Avalon sits near the northern tip of Sydney's Northern Beaches, between Bilgola and Whale Beach. It's a relaxed surf town with a beach that picks up a lot of swell, and a strong local crew who know exactly when it's worth paddling out.
How Avalon works
The beach faces east and is open to most swell directions. Sandbanks shape the peaks, and the southern corner near the headland is often the most consistent. On bigger south swells, the headland gives the south end some shelter.
West to north-west winds are offshore. It's a long drive from most of Sydney, so knowing the timing matters more here than at the beaches near the city.
When it's not working
North Narrabeen, a short drive south, is the area's most famous wave and handles south swells well. Newport and Bilgola, close by, offer alternatives on different winds.
Our alert for Avalon is tuned to this break alone, so a swell that's perfect for the beach next door won't set it off. When the swell, wind and tide line up together, you get a text.
Want to see what real alerts look like? Our firing board shows the spots that have actually turned on recently, with the swell and wind at the time.
Related reading: Narrabeen and Collaroy Surf Guide and How Tide Affects Wave Shape.
Closest spot guides
- North Narrabeen and Collaroy, about 8 km away
- Dee Why, about 15 km away
- Curl Curl, about 15 km away
- Freshwater, about 15 km away
Or browse every break we cover in our Australian surf spot guides by region.
Avalon is worth the drive on the right day.
We text you when that day arrives.
Get alerts for Avalon