Cactus Beach, South Australia: Why is this one of Australia’s best surf beaches?
Surfers love Cactus Beach in South Australia for the breaks at Cactus, Caves and Castles. But there’s major romance in the isolated location amid sand dunes and pink lakes near the Nullarbor Plain.
Australia has several world famous surfing spots. The reputations of Bells Beach in Victoria, Bondi Beach or Byron Bay in New South Wales, Margaret River in Western Australia, or the Gold Coast and Noosa in Queensland, are international.
Some beaches don’t have such international fame, but are revered by surfers in the know. Cactus Beach in South Australia is one of these secret surf spots.
Don’t want to drive the Nullarbor? Then consider a ten day camping adventure tour from Perth to Adelaide (or in the opposite direction).
Surfing at Cactus Beach, South Australia
Surfers love Cactus Beach partly because of its exposed reef breaks. The three big breaks are Cactus itself, plus close-by Castles and Caves. Cactus is regarded as the least intimidating of the three, but it is still very much for experienced surfers only. The right hand break at Caves, on the other hand, is genuinely fierce.
Cactus Beach surf conditions tend to be at their best in the autumn, but the allure of Cactus Beach isn’t just about the breaks. The remote setting adds a considerable romance factor.
How to get to Cactus Beach, South Australia
No-one is going to just stumble by Cactus Beach. Getting to the Cactus Beach surf is something of an odyssey. The nearest town to Cactus Beach is Penong, 21km to the north along an unsealed road. Calling Penong a South Australian town is something of a stretch, too – it’s basically an agricultural settlement with a pub and a bizarre Windmill Museum.
Penong is isolated. It’s 849km from Adelaide and 1,759km from Perth. The nearest town of any decent size is Ceduna, 74km east along the Eyre Highway at the north-western corner of the Eyre Peninsula.
Lake MacDonnell pink lake near Cactus Beach
But take the turning towards Port Sinclair just after the Penong Hotel, and the sense of remote beauty rapidly intensifies. The stark coastal desert scenery kicks in, and a good chunk of the road to Point Sinclair is a causeway over a pink lake. Lake MacDonnell is a salt lake and former salt mine. The largest gypsum deposit in the southern hemisphere is found here.
Cactus Beach camping
Behind Cactus Beach itself is a very basic campsite. The rough and ready nature of camping here adds to the romance, but surfers who prefer to be a little more comfortable can opt for the caravan park in Penong.
Ceduna accommodation tips
Ceduna is a logical place for an overnight stay whether you’ve just crossed the Nullarbor or are about to. You can search for places to stay in Ceduna here.
However, the following are the best options:
- For central, waterfront location: Ceduna Foreshore Hotel Motel.
- For family-friendly spacious cabins: Big4 Holiday Park.
- For a pool: East West Motel.
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Dicky Beach caravan park in Caloundra, Queensland.