New ‘Inland’ ocean at Australia’s first surf park in Tullamarine

Youngsters are making waves 16km inland as they try out Australia’s first surf park, Urbnsurf, and feel the thrill of standing up on a board as if they were out on the ocean.

Surf’s up in Tullamarine and Enzo Jambon and Jake Guest were itching to hit the water at Australia’s first surf park, Urbnsurf.

The 10-year-olds were able to carve up the waves, ride barrels and feel the thrill of surfing on the open ocean at a new park in Melbourne’s West — more than 16km inland.

Enzo Jambon and Jake Guest, both 10, get ready to hit the waves. Picture Jay Town

Enzo, 10, paddles into the break. Picture: Jay Town

Enzo, 10, takes the drop. Picture: Jay Town

Enzo, 10, rides a wave. Picture: Jay Town

Tom Harrison tries out the man-made surf. Picture: Jay Town

Urbnsurf at Tullamarine. Picture: Jay Town

The $30 million, cutting-edge facility uses 46 pistons to move water in the giant pool, which is roughly the size of the MCG, to create perfect waves ideal for surfing.

Urbnsurf brand and marketing manager Rupert Partridge said the artificial lagoon guaranteed surfers at least 10 perfect waves an hour — taking the “guess work” out of the sport.

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“The difficulty with surfing is all the elements need to line up, you need the waves, swell, tide … for that perfect local break to be pumping is unlikely,” he said.

“It’s proving to be a real solution for Melbourne-based surfers.”

Urbnsurf will open in January next year, with wave sizes appropriate for all levels.

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