Point Cartwright

Point Cartwright is a surf spot located in Queensland, Australia. This spot is known for its rocky bottom and the presence of sharks, so surfers need to be cautious. The main takeoff area is before the rocks, and surfers can either jump off the rocks or paddle out beside the groyne where it’s deepest. It’s important to be careful in big surf and watch out for a huge rip near the groyne on an outgoing tide. The waves at Point Cartwright are generally very clean with nice faces for carving and hollow sections. The waves become more hollow with increased swell size, making it less suitable for longboards or boogie boards. Locals at this spot can be aggressive, especially if they are dropped in on, so it’s crucial to respect the locals and check the surf etiquette when surfing crowded spots. The spot faces due north and is highly protected by southerly and southeasterly winds and swell, and slightly protected in easterly winds. The best swell direction is northerly to easterly swell, and it can work in huge southeasterly swell (5ft+) when waves can wrap around the point. It is completely flat in southerly swell. The waves work best with westerly to southeasterly wind and become very hollow in 4ft+ swell. Point Cartwright is very busy on weekends and holidays, and it can be very busy when it’s firing. It’s busy in a southeasterly wind with easterly surf due to its wind protection. The spot is generally too steep and hollow for longboarders in anything over 3ft+. It’s a fun and pretty consistent wave, suitable for intermediate surfers. The wave direction is right, and the length of the wave is less than 50m. To reach the surf spot, you can drive to the surf lookout car park at Point Cartwright past the apartments on Pacific Boulevard and walk towards the lighthouse, then down the hill until you get to the groyne. Alternatively, you can drive to La Balsa park car park on the corner of Harbour Parade and Gulai Street and walk to the groyne by following the bitumen path along the river. Remember to check your skills before paddling out to make sure the spot and conditions fit your surfing level. Respect the locals.