Gold Coast Surf Camp: Learn to Surf on Australia's East Coast

The core of what's sold here is the beginner lesson: two hours on the beach and in the water at a Gold Coast break, with a free photo package included. Groups are kept small enough that instructors can give individual attention — reviews from Diane L., Elias O., Jakob R., Rudi V., Annie and Jessie T. all mention either the patience of the instructor or the fact that the whole class was standing by the end. Mick is the instructor named most often.

The Gold Coast Surf Camp is the full-time option, and it's the only full-time surf camp on the Gold Coast according to the operator. You choose your length of stay from 2 nights up to 2 months, so it works as a long weekend or a full season. The camp is listed from A$249.

For people who want to build surfing into their life rather than do a one-off lesson, there are surfing memberships from A85. The pitch is consistency — the same waves, the same coaching, regularly enough that your surfing actually improves. There are also five-week beginner and intermediate surf courses running for both kids and adults.

Beyond the Gold Coast, the operator runs surf camps around the East Coast of Australia and surf-and-yoga retreats. Private surf guiding tours cover the Gold Coast, Tweed Coast and Byron Bay — you get taken to breaks suited to your level rather than figuring it out yourself. The Gold Coast Island Surf Camp is currently closed until further notice; enquiries for surf guiding deals are being taken in its place.

School holiday kids programmes run every Monday to Thursday during Queensland and New South Wales school holiday periods. The company describes its locations as some of the best in the country for surfing, and the trips are built around getting away from the built-up stretches of coast.

What's included

- Surf lessons with qualified instructors - Free photo package with the beginner's class - Accommodation for the duration of the surf camp (2 nights to 2 months) - Surfboard and equipment for coached sessions - Coaching suited to your level, from first-timer upwards

What's not included

- Travel to and from the Gold Coast - Travel insurance - Meals, unless specified in your camp package - Personal expenses - Optional private surf guiding tours