Longboard
- Best for
- Expert
- Skill Level
- Swell, Ocean
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Southside is a well-known, exposed reef break in the Margaret River region that typically delivers fairly consistent surf and can run at any time of the year. The wave is characterized as a heavy, high-performance left that can hold significant size and power, with long walling sections that suit experienced surfers. The break is described as expert-level due to the combination of exposure and reef-related risk. Hazard notes specifically call out rocks and sharks, and spot-level guidance also highlights powerful waves, shallow reef sections, and strong sweeps/rip currents—risks that tend to be more pronounced during larger swells. Wind can also play a major role. Summer is flagged as the most dependable period for wind-based sports, with typical wind ranges around 15–25 knots and wind directions that often include SE, E, and NE. E/SE winds are associated with cleaner, groomed faces for sailing/wind conditions, while W and NW directions are described as heavily onshore. For planning, the steep walk down from the car park and the exit/entry challenge are repeatedly emphasized—especially on big days where re-entry through rocks may be tricky. Local guidance also recommends watching the exit point carefully before committing to the water.
- Exposed reef break with long, powerful left walls
- Can hold large swells before washing out
- Summer SE wind windows support high-level wave sailing and wave riding
- World-class, high-performance reef lefts with strong hold on swell
- Fairly consistent surf that can work year-round
- Wind sports can be excellent in summer when SE conditions meet good groundswells
- Expert-level exposure on a reef with shallow, rocky hazards
- Strong sweeps and rip currents can occur, especially on larger swells
- Walk to the water can be steep; getting back in through rocks can be tricky on big days
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- SE, E, NE
- Offshore directions
- SE
- No-go directions
- W, NW
- Wind Range
- 15–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Mixed — SE winds often combine with groundswells; winds can be cross-offshore from the southeast at times.
- Reliability
- High in summer for wind-based sports
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts
- Best Months
- December, January, February, March
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 7–10 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Swell, Ocean
- Beach
- Mixed — Mixed rocky/reef setting.
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Big — Big on exposed swell with capacity to hold large sets.
- Chop Level
- Light chop
- Launch
- Medium — Beach entry or rocky jump-ins depending on tide and swell size.
Through the year
Can be crowded on weekends and during prime swell events, but generally less packed than the main break.
Winter (June–August) brings the peak rainfall period with frequent cold fronts and heavy storm swells.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Advanced wave riding location; most riders launch at a nearby main break area and ride down toward Southside. Wind is often cross-offshore from the Southeast.
- Kite Sizes
- 7–10 m²
Premier wave-sailing destination during summer when Southeast winds combine with solid groundswells.
Possible but highly challenging due to the power of the wave and shallow reef sections; not a standard foil spot.
- Foil Friendly
- Limited
- Wing Sizes
- 3.5–5 m²
An exposed reef break with fairly consistent surf that can work at any time of the year; produces high-performance lefts and can hold more size and power than neighboring peaks.
- Wave Direction
- Left
- Optimal Swell
- S, SW
- Swell Height
- 1.5–5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid
- Shelter
- Exposed
- Wind Effect
- E and SE winds provide cleaner, groomed faces; W and NW are heavily onshore.
- Bigger Swell
- Holds very large swells (up to 15 feet or more) before washing out.
- Wave Quality
- Excellent
- Wave Power
- Very powerful
- Wave Shape
- Peeling
- Peel Speed
- Fast
- Ride Length
- Medium — Long walling lefts that allow for multiple maneuvers.
- Typical Ride Length
- 100–200 m
- Ride Length Details
- Long walling lefts that allow for multiple maneuvers.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Southside in the full forecast view.
Southside wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 3–15 ktsGusts 30 kts
- Direction
- S191°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 2415 kts
- Windy days
- 3/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 1.0–4.0 m10s period
- Temperature
- 10–23 °C
Over the next 7 days, Southside is forecast for daytime winds of 3–15 kts, peaking around 15 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 30 kts. The prevailing direction is S. Waves run 1.0–4.0 m with a period of about 10s. 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
- Powerful waves
- Rip currents
- Shallow reef
Rescue & support
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — Spot-level guidance indicates no rescue availability at this specific launch.
- Emergency Info
- Margaret River Hospital is the nearest medical facility.
- Localism / Vibe
- Moderate
Rules of the spot
Standard surfing etiquette applies; respect the local lineup in this high-performance zone.
- Not suitable for inexperienced surfers due to shallow reef and exposure.
- The walk down from the car park is steep.
- Watch the exit point carefully before heading out, as getting back in through the rocks can be tricky on big days.
- Conditions can include strong sweeps and rip currents, especially during large swells.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Busselton
- Nearest Town
- Margaret River
- Nearest Airport
- Busselton Margaret River Airport (BQB) (~55 km) and Perth Airport (PER) (~285 km).
- Parking
- Dedicated car park overlooking the break
- Public Transport
- Limited; private vehicle or rental car essential for most coastal launches
- Access
- Accessible via a gravel path and stairs from the Southside car park
- Cost Level
- Expensive
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Extensive accommodation options across Margaret River and surrounding coastal areas, including guesthouses, hotels, and campsites.
- Food & Drink
- Cafes and restaurants are located at nearby Surfers Point and Gnarabup.
- Equipment Rental:
- Equipment rental is widely available for surfing and SUP in Margaret River and Prevelly; kitesurfing and windsurfing rentals are more common in nearby Busselton or Augusta. Spot-level guidance notes surf shop rentals in Margaret River town center.
- Gear Repair
- Repair services available in Margaret River town.
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 Southside?
The best overall months at Southside are March, April, May, September, October, November, December, January, February. The best wind months are December, January, February, March.
Which wind directions work at Southside?
Southside works with SE, E, NE winds. Offshore directions are SE. No-go directions are W, NW.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Southside?
Recommended equipment sizes at Southside: Kitesurfing: 7–10 m² · Wingfoiling: 3.5–5 m². The typical wind range is 15–25 kts.
What skill level is Southside suitable for?
Southside suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Expert · Windsurfing: Expert · Wingfoiling: Expert · Surfing: Advanced to Expert.