- Wind: S to SE (cross-onshore, best with some east)
- Season: Summer and early Autumn
- Water: Open ocean beachbreak with punchy waves
- Skill: Intermediate to advanced — not beginner-friendly
- Ideal Tide: Mid tide — watch for strong currents at swing
- Launch Space: Hard-packed sand at main beach access
- Hazards: Rips, cross-currents, strong surf, gusty southerlies
South Australia – Back Beach (Streaky Bay)
Welcome to Back Beach — Streaky Bay’s open-ocean escape where the sand dunes roll high, the water runs deep, and the wind comes in unfiltered straight off the Southern Ocean. It’s raw, beautiful, and not for the faint-hearted.
This is a beachbreak setup, facing roughly southwest — meaning it thrives on S to SE winds, especially when there’s a bit of east in it to smooth things out. Expect side-on to cross-on conditions on a SE, with wind clean enough for solid sessions. On a straight southerly, it’s still very kiteable but can get gusty as it drags across the hills behind the town.
The waves here are no joke — you’ll get punchy sections and scattered peaks with plenty of space to ride. Twin tippers can hunt for kickers, while surf kiters will find some real carving potential. But beginners? Probably give this one a miss unless it’s a rare mellow day — there’s no shelter and not much room for error.
Launch from the main beach access where the dunes give way to hard-packed sand. Watch for rips and cross-currents, especially on big tide swings.