With pristine water, soft white sand and horizons that stretch on forever, it is no surprise that the beach is Australia’s favourite playground. Whether you are a board rider or a body surfer, there are gorgeous places to catch a wave right across the country. Here is our pick of the nation’s best.

NSW Northern Beaches

Stretching from Manly to Palm Beach, Sydney’s northern peninsula offers a 20 km-long succession of surf that is unmatched by any other city on earth. It was at family-friendly Freshwater Beach in 1915 that surfing was first introduced to Australia by legend surfer Duke Kahanamoku, and today the break is still loved by bodysurfers and body boarders alike.

The 6km stretch between Dee Why and North Narrabeen hosts some of Australia’s finest waves, and boasts the legendary Long Reef bombora . While surfing tribes up and down the coast make claim to the beaches at Mona Vale, Newport, Whale and Avalon Beaches, the exclusive Palm Beach at the end of the long stretch of northern beaches has a 1.5km procession of beach breaks that’ll satisfy every board rider.

Noosa

With its stunning beaches and lush hinterland, Queensland’s ritzy Noosa is on the top of most tourist’s "must-see" list. But it’s the world famous longboard break that puts the point at Noosa in a class of its own. This stunning beach is capable of delivering a genuine 200-metre ride on its best days, guaranteeing its position on the top of any Top Five list. On quieter days the long, rolling surf is perfect for younger riders.

Gold Coast

Located at the popular Rainbow Beach on the Gold Coast, Snapper Rocks is home to a point break that is considered by those in the know as one of best waves in the world. A sand bottomed point known as "Super Break" creates long, consistent waves up to 2.5 metres high which can propel you all the way from Snapper to Kirrra – almost 2 kilometres. It’s no wonder that Snapper Rocks hosts some of the world’s elite surfing events such as the Rip Curl Masters and the MP Classic.

Bells Beach

Bells Beach at Torquay in South West Victoria is the spiritual home of surfing in Australia and home to the country’s most prestigious surfing event – the Rip Curl Pro. With massive swells that roll off the Southern Ocean, before slowing down and steepening over the reef-strewn shallows, Bells Beach is famous for its waves of up to six metres, inspiring awe in even the most seasoned surfer.

Margaret River

Not only home to an award-winning wine-region, Margaret River, situated 260km south of Perth, is the premier surfing territory in WA. The tiny village of Yallingup is home to a number of breaks that range from mild to monstrous, depending on the swell, while conditions at Prevelly Park, further south along the coast, is for the more serious board-rider, with treacherous swells of up to six metres coming off the off-shore reef.