Drift off into dreamworld for a brief minute and picture a vast island surrounded by myriad endless surf breaks….. where the natives are friendly, the water is clean, the roads good, and you don’t require a passport to travel around.

Yup you guessed it – Australia.

In Australia we’ve been fortunate enough to beat the so called Corona curve, and as a result of the strict international border control, early lockdown and subsequent job losses, there’s been more people in the water surfing locally than ever before.

Sunday evening May 24, 2020 roadtripping somewhere on the East Coast of Australia. Photo@cruzhorvathphoto

 

Yes there’s been serious crowding issues on the smaller to mid sized days, but late in May an intense Low pressure system dropped off the South Coast of NSW and parked itself in the Tasman Sea for days. The result as you can see was back-to-back days of solid, double and sometimes triple overhead waves from May 22 through 25.

Somewhere north of Sydney on Friday May 22. Photo @JohnBrumfield

 

The sheer amount of water moving around during this particular south swell event ensured there were minimal issues with social distancing during this run.

The solid 6 to 12ft plus south swell (pending where you ventured out) supplied the goods everywhere from Pambula on the South Coast of NSW to the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. Heck, even the GOAT – Kelly Slater snapper a board at heckers Little Avalon on the northern beaches of Sydney on Friday.

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Sydney copped the full brunt of the swell. Huge waves were ridden at several offshore bombies and pointbreaks in the big smoke, whilst up and down the coast also lit up. The swell made it all the way up to the Gold and Sunshine Coasts of QLD where it was super clean and inviting.

 

The Sunshine Coast just a little bit on. Photo @JackDekort.

 

Mick Fanning, Wade Carmicheal, Soli Bailey, Chris Zaffis, Mitch James, Liam O’Brian, Tom Whitaker,and a whole bunch of others shredders scored perfect beaches on Friday and Saturday on the Gold Coast. Ensure you watch this clip covering all angles from the lineup, the air and the beach.

 

 

Sydney and surrounds peaked on Sunday May 24 a stormy 12ft plus. Friday and Saturday though were the better days, as all day offshore WSW winds combined with solid, more groomed 6-10ft plus sets, bigger at offshore bombies. Tom Carroll, brother Nick and fearless Matty Grainger were part of a select crew that charged triple overhead German Bank off Long Reef on Friday and Saturday.

Here’s a quick collection of photographic highlights of the May 22-25 south swell for your enjoyment and start planning a roadtrip staycation somewhere within Australia today!

 

Elouerawatu (Cronulla) days before the bank changing Sth swell. Photo Greg MCarthy @surfimagescronulla
Dylan Longbottom going straight up at Cronulla Point Fri May 22. Photo @surfimagescronulla
Kip Caddy slotted at Cronulla Point on Friday May 22. Photo @surfimagescronulla
The swell was smaller, but super clean and hollow on the Gold Coast. Photo@ShayneNienaberphotography
Wylie Fowler shacktime at Cronulla Point on Sunday May 24.
Close up of Matty Grainger charging at NN Bombie on Friday. Photo Ian Bird.
Some kids got no time for playtime. Some kids got no time for games. Sunday. Photo @cruzhorvathphoto

 

Written by:
Ben Horvath

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