general information

Guillotines is an A-frame reef break - the left is a long slow peeling wave, while the right is shorter and can be quite fat. Guillotines may not be in the same class as other breaks in the area, but it does offer some solitude from the crowds found elsewhere.

Guillotines is popular over the summer months as it picks up all available swell in the area. If Yallingup is one to two foot (knee to waist high), Guillotines will be four to five foot (over head high). It picks up a similar amount of swell to places such as Lefties, Honeycombs and Bears.

To get to Guillotines, from Caves Road, head down Juniper Road as far as you can go (10-15 minutes), the road deteriorates the further you get, going from bitumen, to gravel, to sand, and finally rocks. Guillotines is the southern car park, Gallows car park is to the north. You certainly don’t need a 4x4 to get to Guillotines, although you wouldn’t drive your BMW down here.

To get into the line-up, simply walk across the reef, jump of the ledge, and paddle out through the channel next to the right-hander. To come in, let yourself get washed up onto the reef and walk back.   

Guillotines isn’t an overly challenging wave, but can be lot of fun. Intermediate and advanced surfers can happily ride both short and long-boards out here. To surf Guillotines stay close to the white water, and don’t race it. Big slow carves and cutbacks are the main manoeuvres you’ll be using.

Guillotines is usually surfed anywhere between two and six foot (waist high to double overhead). Often the smaller inside waves have better shape, while the waves breaking out the back are bigger and longer.

Guillotines isn’t the menacing wave its name would suggest, but rather a fun, mellow peak, perfect for those lazy summer day surf sessions.