Always check the conditions when you arrive and swim between the flags.
Seven Mile Beach
Live conditions and scores
Seven Mile Beach stretches 8.5 kilometres of open sand from Lennox Head south toward Ballina. The name is a slight exaggeration but the scale is real, and the crowds are nothing like Byron Bay 20 kilometres to the north.
Lennox Point anchors the northern end with one of Australia's best right-hand point breaks. It was designated a National Surfing Reserve in 2007, Australia's third, and the break earns it. Rock bottom, long walling rides, best on SE swell with SW offshore winds. June is the prime month and mid-tide rising is the sweet spot. The lineup is experienced and tight, so know what you are doing before you paddle out.
There is more to the beach than the surf. Boat Channel runs 1.5 kilometres of reef along the northern end, crystal clear and good for snorkelling. Lake Ainsworth sits right next to the surf club: a freshwater tea-tree lake with no motorised craft, safe and calm enough for kids. Walk up to Pat Morton Lookout for panoramic views over the full stretch of beach. Lifeguards patrol in summer but only until 5pm, and rips are real all along the beach.
What Makes It Special
- •Lennox Point is one of Australia's best right-hand point breaks and a National Surfing Reserve since 2007. Rock bottom, long walls, best on SE swell with SW offshore in June. Mid-tide rising is the sweet spot. Experienced surfers only, the lineup is tight and locals know the break well.
- •Lake Ainsworth is right next to the surf club. A freshwater tea-tree lake with no motorised craft and calm conditions year-round. When the ocean rips are pumping, this is where locals bring the kids.
- •Boat Channel and Lennox Reef runs 1.5 kilometres of reef at the northern end. Crystal-clear snorkelling in protected conditions. Head to Rutherford Street for access.
- •Pat Morton Lookout is a short walk from the beach via a stroller-friendly boardwalk from Dress Circle Road. You get panoramic views over the full length of the beach. Whales pass June to November and dolphins show up year-round.
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