As an island nation, Australia is a country that holds the ocean close to its heart. Some of us make our living from it as we head out into the big blue in our fishing boats each morning. Others use it recreationally, for casual swimming or lounging around on the fabulous wealth of golden beaches that we have at our disposal.

At Noosa, it's entirely possible to ride your board for the best part of 200 metres along the same wave.

A certain few, though, take to their surfboards, looking for the ultimate thrillride on Australia's sprawling 25,760 kilometres of coastline. With such a raft to choose from, though, where are the best beaches for surfer dudes and dudettes to find the sickest waves? Jump into your East Coast Car Rentals hired vehicle and find out! Surf's up! Gnarly.

Noosa Beach, Queensland

Okay, so the waves at Noosa are never going to break any records when it comes to height, but they are near the top of the league when it comes to length and pure, unadulterated, scenery. Australian Geographic states that, when conditions are fine (which they often are) it's entirely possible to ride your board for the best part of 200 metres along the same wave. Imagine it: catching a gentle swell as the sun sets behind you, the mountains in the foreground and no one else around – that's Noosa Beach.

Additionally, if you're bringing the little ones with you, Noosa Beach can be a great place for beginners. That's because the waves are the perfect size to learn how to surf – not so small that they don't offer excitement, but not so large as to appear terrifying!

Torquay: Bells Beach, Victoria

Brought to a whole new audience as the setting for the final scene in the 1991 cult classic Point Break, Bells Beach is a long-standing stalwart of the Australian surfing scene. What's more, it's the home of Australia's longest-lived professional surfing event, according to Visit Victoria. The Rip Curl Pro has been held here on the Easter weekend every year since 1973, so you just know that you'll find some monster waves as you head through the buzzing town of Torquay on your way to the beach.

Surfing Bells is not for the faint-hearted – just take a look at those imposing walls of water breaking in the distance. Australian Geographic states that they can reach heights of up to five metres, so don't attempt to take them on unless you're an experienced rider. Those waves become almost vertical as they approach the shallows, and just below the surface lies jagged reef. While we're at it – here are three more beaches to check out in Victoria.

Where will you go?