Barrack Point

Barrack Point is an exposed reef break with waves that break fast and hollow over shallow water. The reef produces powerful waves that can exceed 12 feet in size, though the water over the break is extremely shallow—ankle-deep even at high tide—which creates a dumping, sucky character that demands quick positioning and a fast exit. Winter, particularly around June, offers the most consistent conditions, while the break flattens significantly during summer months. Offshore winds blow from the southwest. The tidal stage matters considerably here: the extreme shallowness at high tide makes paddle-out and positioning more challenging, while lower water levels worsen the shallow-water hazards.

The Warilla/Barrack Point area has hosted organized surfing since the late 1950s, when local surfers established a formal surf club in 1959 to serve the growing popularity of Warilla Beach. Photographs document active surfing sessions here in the mid-1960s, and the club operated a rescue and recovery team through the 1980s. The club relocated to its current northern beachfront location in 1978–1979 after substantial beach erosion forced abandonment of the original southern site, with facility upgrades completed in the early 1980s and mid-1990s.

Access to Barrack Point runs via the Illawarra coast near Shellharbour. The nearby Surfrider Caravan Park (now operating under different management) and holiday accommodation options serve as reference points for finding the break.