National Surfing Reserves

A national surfing reserve is a dedicated area that is protected for use by the general public and surfing community. To date, some 24 sites along Australia’s 37,000km coastline have been identified for dedication by the Sites National Reference Group.

The National Surfing Reserve initiative recognises these sites and ensures that they remain protected for generations to come. This model is a first in recognising the iconic status surfing has achieved throughout the world.

Legal recognition of a national surfing reserve provides the basis for community involvement in its management through trust boards and plans of management. These plans help protect and enhance the local reserve. The reserve is officially recognised on all Government records for posterity but only NSW gazettes reserves as Crown Land. In all other states reserves are deemed as symbolic only.

Declaring a national surfing reserve does not limit public enjoyment of the area in any way; reserving the land for surfing is a reflection of its main use but other forms of recreation, such as swimming and fishing, continue. The reserve is there for the enjoyment of surfers and non-surfers alike.

National surfing reserves help to protect important coastal Crown land and at the same time ensure the enduring privilege of catching a wave at places like Angourie, Crescent Head, Lennox and Cronulla. The community can support the declaration of their area once it has been recognised. Some of the 24 sites on the national list include Bondi, Killalea, Merewether, Manly and North Narrabeen.