Newport Beach

Newport Point delivers an exhilarating sandbar performance at 18th Street, a reef-like setup carved from shifting sand that demands respect. When the stars align—typically on potent south swells or Mexican hurricane pulses—the lineup offers serious right-hand and left-hand barrels. The left, in particular, has earned a reputation for its Pipeline-like tubes, spitting and grinding with deceptive power. This break is notoriously fickle, an all-or-nothing affair that can vanish for days only to suddenly erupt into the most spectacular show in town. It’s a high-risk, high-reward destination for experienced surfers who thrive on unpredictability and pure, slabby perfection.

Best Surf Season (November - February)

The cool season is the real sweet spot at Newport Beach. North Pacific storms light up the W and WSW swell window while offshore N to ENE winds blow 35-43% of the time, especially in December and January. Average wave periods sit in the powerful 12-13s range, and although average heights hover around 2-3ft (0.6-0.9m), the better winter windows produce clean, fun-sized 3-5ft (0.9-1.5m) surf along the southwest-facing sandbars. When a cold front clears the coast, the post-frontal offshore flow and fresh W/WSW groundswell can make Newport properly good.