Stab’s Guide To the Ultimate Road Trip

Right now they’re all we’ve got.

But if you live in Australia, what more could you want? The amount of surfable coast accessible by road in this fair country is beyond comprehension, and if you’ve got a 4×4 and can read a map then you can just about double it again. Now as much as we love driving hours to the middle of nowhere to go surfing, endless hours in the car and not much in between don’t an all time road trip make (unless the waves are that good), so here’s how to construct the ultimate roady, care of Stab and SurfStitch style.

J-Krups, out of the surf and planning what’s next?

Assembling Your Cast

Firstly, showing up at a surf spot that’s not your local with three sledheads (total) is questionable, but more than four is plain criminal. So keep your crew tight. Beyond that it’s about managing expectations. Anyone who doesn’t drink beer, doesn’t have a licence, only goes right, can’t be away from their significant other without there being a drama (poor devils) etc. mightn’t be the best option, but beyond that, take who you want. 

A thrifty-looking outfit like the above is the perfect one stop road trip get up: fit for crusty car parks, RSLs and cocktail bars alike.

The Backdrop

Even if you get completely skunked, breakdown in the middle of nowhere or get human matter jammed in your locks by disgruntled locals, you can save a trip with a good crew. But, after your cast, the backdrop for your roady is the critical factor. Anything beyond four hours for a weekend is too long. For a long weekend make that five, five and a half. Then you need to do your research. It’s no fun driving four hours to somewhere with multiple options that you’re largely in the dark about, then spending the rest of your time off driving down every dirt track off the highway in search of your Endless Summer moment. Check the forecast. Pick your spots. And most importantly, if it looks fun, just surf. Better to get one under the belt than set off on the endless surf check.

Three mates, blue skies, empty wedges down the beach = road trip accomplished.

To Party or not to Party?

Booking a house up the coast with your mates only to end up partying like you do at home (and the resulting glass cage of emotion) doesn’t make sense to us. There’s nothing like a bit of a vibe, maybe even some interactions with the opposite/same sex, then calling it early. And, thanks to the Australian coastal exodus, there’s more and more small venues opening in pockets of the coast where you’d be lucky to get anything other than a Mrs Macs five years ago. But, we’d reiterate starting early. Tiddly by six, bed by 10, up at seven to do it all again.

Just like leather, denim jackets never quite leave the contemporary fashion canon, and, they have the added bonus of blending in with less sertorially-concious folk.

And Most Importantly, What to Wear?

If you get out of a white Range Rover wearing a jumper that says “Academy” across the chest, a pair of khaki chinos and white leather Common Projects sneakers in a surf town car park (literally witnessed this last weekend) then you deserve to get burnt and or have your windows waxed. But that’s not to say that you can’ t look good down the coast. The key is to dress respectfully, that is, tone it down and remember where you are. Firstly, sitting in the car, running down tracks to check the surf requires comfy pants and suitable footwear (grey, white and suede are generally out), and beyond that you’ve got to be warm. If you get it right, you won’t need to change anything other than undies and a coffee-stained tee for the duration. 

An understated get-up that’ll take you anywhere.

Shop everything you could ever need for hitting the tarmac in search of waves here.