Cactus Beach

A remote surf outpost on South Australia's far west coast, Cactus Beach lies about 21 kilometres south of the tiny town of Penong, at the edge of the Great Australian Bight. Isolated, exposed and famed for its consistency, it has been a pilgrimage for hardy surfers since the 1960s.

Three renowned breaks sit close together here: two quality left-handers, known as Caves and Castles, and a right called Cactus, all peeling over reef in front of the dunes. They offer powerful, workable walls that reward experienced surfers, and their exposure to the Southern Ocean means they pick up swell when much of the country is flat. The reef and remoteness demand self-reliance and respect for the lineup's protective local culture.

The breaks work across much of the year thanks to relentless Southern Ocean groundswell, with offshore winds and cleaner conditions common through the cooler months. The water is cold, calling for a good wetsuit, and the region is known for its shark presence, part of the wild, edgy reputation that surrounds the place.

There is little here beyond the surf: a basic bush campground behind the dunes, salt lakes and the vast, treeless expanse of the Nullarbor stretching west. Supplies come from Penong or Ceduna, and visitors need to be self-sufficient. The drive across the Eyre Peninsula and Nullarbor fringe is part of the experience, and the payoff is uncrowded, powerful reef waves in one of the most starkly beautiful and isolated corners of the Australian coast.