Bogangar-Cabarita Surfing Reserve is the most northern reserve in NSW, located just 20 km south of the Queensland border. The reserve, dedicated in March 2013 and extends for about 2 km along the coast from Cabarita Beach, around Norries Head to Back Beach South Side.
The area was originally occupied by the Coodjingburra clan of the Bundalung people. While European settlement in the region commenced in the 1860’s, Cabarita remained a backwater until the 1950-60’s when sand mining occurred along the beaches to the north and south. Following rehabilitation of the dunes the area began to develop slowly, with the Cabarita Surf Life Saving Club founded in 1961 and the large Salt and Casuarina development occurring during the 2000’s. Cabarita itself remains a relatively small community, sheltered behind a foredune and the slopes behind Norries Head. Besides the surf club Cabarita is also home to Cabarita Beach Boardriders (founded 1985) and Cabarita Longboarders (founded 1995). However the completion of the freeway to the Gold Coast means it frequently crowded with both locals and the Gold Coast surfers.
The clifftop car park and reserve offers a great view of the breaks and is where the Bogangar- Cabarita Surfing Reserve dedication plaque is located. The reserve contains a number of good breaks starting in the north at Soft Rock (Main), which is located between the surf club and the misnamed ‘soft’ rocks of the point. It offers a good right-hander. Next is Backwash (The Inle), located in amongst the rocks, which as the name implies is where the wave reflect off the rocks crashing into the oncoming waves to form steep A-fames, favoured by body boarders. Just around the rocks is Grommets Point, a short, fun wave, which on bigger days can link with the Cove and run through to Main Beach. The Cove offers a long right-hander that runs off the point and across the sand bar that usually lies 100 m off the beach and is the most popular of the breaks. Norries Head is best in a bigger swell with right-hand barrels breaking just off the rocks. Its for experienced surfers and now frequented by tow-in surfers. On the south side of the head is Back Beach (South Side) with is white sand and clear waters. An open exposed beach picks up all south swell and has strong rips, with A-frames breaking over the bars. Best in the north corner when NE winds are blowing.