Lennox Head is one of the original legendary north coast point breaks ‘discovered’ in the late 1950’s that went on to attract surfers to surf and many to stay. Located on the NSW north coast just south of Cape Byron and north of the large Ballina, it had grown considerably since the 1960’s in no small part owing to the surf.
The Nyangbal Bundjalung people lived along the coast prior to European settlement and a sacred bora ring in now preserved in the Lennox Head Aboriginal Area. While neighbouring Ballina was established in the 1840’s and grew as a major coastal town, Lennox developed slowly from a few shacks to a small township in the 1950’s to the continually expanding town it is today, with the Lennox Head Surf Life Saving Club founded in 1950. Barry Regan, a Ballina local, lays claim to being the first to surf Lennox Point, in 1958, and on a 15-foot timber board.
The Lennox National Surfing Reserve was dedicated on 16 February 2008. The reserve commences at the surf club and extends south along the coast for 8 km to Flat Rock and consist of;
- Lennox Main (beach) with the numerous beach breaks across a wide surf zone between the club and rocks. The inner surf zone is composed of dark cofferock, indicating the beach has retreated leaving the rock behind on the seabed.
- Lennox Point is the ‘jewel in the crown’ of the NSR, renown for long fast rights breaking along the basalt boulders that line the entire point and its ability to hold to 5-6 m.
- Boulder Beach with its tricky entry points. Once out it can hold a reasonably big swell. A place for experienced surfers only.
- Flat Rock located two kilometers down the coast it offers usually gentle waves breaking on to a sandy beach and perfect for beginners, hence a popular spot for surf schools. On the southern side of the rocks is Southside a nasty left-hander that breaks occasionally along the rock platform, again for the experienced.
- Sharpes Beach begins immediately south of the rocks and can produce good beach breaks.
