A surf trip that warms up by the fire.
Winter surf trip, Crescent Head
Winter swells, long rides, and a wood fireplace and Nespresso to come home to, seven minutes from the line-up.
Why winter
May to August is when Crescent Head shows off.
The point at Crescent Head is one of the longest right-hand longboard waves in Australia. Winter is when the south-easterly swells line up cleanest, the wind grooms the wave with a south-westerly, and the line-up is mellower than peak summer.
The Malibu Classic, the longest-running longboard contest in Australia, happens every May.
A winter base
What you get at The Deck.
Seven minutes to the line-up
Walk straight down the hill to the point. Boards rinsed on the outdoor shower (hot and cold), wetsuit hung on the rail.
A wood fireplace
Firewood and kindling supplied. In colder months we pre-lay the first fire so you only need a match. Air-con if it gets too cold at 4am.
A real kitchen
A 900mm gas and electric cooktop, Nespresso (pods supplied) for dawn patrol, and a pantry stocked with the basics. BYO milk.
Sleeps six
Three bedrooms: two queens, and a third with two singles. Dogs warmly welcome on the deck and downstairs. Bring the crew.
Swell windows
When to plan your trip.
May: the Malibu Classic. Crowds spike for the contest weekend, but the wave is at its best.
June and July: the cleanest, most consistent swell of the year. Cold mornings, warm fires.
August: still firing, and whales migrating north. You can watch them from the deck.
What to pack
Less than you’d think.
Your board (the point fits everything from a 9′ to a mid-length).
A 3/2 wetsuit (a hood is overkill, but bring booties for early starts).
Layers for the evenings.
Milk. That’s about it.
The shape of it
How a winter day runs.
A winter trip here runs differently from a summer one. The wind decides everything, and the wind is usually best early.
- Dawn
The session
Offshore wind is most reliable at first light, so this is the one you plan around. Check the point from the deck before you commit, then walk down. Nespresso first if you need it.
- Mid-morning
The reward
Rinse the boards on the outdoor shower, wetsuit on the rail, and walk to Barnett’s for a pie or Cheetah Five for the best coffee in town. Both are within ten minutes.
- Afternoon
The wander
When the wind swings onshore the point goes soft. Winter afternoons are for the headland walk, whale spotting, a few holes at the country club, or driving south to the empty back beaches.
- Evening
The fire
This is what makes a winter trip worth it over a summer one. Fire lit, dinner on the cooktop or a walk to the Tavern, and an early night because tomorrow starts at dawn again.
How cold does it actually get?
Mild by most standards. Crescent Head sits on the NSW Mid North Coast, so winter days are usually clear and cool rather than cold, and the mornings are the sharp part. A 3/2 wetsuit covers the water; a jumper covers the evenings.
What wetsuit do I need?
A 3/2 steamer is the standard call through winter. Booties are worth packing for dawn starts on the rocks. A hood is overkill here.
Is winter really better than summer for surfing?
For the point, yes. Winter brings the east and south-east swell the wave needs, with offshore wind more often than not, and the line-up is thinner than it is in January. Summer surf here is often small and blown out by mid-morning.
Will there be whales?
Through the migration months, often. The headland is the vantage point, and on a good day you can spot them from the deck without leaving the house.
Is there a fire?
A wood fireplace, with firewood and kindling supplied. In the colder months we pre-lay the first fire so you only need a match after a cold session.
How many can the house sleep?
Six: two queen bedrooms and a third with two singles. There’s a garage for boards, an outdoor shower with hot water, and a rail for wetsuits, which matters more on a winter trip than a summer one.
From $250 a night*
Check availabilityHosted by Trent and Liss, who answer in under an hour.
*Prices vary with the time of year, season and demand. Live pricing is always on our Airbnb listing.