Curl Curl
Also known as: Curly
An exposed, rippy local beach break that holds S swell when Manly is flat - Mid Curly the pick; rewards competent surfers, mind the Garbage Bowl rip.
Best time to surf
Year-round; best winter (often Jul) with clean offshore days; autumn-winter S/SE swells
Shoulder season: Good - a reliable exposed break through the shoulder seasons
The wave
Break type: Beach break
Bottom: Sand (beach break); reef point at South Curl Curl that only works at high tide
Wave direction: Beach break - lefts and rights (North, Mid, South zones)
Typical wave length: Short-to-medium; longer at the high-tide point
Ideal swell: SE ideal; eats up S swell (holds size when Manly is flat); ~2-6ft+
Ideal wind: WNW / W offshore; some NE-wind shelter
Working tide: Works all tides; best low-to-mid (the point section needs high)
Difficulty & skill
Difficulty (1-5): 3-4 (many rips, exposed, powerful; less beginner-friendly)
Skill level: Intermediate-to-advanced; not a primary learner beach
Options for a mixed group: Limited soft corner; place beginners at the patrolled flagged area, stronger surfers on Mid/South peaks; less suited to mixed groups than Manly/Bondi
Safety & hazards
Multiple rips (notably the 'Garbage Bowl' at the south end), rocks/reef at the south point, sharks; strong exposure
Beach SLSC summer patrols; nearest ED Northern Beaches Hospital, Frenchs Forest; 000
Crowd, access & conditions
Crowd & localism: Local Northern Beaches crew; less tourist traffic than Manly; moderate localism
Access & parking: Beachfront car parks (North & South Curl Curl); residential streets; buses
Surf schools & rental: No dedicated on-beach major school; nearby Manly/Freshwater operators (Manly Surf School, Chix Surf School) serve the area
Water temp & wetsuit: ~16-24 C (peak ~22-25 C Feb, ~16-20 C Jul); springsuit most of year, 3/2 or 4/3 winter, boardshorts peak summer
Crowds, access and local conditions change - confirm locally before you paddle out.
Around the break
Facilities: Ocean rockpools (North & South), toilets/showers, grassy reserve, cafes, playground/skate
For non-surfers: Manly-to-Spit and Dee Why coastal walks, Shelly Beach snorkel, ocean rockpools, ferry, Corso dining
Location
Nearest hub: Sydney (NSW)
-33.7690, 151.2960 (approximate)
Live conditions
Today's swell, wind and tide are a runtime layer - check the live sources: Surf-Forecast Curl Curl; Surfline Curl Curl; Stormrider Curl Curl
This profile is desk research, compiled from public sources - not a first-hand surf report. Coordinates are approximate.