Surfs
The breaks worth knowing in Palmy
Palm Beach has always sat in the shadow of its more famous neighbours, but locals know the stretch between Currumbin and Tallebudgera quietly delivers.
From long-running points to shifting beach breaks and heavy outside banks, each section has its own rhythm. These are the four breaks worth checking when Palmy starts to light up.
3 minute read
Laceys Lane
When Currumbin Alley is firing properly on a solid SSE swell, the wave can carry all the way across the creek entrance and run down the line to the beach at Laceys — a ride that can stretch well past 250 metres depending on the sand. On smaller days, Laceys works on its own terms with banks off the northern groyne producing punchy, fun beach break. The sand here is constantly shifting with the shore current, so the quality changes week to week. Check it fresh.
Currumbin Alley
Just across the channel from Laceys, the Alley marks the mouth of Currumbin Creek and is one of the more famous breaks on the Gold Coast for good reason. At its best it's a right-hander that starts at the point, breaks off the rocks into the creek entrance. Towards the creek it softens into more forgiving conditions, which is why it works for everyone from beginners on soft-tops to experienced surfers hunting the hollow sections near the point. The Alley is not a secret, so be prepared for crowds on weekends.
19th Ave
The main stretch of Palmy is an exposed beach break that picks up east groundswell reliably and throws up lefts and rights depending on where the banks are sitting. 19th Ave is the go-to reference point for mid-beach conditions — a solid starting point for a swell check before committing to a spot further north or south. It's offshore on a west to west-southwest wind, and when that lines up with an east swell it fires. The crowds here are real on a good day; the trade-off is that the beach is long enough that peaks spread out. Winter, and June in particular, delivers the most consistent offshore conditions along this stretch.
Talle Outside
Up at the northern end of the Palm Beach strip where the beach becomes Tallebudgera, the outside banks are a different proposition from the rest of the stretch. The orientation of the coast here angles more easterly and catches more exposed swell energy — Burleigh Headland sits to the north but offers less protection on this outside section than it does on the point itself. The result is a more powerful beach break that rewards surfers who can read a shifting lineup. It's less trafficked than the mid-beach peaks and worth the walk to check.
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