The Quarries
- Shortboard, Advanced riders
- Best for
- Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Swell
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
The Quarries is a sheltered reef break near Cape Naturaliste (Capes region) known for producing fairly consistent surf when it receives the right southwest wrap. It’s a rocky, reef-bottom spot, so conditions can be unforgiving if you misjudge the lineup or attempt takeoffs in unsuitable waves. For surfing, the break is described as an intermediate-appropriate sheltered reef wave with a reliable wall when it’s working, with southwest winds reported as favorable. Several reports emphasize that The Quarries needs a solid southwest swell to wrap around Cape Naturaliste; when that happens, it functions as a relief/backup option for riders when more exposed west-coast breaks are too large or blown out. Crowds are described as relatively low, with few surfers even on good days. Access is via a walking track near Cape Naturaliste Road and the trailhead area, and parking is limited—so arriving early and allowing time for the walk is important. Safety-wise, treat the area as hazardous: rocks, submerged reef sections, and boulders are part of the launch environment. There is no dedicated full-time on-water rescue at this launch, so riders should go prepared with appropriate personal gear and surf within their limits, especially given the limited takeoff zone.
- Sheltered reef break with fairly consistent surf when it works
- Needs southwest swell wrap around Cape Naturaliste
- Relatively uncrowded even on good days
- Sheltered reef break that can deliver fairly consistent surf when it’s on
- Low crowd even on good days
- Good option as a backup/relief break when primary west-coast breaks are unsurfable
- Rocky reef hazards (submerged rocks/reef sections and boulders)
- Relatively remote access with limited parking
- Works best only when the right swell wraps around Cape Naturaliste
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- S, SSW, SW
- Offshore directions
- S, SSW, SW
- Wind Range
- 12–22 kts
- Wind Type
- Gradient — Reported as a gradient wind regime at the spot.
- Reliability
- moderate
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts — Light gusts reported.
- Best Months
- September, October, November
- Shadow Zones
- High cliffs to the west can create wind shadows in certain directions.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Swell
- Beach
- Rocks
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Medium
- Launch
- Small — Narrow rocky entry points between boulders.
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate — Moderate launch difficulty with a narrow entry between boulders.
Through the year
Generally quiet, but can get busy with locals when the main Margaret River breaks are unsurfable due to wind.
Winter months (June to August) see the most rainfall and storm activity.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Occasionally used for foiling when swells are large enough to wrap around the cape, acting as a more protected option.
- Foil Friendly
- Limited — Foiling use is occasional and dependent on swell size wrapping around the cape.
- Min Depth
- 1.5 meters
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
Sheltered reef break producing a consistent reef wave that can hold left-hand or right-hand depending on swell/wind conditions; described as a sheltered reef break with fairly consistent surf. Best with southwest swell/wrap from the west-southwest.
- Optimal Swell
- WSW, W
- Swell Height
- 2–4 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid — Mid tide reported as optimal.
- Shelter
- Semi-sheltered — Described as sheltered overall; some descriptions vary between sheltered and semi-sheltered.
- Wind Effect
- Best with southwest winds (winds can be offshore with south to south-west winds due to the cape orientation).
- Bigger Swell
- Requires a large west-coast swell to wrap around Cape Naturaliste; can behave as a relief/backup option when primary west-coast breaks are too large or blown out.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Described as having good/consistent quality when it works.
- Wave Power
- Moderate
- Wave Shape
- Peeling
- Peel Speed
- Medium
- Ride Length
- Medium — Provides rides between 50 and 100 meters on good days.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–100 m
- Ride Length Details
- Rides can run roughly 50 to 100 meters on good days; typical reported ride length around 75 meters.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for The Quarries in the full forecast view.
The Quarries wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 5–20 ktsGusts 29 kts
- Direction
- SSW192°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 2420 kts
- Windy days
- 6/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.5–2.1 m9s period
- Temperature
- 12–21 °C
Over the next 7 days, The Quarries is forecast for daytime winds of 5–20 kts, peaking around 20 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 29 kts. The prevailing direction is SSW. Waves run 0.5–2.1 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
- Submerged rocks
- Sharp reef
- Remote location
- Marine life
Rescue & support
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — No dedicated full-time on-water rescue for this launch.
- Emergency Info
- Emergency number is 000; emergency services are coordinated via local police and marine rescue.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild
Rules of the spot
Standard surfing etiquette applies; respect the limited takeoff zone.
- Limited takeoff zone
- The spot needs a solid southwest swell to wrap around Cape Naturaliste to work properly.
- Works best when the west coast is maxing out.
- Access involves a bit of a walk from the nearest parking area.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Margaret River
- Nearest Town
- Cape Naturaliste
- Nearest Airport
- Busselton Margaret River Airport (BQB) approx. 35km
- Parking
- Limited parking available at the trailhead or nearby lookout points.
- Public Transport
- Limited public transport; a private vehicle is highly recommended for accessing different coastal points.
- Access
- Access is via a walking track near the end of Cape Naturaliste Road; also described as via Bunker Bay Road near Cape Naturaliste (Margaret River region, WA).
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Camping and boutique accommodation available in the Yallingup and Dunsborough areas.
- Food & Drink
- No facilities at the spot; shops and cafes are located in Dunsborough.
- Equipment Rental:
- Rental shops available in Dunsborough and Yallingup town centers.
- Gear Storage
- Generally not available at public beach areas; most visitors store gear at their accommodation or in private vehicles.
- Gear Repair
- Surfboard repair services available in Dunsborough.
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 The Quarries?
The best overall months at The Quarries are September, October, November.
Which wind directions work at The Quarries?
The Quarries works with S, SSW, SW winds. Offshore directions are S, SSW, SW.
What equipment sizes are recommended at The Quarries?
Recommended equipment sizes at The Quarries: Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 12–22 kts.
What skill level is The Quarries suitable for?
The Quarries suits these riding levels: Wingfoiling: Advanced · Surfing: Intermediate.