Mudjimba Beach

The first thing you notice at Mudjimba is Old Woman Island sitting about a kilometre offshore. Locals call it Mudjimba Island. It does more than look good in photos. The island bends and refracts incoming swells, creating genuinely interesting waves. A left-hand reef break fires on the south side for around 200 metres. The north side produces a right-hander. Both are intermediate-to-advanced waves that demand respect and local knowledge.

Back on the beach the surf is more forgiving. The sandy beach break picks up swell from almost any direction and the banks are generally reliable. The crowd is mostly locals. Families from the surrounding streets and surfers who've worked out that Mudjimba gets good waves without the Alex Headland car park battle.

The village is tiny. Cottonwood Street has a small cluster of shops and cafes. No high-rises, no tourist strip. Just a quiet residential community where people walk their dogs along the sand at dawn.

It's the kind of place you drive through without stopping unless someone's told you about the waves. Consider this your tip.