Surf safely

Lost Shore Surf Resort offers a controlled environment which people can enjoy safely. However, activities such as surfing and bodyboarding are not risk free sports, so it is important to have a full understanding of the risks involved and ways to manage and mitigate them. 

If you are visiting us and taking part in an activity in the Cove, it is important to have a full understanding and acknowledgement of the risks involved and the ways we can both mitigate and manage them. 

All participants must be at least 6 years old, be water confident in the bay and able to swim at least 25m on the reef. If you are not a proficient swimmer and you want to take part in a lesson in the bay, we will ask you to wear a buoyancy aid for your safety and comfort. The first step is avoid putting yourself in a situation you can’t handle. 

It is important to be aware that surfing at Lost Shore is not the same as surfing in the ocean. We recommend that if you intend to surf in the ocean, you book a lesson in an ocean based surf school so they can teach you all you need to know about the environment.

 

Surf levels

All of our lessons and sessions have a surfing ability linked to them. This means that your ability must be, as a minimum, the one indicated in the lesson or session in order for you to take part. We have also assigned a colour coding system to make them easy to understand and remember.

Find your ability

Cold Water

Winter Lessons: Keeping Our Young Surfers Safe & Stoked!

At Lost Shore Surf Resort, we’re all about making sure everyone has the best time in the waves while staying safe and comfortable. As the temperatures drop, we’ve made some seasonal updates for our younger surfers.

•    Lessons for under-12s take a winter break from 1st December until 28th February. The colder weather and water temperatures aren’t ideal for our youngest surfers, so lessons will pause during these months. But don’t worry - spring will be here before you know it!

•    Super chilly days? We’ll find a better time! Outside of our winter break, if the temperature drops below 7°C we recommend rescheduling for anyone aged under 12. Our team will keep an eye on the forecast and give you a heads-up if it looks too cold.

•    Safety first - sometimes last minute changes happen. If the water temperature gets too chilly, we may need to cancel all lessons at short notice. We’ll always do our best to let you know as early as possible!

 

Winter Adult Lessons: Keeping You Surfing (When It’s Not Freezing!)

At Lost Shore Surf Resort, we love seeing surfers in the water all year round—but sometimes, winter throws us a curveball. When temperatures drop too low, we must put safety first. Here’s what you need to know:

•    Surfing in winter? Absolutely! We’re open and ready for cold-water warriors who want to keep riding waves through the winter months. Just make sure you’re prepared for the chill!

•    Too cold to go? Yep, it happens! If the pool temperature drops below 3°C, it’s officially too cold to surf. At that point, we will need to cancel lessons for safety reasons.

•    We’ll keep you posted. Our team will monitor conditions closely and let you know as early as possible if we need to make changes to your lesson.  

We appreciate your understanding—it’s all about keeping things fun and safe. If you have any questions or need to reschedule, just give us a shout!

Before you visit us

It is important to watch the health and safety video of the Cove that we send after your purchase and to read and sign our waiver. 

If you are not sure if you are able to book a session, our recommendation is to stay on the safe side and book an easier surf experience. 

 

Before you go into the water

It is also important to attend the onshore part of your lesson or the 15 minute health and safety briefing before your session starts. Please make sure you arrive at the resort in enough time to attend these briefings as it will not be possible for us to allow you to enter the Cove if you haven’t.

If you end up in a session or lesson that is not suitable for your surf ability, we will ask you to leave the water and we will give you a voucher so you can book a more appropriate session or lesson. 

 

Surf etiquette

Surf etiquette is a set of informal rules created to improve the surfing experience, reduce collisions and avoid unnecessary injuries in crowded line ups. In our Improver Lesson, our first experience on the reef, learning and understanding surf etiquette is one of the subject areas that will be covered. 

  • Make sure that your surf path is clear, if someone is in the way, wait for the next wave 
  • It's one surfer per wave, do not drop in on other surfers, there are plenty to go round 
  • Do not paddle across unbroken waves, there’s no need to take short cuts 
  • Do not throw your board or let it loose when other surfers are in the vicinity 
  • Communicate with other surfers and maintain a positive and supporting attitude 
  • Do not snake in or try to jump the queue, there are enough waves for everyone 
  • If you miss two waves in a row, move out of the take-off area and join the end of the queue

 

Other things to consider
  • You won’t be the only surfer in the water, be aware of where others are and do not prioritise your waves over their safety 
  • The Cove is built with concrete, we strongly recommend that your wear one of the helmets provided
  • There are also currents in the Cove and they can mainly be found in the channel areas either side of the central spine
  • In the bay, when your wave finishes, dismount carefully - if you wipe out, try to fall backwards in a star position and protect your head
  • On the reef, when your wave finishes, fall into the white water and away from your board - if you wipe out, recover your surfboard and re-join the session using the channel. 
  • If you are out of position, leave the Cove and walk along the shoreline and re-join - if this is not possible, then let our lifeguards know. 
  • Don’t get too close to the wave generator protective mesh and always keep a safe distance from surfers and the Cove elements. 
  • Surfing is a physical sport, so make sure you warm up before the activity, give yourself time to recover if you are out of breath, leave the water if you feel tired or unwell.

 

In an emergency

If you or another surfer needs help, then raise your hand and a Lifeguard will come and assist you, always follow our highly trained and qualified lifeguards’ instructions.

Prior to your visit it is important to watch the health and safety video of the Cove that we send after your purchase and to read and sign our waiver. 

Before you go into the water it is also important to attend the onshore part of your lesson or the 15 minute health and safety briefing before your session starts.

Please make sure you arrive at the resort in enough time to attend the briefing as it will not be possible for us to allow you to enter the Cove if you haven’t.