Group Surf Lessons in Australia: the 11 Best

1.2-Hour Small Group Surf Lesson

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 657 reviews · 2 hours · from $60Our pick

Meet Lets Go Surfing on Fletcher Street for a beginner lesson built around beach safety, paddling, catching waves, and standing. You spend two hours on the beach and in the water, with no more than six surfers per instructor. Guides such as Tim, Luke, Guido, and Ava are praised for patient coaching and good humor.

“Luke gave us a brilliant surfing lesson and I felt really safe in the water considering I was so nervous to begin with. It was such a fun activity, the feeling when you catch a wave is unreal!! Thanks for a great lesson we loved it”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Merrick’s Noosa Learn to Surf: 2 Hour group surfing lesson

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 222 reviews · from $60Top rated

Meet coaches such as Robby, Dylan, Oaki, Josh, Louis, or Anthony at Claude Batten Drive, collect your board and rash vest, then walk to the beach for a two-hour lesson. Merrick’s 1-2-3 method is built for first-timers, with winter wetsuits supplied and morning or afternoon sessions available.

“I booked a lesson for my 2 nieces, 2 daughters and I to do together during our stay in Noosa. None of us have ever surfed before and within 2-3 attempts we were all surfing and hooked! They all want surfboards for Christmas now!”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Group Surfing Lessons Kool Katz 1 day

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 207 reviews · from $35Best value

Spend about four hours learning to surf with Kool Katz Surf School in Byron Bay. Terry, Tez, Shane, and Jeremy teach beginners in small working groups, shifting to a calmer beach when needed. Boards, wetsuits, rash vests, sunscreen, water, and transport to the day’s best beginner break are included. Bring a towel.

“So much fun!! As a total beginner, Tez was able to get me to stand up multiple times on my own in just a few hours! Would recommend this to anyone who wants an authentic aussie surfing experience!”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Group Surf Lesson

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 146 reviews · 2h 30m · from $46

Meet the Australian Surfing Adventures van outside Tallebudgera Surf Club for a 150-minute beginner lesson. You’ll get equipment, sunscreen, coaching in English, Spanish, or French, and free surfing photos. The beach changes with conditions, and instructors including Luke, Gabriel, Alex, Ted, and Jack have earned praise for patient, practical teaching.

“Awesome experience. A must for anyone wanting to surf for the first time.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Small-Group Surfing Lessons in Byron Bay

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 131 reviews · from $63

Meet at 5/11 Fletcher St, Byron Bay, 20 minutes early for changing, sunscreen, a safety waiver, warm-up, beach practice, and water coaching. Lets Go Surfing provides the board, wetsuit, rash vest, and instructor. Sessions last about two hours, with up to six students per instructor and a maximum of 10 people.

“Thanks Ava for the very great Surflesson. It was so so so much fun! We definitely will keep surfing.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Margaret River Group Surfing Lesson

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 113 reviews · from $43

Meet the Margaret River Surf School at Redgate Road for a two-hour group lesson from 10:30 am. Your coach covers waves, rips, safety, etiquette, paddling, and standing up before helping you choose waves in the water. Boards, wetsuits, rash guards, sunscreen, and coaching are included.

“Loved the experience, teachers were great and very engaging. Would highly recommend the lesson. It was different but great fun and well worth the money”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Group Surf Lesson with Instructor

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 50 reviews · 2h 30m · from $60

Spend 150 minutes learning surf basics on a Byron Bay beach with an English-speaking, accredited coach. You will cover water awareness, paddling, wave selection, and standing technique in a group of no more than eight. Coaches such as Jamie, Jayme, and Ann-Marie are praised for patient, personal feedback, making this a strong first lesson for non-swimmers are not eligible.

“Amazing!! 🤩 Our surf lesson with Jayme was amazing! It is a must do in Byron Bay. Jayme made such an effort to get to know each person individually and gave us personal feedback to help us improve our surfing. He took time with each person giving advice and making us feel safe in the water. A great day and great value for money! Would definitely book again with Byron Bay surf club 😊”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Dee Why Beach Group Surfing Lesson

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 21 reviews · 1h 30m · from $53

Meet Dan, Conrad, or another Dee Why Salty Surf School coach outside Dee Why Surf Life Saving Club. In 90 minutes, you’ll learn paddling, positioning, pop-ups, wave timing, turning, and ocean safety. Boards and wetsuits are included, and the small group format gives beginners plenty of hands-on help.

“This was genuinely such a blast, my instructors Anguss and Gor made it so unbelievably fun. They were swift in explanation and had me up on my second try! 10/10 would recommend, best bang for your buck, skip out on Bondi and go to Dee Why.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Margaret River Surfing Academy – Group surfing lesson

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 6 reviews · from $40

Meet Simon, Asha, or another Margaret River Surfing Academy coach at Margaret River Mouth for a two-hour group lesson. You’ll use the supplied board and wetsuit, learn ocean safety and wave choice, then practice catching waves with a coach beside you. Morning sessions are usually available.

“Margaret River surfing academy never showed up for the booked session. Did not answer their phones or respond to sms's.”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Port Stephen: One Mile Beach Group Surf Lesson

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 1h 30m · from $60

Spend 90 minutes learning to surf at One Mile Beach with Port Stephens Surf School. Troy and the coaching team teach safety, dry-land technique, white-water wave selection, and standing up, with boards, wetsuits, and rashies supplied. The lesson suits beginners, children aged five and up, and adults.

“Brilliant, so much fun and great having such a small group so everyone gets attention. Perfect conditions for beginners and amazing instructor who encouraged and was genuinely happy for everyone's progress. Shoutout to the lovely girl in the office as well who helped us out with a reschedule when she didn't have to. Really welcoming and fun all round.”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Coolangatta: Adult Group Surf Lesson Kirra, Gold Coast (+13)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 1h 30m · from $63

Spend 90 minutes learning to surf at Kirra Beach with an English-speaking instructor and a group limited to six people. The sheltered bay offers gentle conditions for first-timers, while experienced surfers can work on technique. Your board, wetsuit, and rash shirt are included. Bring swimwear, a towel, and sunscreen.

Check availability →Read our full review