Surfing, hobbies and popular pastimes in Australia

Cowries in Illawarra. Photo: Unknown

Australia has a stunning coastline stretching for thousands of kilometres, the country offers some of the best waves on the planet. While many travellers flock to iconic beaches like Bondi Beach in Sydney or numerous destinations along the Gold Coast, surfers have a huge number of high-quality surf spots to choose from.

Surfing in Australia – An Overview

There is such a variety in surf spots that there is a wave to suit everyone. To get a feel for the waves on offer in Oz, take a look at our Australia surf spot map.

It is thought that the first surfboards were reportedly introduced to the country around 1915 so the hobby has a century of history. Since then, surfing has grown into a cultural phenomenon, it’s a way of life for Australians.

Surfing competitions are major events in Oz too so it is fair to call it a spectator sport with events showcasing the incredible talent that Australia has to offer. Top surfing competitions that take place in Australia include:

Margaret River Pro in Western Australia Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach, Victoria Surfest at Newcastle, New South Wales

While other places like Hawaii and California also claim strong surfing traditions, Australia’s sheer volume of prime surfing spots gives it a solid case for being the world’s surfing capital. It comes in seventh on a list of the longest coastlines in the world.

All Australian states have surfable waves, check them using the links below. You can also contribute to the surf map, adding your favourite spots to the map.

Other Sports in Australia

Sports play a huge role in Australian life and many of these sports have been and still are influenced by ties to the UK. Cricket is the summer sport of choice, with matches often turning into all-day social events and hundreds of thousands of people flocking to big games – especially if they’re against the old enemies. The sound of leather on willow is synonymous with Australian summers and the country boasts one of the best cricket national teams.

Aussie Rules football, is another major passion, particularly in Victoria. Millions of people tune into the AFL and its Grand Final is one of the biggest sporting events of the year in the country. Aussie Rules isn’t the only top option here are a lot of other sports that are popular – rugby and football (or soccer as it’s known in the country) are also widely played and followed.

The participation numbers for Australians are staggering, as data from Ausplay shows:

Around 90% of adults participate in sport at least once a year
About 13.5 million adults and 3.6 million children take part in sport each year
Over 3 million Australians volunteer in sport and active recreation each year

Australia’s Biggest Hobbies

Table and card games are also among the most popular hobbies with around one in five people saying that they play these kinds of games in Australia. Gambling is also a very popular pastime. Pokies can be found in premises across the country.

Growing technology has provided people with more options for the way in which they would like to play and some casino brands provide players with an option to play live online and connect with a dealer. Blackjack is one of the biggest games played in Australia having made its way from Europe hundreds of years ago. Live blackjack in Australia has grown in popularity as more of the players have gone in search of high-tech ways to play from the comfort of their own homes.

The connectivity rate in Australia has improved significantly and now online gaming is very accessible for the population. 5G speeds in Australia are way ahead of the global averages so people can rest assured their smartphones will have coverage if they want to log in and play games. PC and console gaming is enjoyed by around by large numbers of the population, and 30% count online gaming as their most popular pastime.

Whether a surfer, sports fan or simple traveller, Australia is an incredible country to visit. Book yourself a ticket today!