Clifton Beach is Hobart's most popular surf spot, a sand-bottom beach break just 30 minutes' drive from the city centre. It throws up both lefts and rights, and the setup changes as you move along the sand. The south end is the softer, more sheltered option, where a defined right shows up on moderate southeast-to-south swells and picks up some protection from west winds. Head further up the beach and it gets pushier, with sandbanks flanked by deep channels that help handle the close-outs this beach is prone to.
When It Works
The beach draws swell from southwest through southeast, with southeast swell the best match. It works from 0.3 m / 1 ft to 1.8 m / 6 ft, and stays moderately consistent through the year. When the swell drops off and the wind goes onshore, expect it to turn mushy and gutless.
Wind and Tide
Look for northeast offshore wind to clean it up. It can work through low, mid, and high tide, with a rising tide generally the better call.
Local Tips
This is a friendly, beginner-friendly beach, which is a big part of its appeal. It's also busy: there's almost always a crowd when it's on, and often even when it's not, so expect plenty of company in the lineup.
Access
Clifton Beach is patrolled and well set up, with restrooms, showers, and lifeguard cover. There's a car park with free parking right by the beach.
