Overview
Dairy Beach is a sand-bottomed beach break that peels both left and right, and it doubles as the designated surfing area here, so you can paddle out at any time of day. Expect nice peaks along the bank, with some quality lefts turning on when there's an east swell running.
When It Works
The bank favours swell from the east (E), but it will pick up anything from southwest through north to northeast (SW-N-NE), so there's plenty of angle to work with. It's very consistent, meaning there's rarely a flat spell to sit through, and it works from 0.6 m / 2 ft to 3 m / 10 ft. On the bigger days the New Pier rights can link through into the Dairy Bowl, but keep an eye on the sweep, as it can drag you toward the barnacle-encrusted pier.
Wind and Tide
Look for a southwest (SW) offshore wind. The beach breaks through low, mid, and high tide, with a rising tide generally the better call, and the higher tides also throw a bit of shelter from a northeast wind.
Local Tips
This is an approachable, beginner-friendly beach break, but the lineup is always busy and shared with every kind of surfcraft, so settle on a peak and expect plenty of company in the water.
Access
There's a full spread of facilities close at hand, including restrooms, showers, a lifeguard, a surf school, and a surf shop. Parking is easy whether you use the car park with free parking, pay to park, or grab a roadside spot. Water quality can be a bit dubious when stormwater flushes big-city runoff into the sea.
