Woody Head
- Longboard, Advanced riders
- Best for
- Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Swell
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Woody Head is an exposed reef break in Bundjalung National Park on the NSW North Coast, known for quite reliable surf. The setup is a right-hand wave line that wraps around the headland over a boulder reef, with conditions described as best on a mid-tide to help manage the rocky base. Surf quality is reported as good, with rides commonly long and peeling on the right swell. Wind from the West through South-West is offshore, which tends to produce cleaner, more groomed faces. For swell, one description highlights working conditions from the South through South-East, with a workable height range around 1.0–2.5 meters. Safety considerations are central at this spot: hazards include rocks, submerged boulders/reef sections, and rip currents. Surf Life Saving Australia services are not reported for this beach, so visitors should plan conservatively around shore/reef risks and water-entry timing. For planning, the best month is reported as June, with additional seasonal guidance pointing to consistent conditions in winter (June through August). Water temperatures are typically cool in winter (about 18–21°C reported for June to August), and the area’s campground access makes it suitable for multi-day trips, with park entry fees applying at the campground access.
- Exposed reef break with reliable surf
- Offshore West to South-West winds for cleaner faces
- Long right-hand peeling rides
- Bundjalung National Park setting with camping access
- Quite reliable surf for an exposed reef break
- Offshore West to South-West winds can produce clean, groomed faces
- Long, peeling right-hand rides reported (often favorable for longboarders and intermediate surfers)
- Camping and basic visitor facilities available via the campground area
- Exposed reef break with rocky hazards and submerged reef sections
- Rip currents can be common near the headland and along the beach
- No Surf Life Saving Australia services reported
- Conditions can become heavy on large South swells
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- W, WSW, S, SSW
- Offshore directions
- W, WSW, S
- Wind Range
- 10–20 kts
- Wind Type
- Mixed — Wind described as offshore-from-west-southwest with some shelter from southwest winds.
- Reliability
- moderate
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — Gusts described as moderate.
- Best Months
- June, July, August
- Shadow Zones
- South-west winds are partially sheltered by the headland.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Swell
- Beach
- Mixed — Mixed beach composition reported.
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Medium — Wave size described as medium.
- Launch
- Medium — Rocky shoreline and sandy patches near the campground.
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate — Launch difficulty described as moderate.
Through the year
Busy during school holidays and weekends due to the popular campground; quieter on weekdays.
Summer and early Autumn (January to March) can see higher rainfall and occasional tropical depressions.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Exposed reef break with quite reliable surf; a right-hand break wrapping around the headland over a boulder reef. Often works best on a mid-tide to cover the rocks safely, and can produce long, peeling rides on the right conditions.
- Wave Direction
- Right
- Optimal Swell
- S, SSE
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid — Sources indicate best results on mid-tide to help manage rocks.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed reef break; some shelter noted from southwest winds by the headland.
- Wind Effect
- Offshore winds from the West and South-West provide clean, groomed faces.
- Bigger Swell
- Can become heavy and difficult to manage with large South swells; better on mid-range swells.
- Wave Quality
- Good
- Wave Power
- Moderate
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Long right-hand point/reef line described as peeling.
- Peel Speed
- Medium
- Ride Length
- Medium
- Typical Ride Length
- 150 m
- Ride Length Details
- On a good swell, waves can peel for roughly 100–200 meters and wrap into the more protected bay area.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Woody Head in the full forecast view.
Woody Head wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 3–13 ktsGusts 28 kts
- Direction
- ENE74°
- Strongest day
- Mon, Oct 2613 kts
- Windy days
- 3/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.9–2.1 m7s period
- Temperature
- 16–32 °C
Over the next 7 days, Woody Head is forecast for daytime winds of 3–13 kts, peaking around 13 kts on Monday, October 26 with gusts to 28 kts. The prevailing direction is ENE. Waves run 0.9–2.1 m with a period of about 7s. 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 boulders
- Rip currents
- Sharks
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguards at the beach.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — No dedicated rescue service reported for this spot.
- Emergency Info
- There are no Surf Life Saving Australia services for this beach. Nearest major medical facilities are in Maclean or Grafton; Iluka has local medical services.
- Localism / Vibe
- None — Localism described as none; another source notes mild localism.
Rules of the spot
Located within Bundjalung National Park; park entry fees and specific camping regulations apply. Drone restrictions may apply.
- National Park regulations
- Drone restrictions may apply
- Watch out for rocks.
- There are no services provided by Surf Life Saving Australia for this beach.
- The break works best on a mid-tide to cover the rocks safely.
- Early mornings often have the lightest winds and best conditions.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Iluka
- Nearest Town
- Iluka
- Parking
- Parking available at Woody Head campground. Park entry fee: $8 per vehicle per day.
- Access
- On the access road to Iluka from the Pacific Highway, follow the unpaved road to Woody Head (approx. 10km north of Iluka). Drive through the campground and walk 5–15 minutes to the beach. Another access description notes access via Woody Head Road within Bundjalung National Park, approx. 6km north of Iluka.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Camping and accommodation are available in the area via the campground; further holiday rentals and motels are in nearby Iluka and Yamba.
- Food & Drink
- Basic supplies available in Iluka; no commercial food outlets at the spot itself.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Woody Head?
The best overall months at Woody Head are May, June, July, August. The best wind months are June, July, August.
Which wind directions work at Woody Head?
Woody Head works with W, WSW, S, SSW winds. Offshore directions are W, WSW, S.
What skill level is Woody Head suitable for?
Woody Head suits these riding levels: Surfing: Intermediate.