Surfing in Wollogong vs. Sydney/study abroad

[snowrider]

I've decided to study abroad in Australia and have narrowed down my search to either the University of Wollongong or the University of New South Wales. Both areas I believe have surf. Obviously Bondi is fairly close to UNSW (I should be living 5 min from the beach...which beach I don;t know)

I curious to see if anyone knows anything about either of these areas or the surf that surrounds them. I've been researching, but I wanted to get some surfers opinions since I basically have to choose based on hearsay...Punani?

[Ski Beaver]

Good choice, I would say without a doubt choose UNSW.

There is a lot of accommodation around UNSW and you are right almost all of it will be within 5 minutes of the beach. UNSW is a very well regarded uni, moreso than Wollongong.

You will be living in Sydney which means a lot better nightlife and talent than Wollongong as well.

In regard to the surfing, I would say that Sydney probably has it over Wollongogng as well in this regard. Also living in Sydney you have access to all the Northern Beaches (Palm Beach, Avalon, Manly), City Beaches (Tamarrama, Bondi, Coogee, Maroubra), and the Southern Beaches (Cronulla).

Punani may be able to let you know what the surfing is like in Wollongong.

Feel free to ask anymore questions.

[Superstar Punani]

I've decided to study abroad in Australia and have narrowed down my search to either the University of Wollongong or the University of New South Wales. Both areas I believe have surf. Obviously Bondi is fairly close to UNSW (I should be living 5 min from the beach...which beach I don;t know)

I curious to see if anyone knows anything about either of these areas or the surf that surrounds them. I've been researching, but I wanted to get some surfers opinions since I basically have to choose based on hearsay...Punani?


I made the exact decision when I was choosing universities. UNSW vs. University of Wollongong. I ended up going to UNSW (Undergrad and Postgrad) for the reasons that Ski Beaver said- it's more prestigious and highly regarded as one of the best in Australia.

University choice aside, it also boils down to whether you want to live in a cosmopolitan city like Sydney (the BEST city in the world), or in a relatively obscure ,but nice to look at, industrial city of Wollongong

UNSW is in Kensington, which is about 10 min from surf spots like Maroubra, Bronte and Bondi. Bondi's south end is the shit. Since it's a very touristy spot it is not very localized, and you can have a fun surf since about 90% of the lineup are a bunch of kooks that can't surf for shit. The amount of big-breasted extremely hot chicks that bare their beautiful big titties for your enjoyment is one of the higlights. Bronte Reef is a filth right that goes off on a decent Southerly swell. The lineup is a little more packed. Maroubra is a little more localized, but you can still pick off some good ones. It is easy to get a surf in before class, and in between classes if you have a 2 hour break.


Even if you're in Sydney, Wollongong is an easy 45min-1hr drive. My parents have a beach house in the northern suburbs of W-gong and I grew up surfing in this area. You have a shit-ton of quality filth fucking sweet insane variety of relatively uncrowded spots ranging from beachbreaks, reefs and points. My favorite surf spots are:
1) XXXXXXX- my home break. There are 6 spots here alone.... "XXXXXXX" is a sick left that cranks on a NE swell. "XXXXXXX" is a spot out the front of the XXXXXXX that holds a good bar. "XXXXXXX" is on when it does it's Backdoor/Pipe imitation once every 5 years. XXXXXXX is a fickle and sick little spot in the south end, then the XXXXXXX cranks when the swell hits more than 10'.
2) XXXXXXX, a filth fucking right that goes off like a fuck. Handles any swell that you throw at it. It is crowded and localized but like any point break, the crowd shifts a lot.
3) XXXXXXX is another filth fucking beachbreak
4) XXXXXXX- insane reef/beachbreak
5) XXXXXXX/XXXXXX/XXXXXX in XXXXXX is another set of three cool reefbreaks.
6) head X hours XXXXX to XXXXXXX and hit any random beach/reefbreaks


So yeah, I suggest going to UNSW and live in Sydney to get a taste of the nightlife and extremely hot chicks. Wollongong has a good variety of surf, but I wouldn't live there.


Here's a panorgasmic view of Northern Wollongong cranking on a 6-8 foot swell. I can see my house from here. :D

[Ski Beaver]

Look us up for a beer in Sydney when you get here too. Would be more than happy to show you round Sydney's finest drinking spots.

[snowrider]

Hey thanks guy. UNSW was/is my first choice over Wollongong and I just wanted a second opinion to solidify my decision. I appreciate the info and I will definitely drop you guys a line when I get there.

[Alkasquawlik]

I've got some buddies from Wollongong. One of them is a surfer and he says most of the breaks are small little beach breaks. And the access to other breaks, North/South, a little tough. He makes it sound like it's a Hungington/Lo Jolla/ T-street type of place but there is an occasional reef that fires on occasion.

[bartae]

hi guys,
i have to decide where to go as well. basically i am looking for a place with surfer like people, some wind, nice waves, party, girls, nice uni. the usual:-)
how did sydney work out for you? is there maybe a better place than wollongong or sydney?
fire names, hints, tricks, spots, at me if you can!
thanks in advance
patrick

[cj001f]

is there maybe a better place than wollongong or sydney?
Gold Coast

[Terpski]

Gold Coast is fuckin' huge. Surfer's Paradise is cool because they have a man made reef, so when there is a swell it's almost a perfect break.

Newcastle, for sure - definitely better than both of those places. Byron Bay would be sick too, and Bryon is near Yamba, which is firin' most times of the year.

[Terpski]

Oh, and Seal Rock, which is less than 2 hours away from Newcastle, but you have to watch for big fish around there.

[Terpski]

haha, and duh, Bell's Beach. That's where the filmed part of Point Break, if you remember that movie.

[whatcomridaz]

haha, and duh, Bell's Beach. That's where the filmed part of Point Break, if you remember that movie.


I don't think it was filmed at Bell's more like Oswald's

[cmiehls]

hey man I'm going to UNSW and I'm trying to decide where to live. I've been surfing for about 6 months now and i'm in the process of transitioning from long to short, hoping to buy a fish next week. Anyway, I'm trying to find the least crowded breaks that are close to campus. I don't need big waves, I just want to live in a kick back town in a house close to uncrowded spots. I'm thinking Coogee but I'm not completely sold yet. Any suggestions.

[SuperGaper]

Holy Seppo kook invasion Batman!

[mikeg]

Holy Seppo kook invasion Batman!


Simmer Robin, don't be such a xenophobe....


hey man I'm going to UNSW and I'm trying to decide where to live. I've been surfing for about 6 months now and i'm in the process of transitioning from long to short, hoping to buy a fish next week. Anyway, I'm trying to find the least crowded breaks that are close to campus. I don't need big waves, I just want to live in a kick back town in a house close to uncrowded spots. I'm thinking Coogee but I'm not completely sold yet. Any suggestions.

cmiehls, I'm curious to hear what you ended up deciding. I"m headed to UNSW for ~ a month and wanted to build up some surfing skills (I'm a rank beginner right now). I was looking into Coogee but was told there was little surf there and suggested to look into staying near Bondi, but I get the impression that that's more of a show beach than a good surf spot. I;d like to stay somewhere where I can get up in the morning and hit some waves (if they are there) before heading off to work.

Interested to hear what you have to say.

Mike

[Hugh Conway]

Simmer Robin, don't be such a xenophobe....

It's not xenophobia if you just hate Americans....

[Altmanator]

I'll second Surfer's Paradise and Bond University.

I did a program through Beaver University (they since changed their name to Arcadia University). Studied at Bond Uni, if you can call it that. The professors encouraged us to miss a few classes here and there and to travel instead.

Surfer's is a great place to party on any night and the surfing is pretty awesome. I was just learning to surf when I was there and it was a bit intimidating, but that's cool. Snapper Rocks kicked my ass.

I had a blast down there for 4 months and you can get off campus housing right in surfer's if you want, but you will not be attending classes if you do that.

[Toby]

Dunno about nowadays, but Bond didn't used to have a very good rep when they started up (relatively recently). E.g. a friend of mine couldn't get into Law in any university in my state, but he got into Bond for a fee. His wasn't the only story of buying your degree. Low entry requirements and high fees. OTOH I think my university (long history and well respected) now offers the same sort of thing to full fee paying students.

[b dubya]

Dunno about nowadays, but Bond didn't used to have a very good rep when they started up (relatively recently). E.g. a friend of mine couldn't get into Law in any university in my state, but he got into Bond for a fee. His wasn't the only story of buying your degree. Low entry requirements and high fees.

this is correct.

for all above lookin to come, punani has it nailed. UNSW, get a room somewhere within walking distance to bondi beach and you are set (don't be fooled into bondi junkyard it's not that close). northern beaches (where i am) is great but a pita for most unis and it's quite spread out and quiet outside of manly.
If you can't get laid in bondi/coogi/the cross..........

[Silence]

I second that..Bondi/Coogee even the Paddington end of Oxford Street are all great places. - Not necessarily cheap if you want to live in something decent, but very central with access to everything..

[robnow]

For those in the Coogee area, really only two choices for learning to surf, Bondi and Maroubra(there is a Bra Boys movie out now based on the shanigans/rep of the locals). Tamarama and Bronte are closer than Bondi and have good surf but not great places to learn.

For more of a real surfing venture, do Maroubra, def more of a "surfers" spot. Really quick on the bus to get to Coogee. But it is known for its localism. You won't find much in the way of tourists and foreigners there, except for Brazilian babes. For an easier atmosphere and to seek others in the same boat as you then Bondi would be the call.

[robnow]

For those in the Coogee area, really only two choices for learning to surf, Bondi and Maroubra(there is a Bra Boys movie out now based on the shanigans/rep of the locals). Tamarama and Bronte are closer than Bondi and have good surf but not great places to learn.

For more of a real surfing venture, do Maroubra, def more of a "surfers" spot. Really quick on the bus to get to Coogee. But it is known for its localism. You won't find much in the way of tourists and foreigners there, except for Brazilian babes. For an easier atmosphere and to seek others in the same boat as you then Bondi would be the call.