Surfing
Surfing
My Hometown with Dakoda Walters: Angourie
Angourie… it might not look like much, but, have you seen the point!? Your guide to the Northern NSW surf town.
Flairing on the end section of Angourie point
© Andrew Shield
Northern NSW is one of the most wave-rich areas in the great country of Australia. Surfers from all over the world journey to the infamous Byron Bay, with its crystal blue water and never-ending stretches of white sand and waves. But, apart from a quick jaunt north to the Gold Coast, most adventurers stop there.
Little do they know, all they have to do is head about two hours south and they’ll find a little place called Angourie. It might not look like much on a map, but get up close, and you’ll never want to leave.
14-year-old Dakoda Walters was born and (is still being) raised in this tiny seaside town, and according to Mick Fanning, is the “next big thing”. The kid rips. And here, he walks us through his home – a place that is well worth the journey.
You've always got a view in Angourie
© Andrew Shield
Dakoda, how would you describe Angourie?
Haha, hmmm… I’d describe it as a little coastal village with not too many people and really fun waves. I mean it when I say it’s small – there’s not even a school here, and there’s only one little tiny shop that’s a convenience store.
The ultimate picture of a frothing grom...
© Andrew Shield
Wow! So if you grow up in Angourie, you surf because there’s nothing else to do?
Yeah, that’s pretty much what you do if you grow up here. Everyone surfs. But there is also some really good fishing to be done and there’s a nice national park nearby as well. There are cool rock jumps and that too. Lots to explore.
Putting on a show for the cliffgoers
© Andrew Shield
Can you walk us through the main surf spots?
Yup! Angourie Point is one of the better waves around – it’s a long right-hand point that just goes forever. And in Yamba, which is about a 5-minute drive up the road, there are tons of great beachies that are really fun when the swell is a bit smaller. If you take that little trip you just want to make sure you go when the wind is coming from the north.
When the point gets too windy, head to the beachie
© Andrew Shield
What sort of swell do you need for the point?
Usually a south swell or east swell, and 2+ foot. South or west-southwest winds work well.
Dakota's got it all... power, style and flair
© Andrew Shield
Is the surf pretty consistent in Angourie?
Yeah. We never have days when there’s no surf. Well, at least it doesn’t happen often. There are always waves… at least on a little beachie somewhere.
When you grow up in Angourie...
© Andrew Shield
Do a lot of travellers come in and out of Angourie?
Yeah, it’s started to get a bit more crowded, but it’s not bad or anything. You get heaps of people on holidays renting homes for a few weeks or a month. But there are only so many houses, so…
Frothing and foamy, Dakota Walters
© Andrew Shield
Haha! What if there’s no space to stay in Angourie? Do you go to Yamba?
Yeah, and that’s super nice. Yamba is a little town with shops and good restaurants and stuff. If you want to go out to eat or see a movie or something, you’ve gotta go into Yamba. And there’s always surf.
In for another...
© Andrew Shield
And, is it tough to get places when you’re staying in this part of the world? Travel?
Nah, it’s not too bad. I usually fly out of the Gold Coast when I’m going on a trip, but there is also an airport in Grafton, which is about 45 minutes away. And Brisbane is only an hour north of the Gold Coast.
Blue water, brown rock and an empty lineup
© Andrew Shield
How do you think growing up in Angourie has influenced your surfing?
I don’t know! I mean, my dad grew up here and he always took me surfing. There are heaps of cool people in the surf and everyone is really keen and stoked to help you out. That was awesome when I was younger, and still is. Even when I was first learning I would just run down… I only live about 500 metres from the beach, and I would know everyone in the lineup and they’ll be frothing. It was great.
Mick has started coming to Angourie a lot lately too, right? He posted an Instagram of you!
Yeah, that was sick! It was heaps cool. Mick and his mates have been coming down and surfing the point a lot lately and it’s great. Whenever he’s out I’m just watching as hard as I can, taking notes, haha. He’s such a nice guy.
The next big thing out of Northern NSW
© Andrew Shield
I can see why he comes down. The point can get so good, even when the Gold Coast is flat! Can you describe a perfect day out at the point?
Oo. Probably 3-5 feet, west-southwest winds and a good long-period east swell. You’ll get days like that a lot now… from now on in the year, basically. From the start of winter, all winter, we get pretty much all day offshores. But even if the wind does get up we’ve got heaps of protected beaches that are suitable in bad winds when the point isn’t working.
