Point Cartwright, the rock, Australia
Also within 20 km of Sunshine Coast
- Maroochydore Surf spot · 1.2 km from Sunshine Coast
- Sharks Surf spot · 1.4 km from Sunshine Coast
- Pipes Surf spot · 1.5 km from Sunshine Coast
- Murray's Left Surf spot · 2.1 km from Sunshine Coast
- Alexandra Headlands Surf spot · 2.2 km from Sunshine Coast
- Sunshine Coast Kite spot · 2.4 km from Sunshine Coast
- The Bluff Surf spot · 2.7 km from Sunshine Coast
- Dedis Surf spot · 3.8 km from Sunshine Coast
Watch this spot We email you when Point Cartwright, the rock is worth the trip.
About Point Cartwright, the rock
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces NE (60°), so it takes swell from the NE. The wind blows offshore from the SW (240°). It is sheltered to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 2–10 ft of swell. The sea floor shelves very gently: 10 m deep about 1.5 km out (1 in 154). On a typical 5 ft, 11 s swell the waves here would spill softly. The sea is about 21°C in July, its coldest month (2 mm shorty), and 27°C in January, its warmest (no wetsuit). For intermediate surfers the best months are usually May, June and July, with about 2 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Sunshine Coast, 5.2 km away (about 10 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 15 surf spots and 2 wind sports spots.
Water about 23°C: 2 mm shorty. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
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From Chicago: about 27 h 55 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to Brisbane International Airport (BNE), changing at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
See flights MDW → BNE · Skyscanner from about £795 returnAdGetting there. 1 h 40 from the airport to Point Cartwright, the rock.
Accommodation.
Stay in Sunshine CoastAd
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Sunshine Coast (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Mooloolaba 4 min by car · rooms from £90 a night · 77 places to stay
Places to stay in Mooloolaba · Booking.com AdMaroochydore 9 min by car · rooms from £90 a night · 66 places to stay
Places to stay in Maroochydore · Booking.com AdSunshine Coast 9 min by car · rooms from £90 a night · 64 places to stay · where Point Cartwright, the rock stays
Places to stay in Sunshine Coast · Booking.com AdMudjimba 14 min by car · rooms from £90 a night · 21 places to stay
Places to stay in Mudjimba · Booking.com AdMarcoola 20 min by car · rooms from £90 a night · 6 places to stay
Places to stay in Marcoola · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Sunshine Coast · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Sunshine Coast · GetYourGuideAd
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Where it is
Point Cartwright, the rock on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
Point Cartwright, the rock does not suit beginners. This is the forecast for intermediates, so you can see what it does.
The score for intermediates, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Scorefor Intermediate | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 23, poor | 5 ft6 smushy | 136kJ | wind from the east-south-east, 11 knots | 21°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 32, poor | 5 ft6 smushy | 147kJ | wind from the east, 5 knots | 20°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 43, fair | 5 ft6 smushy | 144kJ | offshorewind from the south-west, 7 knots, offshore | 22°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 42, fair | 4 ft6 smushy | 127kJ | wind from the north-east, 6 knots | 21°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 27, poor | 4 ft6 smushy | 127kJ | wind from the north-east, 8 knots | 21°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 29, poor | 4 ft6 smushy | 106kJ | wind from the north-east, 10 knots | 22°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 40, fair | 4 ft6 smushy | 99kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 8 knots | 23°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 21, poor | 3 ft6 smushy | 82kJ | wind from the north, 11 knots | 23°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 31, too small | 3 ft6 smushy | 44kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 8 knots | 25°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 17, too small | 2 ft5 smushy | 19kJ | wind from the south, 4 knots | 24°C |
| Wed 28Oct | 15, too small | 1 ft7 smushy | 15kJ | wind from the south, 9 knots | 20°C |
Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Energy is the swell's power in kJ per metre of wave, from its height and interval: it grows with the square of each, so a long-period swell hits far harder than a short one the same size. The word under the swell is the wave's shape, our estimate from the sea floor. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to; offshore wind, blowing from the land out to sea, is green and says so.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for intermediate surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Fly MDW to BNE, changing at LAX, then 1h 40 by road. About 27h 55 door to door
- Tue 20 OctSurf Kawana - Beach Access 11
Best 07:00 to 10:00 local time: 4 ft at 6 s, wind 7 kn (14 km/h).
- Wed 21 OctSurf Old Woman Ledge
Best 10:00 to 13:00 local time: 4 ft at 6 s, wind 4 kn (8 km/h).
- Thu 22 OctSurf Old Woman Ledge
Best 07:00 to 10:00 local time: 4 ft at 6 s, wind 4 kn (7 km/h).
- Fri 23 OctSurf Old Woman Ledge
Best 13:00 to 16:00 local time: 4 ft at 6 s, wind 8 kn (16 km/h).
- Sat 24 OctSurf Point Cartwright, the rock
Best 07:00 to 10:00 local time: 4 ft at 6 s, wind 8 kn (14 km/h).
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Fly MDW to BNE, changing at LAX, then 1h 40 by road. About 27h 55 door to door
The plan picks the best of 17 spots near Sunshine Coast each day: Alexandra Headlands, Dedis, Kawana - Beach Access 11, Kawana Beach Break, Murray's Left, Old Woman Ledge, Pincushion, Pipes, Platforms, Pocket, Point Cartwright, the rock, Secrets, Sharks, The Bluff, The Platform, The Spit, Twinnies.
Rough cost
About £1,530–£2,920 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return MDW to BNE, estimated from distance and season, changing at LAX, full-service airlines, with a hold bag | £795–£1,650 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Hire car | 6 days, shared | £110–£180 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | £240–£395 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £245–£455 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £105–£175 |
| Total | £1,530–£2,920 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Sunshine Coast
- Bella VeneziaItalian · 0.1 km from the centre
- Phon's ThaiThai · 0.1 km from the centre
- Arnica WaterfrontItalian · 0.2 km from the centre
- Coral Tajine Moroccan & Spanish RestaurantMoroccan · 0.2 km from the centre
- KFC MaroochydoreChicken · 0.2 km from the centre
- Michi Sushi MaroochydoreSushi · 0.2 km from the centre
Within 2 km of the town centre, listed by how complete the listing is (website, opening hours, cuisine) and whether two sources name it. Not a judgement of the food: we have no reviews. Listings © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps Foundation. Credits
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Where to stayAd
Places to stay · Booking.com (ad)Links marked Ad may pay us a small commission if you book. You pay the same price, and it never changes a score.