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Memories of past road trips sparkle like water on a hot summer day. The joy of arriving in a new town. The stoke of that first wave caught at a new surf break. You know that feeling? That feeling lasts a lifetime. The feeling is forever.
We strapped our boards tight on top of our cars and packed our favourite bikinis, steamers, jackets and fleeces to make new memories on an east coast road trip with surfers Shaanti and Marina.
There were a few cold days, and torrential downpours to dodge, but nothing could dampen our spirits on this adventure!
CRESCENT HEAD
Surrounded by national parks in-between Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour, Crescent Head was a dream location to start our journey up the east coast. The sun rises directly over the headland here, so our morning surf never looked better with the sky exploding in colour above us.
EAT
The Green Room was an essential Crescent Head stop to make new mates over a wholesome feed and a strong coffee. Making friends with the locals meant we found out about some secret surf spots.
SLEEP
Casa Mio Surf Hacienda is a Mexican oasis in an Aussie surf town. With wooden Maywood boards in every room, it certainly felt like home. Acres of green around us made us so secluded, but in fact we were just a five minute walk from the beach.
SURF
With plenty of sweet right point breaks, Crescent Head has some of the best surf spots on the east coast. Main beach is to the right of the headland, and a short drive from there is Racecourse and Big Hill Beach. It may be the sparkle of the past, but we had some pretty memorable surfs there this trip.
YAMBA
Home to one of the oldest Surf Life Saving Clubs in the world (or so they claim!), Yamba is a sleepy surf town that wakes up for out-of-towners every holiday season. Yamba’s beautiful main beach sits alongside it’s famous ocean baths, the last baths you’ll find this far up north. After a long day swimming and surfing, we settled into the retro cinema for a movie night.
EAT
Beachwood Café was open early enough to duck in just after a sunrise surf for a hot coffee and spicy menemen Turkish-style eggs.
SLEEP
Jumping into the water that was metres from where we were staying is what road tripping is all about! The Pacific Hotel oozes old charm with the best view in town.
SURF
Just a short drive from Yamba, we found Angourie Point peppered with advanced short board riders and Spookies beach sparkling with long boarders dancing all along the break. We were after waves to ride all day, and Angourie Surfing Reserve delivered.
BYRON BAY
After a short stint in Lennox Head, we made our way to Byron Bay. Although Byron is unrecognisable from its hey days, there’s no way locals are moving away anytime soon. And why would they? Watching a sunrise at the lighthouse shines light on why the hinterland is a sort after spot for celebrities, influencers and locals alike.
EAT
Outside the main Byron buzz, Top Shop is where both locals and visitors go for good vibes. Built in a 1950’s milk bar, it’s old-school service mixed with a modern-day café. Some of us used the QR codes for ordering (not all of us are morning people after all!).
SLEEP
The Sunseeker is tucked away on the Tallow Beach side of Byron and it felt like another sanctuary in our cosy abode. With food hampers of local produce delivered directly to our door, we were very happy sunseekers indeed.
SURF
Have you really been to Byron if you haven’t surfed The Pass?
There’s something for everyone here, from beginners to advanced, stoke is shared from the line up out the back, right into shore.
The crowds were mental though, so we decided on a surf at Broken Head that had us out there all day long and will have us coming back again and again and again.
GOLD COAST
On the edge of the Queensland border with New South Wales is where the Billabong journey began and our road trip ends. Popularity has grown on the Gold Coast over the years, with crowds and line ups getting busier and busier every season. We could claim it’s all thanks to 50 years of Billabong, but the waves speak for themselves.
EAT
We nabbed a booth, carved our names in the table, left with bellies and hearts full at Franc Jnrs. This traditional pizzeria is no longer a locals secret because it’s hands down the best pizza around and everyone knows it as soon as you walk by the packed tables and the queue of hungry diners snaking down the street.
SLEEP
Retro vibes and right where the waves are, The Pink Hotel stands out opposite Greenmount Beach. Gold Coast is our home, but we wouldn’t mind rolling out of bed here and making the most of those waves rolling in.
SURF
Combining several surf breaks in one, The Superbank captures the best of the Gold Coast beaches. Surfing from Snapper Rocks to Rainbow Bay and Greenmount to Kirra is easy with the strong sweep. Carparks at Kirra, Coolangatta and Greenmount fill up by 7am, and they won’t empty until the sun goes down so we’re lucky we live here. You’ll catch us here in the water most weekends.
SAFE TRAVELS
When travelling to new towns and surfing new breaks, always remember to respect the locals and traditional owners of the land. We visited local bakeries and surf clubs to support the community.
Our top tip: Even if you’re travelling by yourself, don’t go out surfing by yourself, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the area. The important thing is to have fun, experience places you’ve never been to before and create those sparkly memories that will stay with you forever.
Words by Lisette Drew