Make your family holiday extra special with a private Family Surf Lesson in Newquay. Perfect for families with children aged 3 and up, these lessons combine safety, fun, and expert instruction to create memories that last a lifetime. Get off screens, enjoy the waves together, and experience surfing as a full-family adventure.
The session begins at the surf school, where the family will be fitted with comfortable Rip Curl wetsuits and assigned high-quality Swell foam surfboards suitable for all ages. Instructors provide a safety briefing and explain key surfing terminology and ocean conditions.
After a lively warm-up on Towan Beach, each family member receives personalised tuition tailored to their level. Beginners will start with prone riding, before progressing to popping up and riding white water breakers. Experienced family members can practise techniques under instructor guidance, making the lesson enjoyable for everyone.
Throughout the lesson, the team focuses on both skill development and fun. Parents and children alike will enjoy hands-on coaching, gentle encouragement, and feedback designed to improve confidence in the water while keeping the session engaging and safe.
Lessons take place on Newquay’s beaches, including Towan Beach, which offers calm, beginner-friendly waves ideal for families. The area is easily accessible from the surf school and provides a safe, sandy environment for learning.
The centre is conveniently located in town and features heated changing rooms, showers, secure lockers, and friendly staff to assist with any needs. Its proximity to cafés and local amenities makes it easy to spend the day around the beach before or after your lesson.
No previous surfing experience is needed. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian if under 18.
Participants should be comfortable in the water and able to swim. The lesson is designed to provide support for all ages, ensuring every family member can enjoy learning to surf safely.
The surf school is a certified Surfing England Centre of Excellence and has been running since 1996, with over 200,000 guests taught. Lessons are designed by British Team Coach Rob and multiple British Champion Johnny, ensuring expert instruction.
With highly-trained instructors, modern facilities, and a focus on family-friendly tuition, every lesson is safe, fun, and memorable. Families leave with practical surfing skills, confidence in the water, and lasting memories of their day together.
Every surfing lesson is two hours long. After arriving at the centre, you’ll be provided with a wetsuit and surfboard. The two hours will begin when you’ve finished changing and are ready to hit the beach!
With this package, you will then be able to keep the gear for the rest of the day to keep practicing!
All our Instructors are fully qualified Beach and Surf Safety Lifeguards and trailblazing ISA awarded surf instructors. They’ve undertaken extensive First Aid training and we endeavour as an Activity Centre to regularly train our staff so they have experience in all weather and water conditions. Every instructor must have years of personal experience in the water and we also work in close partnership with the RNLI presence on every beach to ensure your safety in and out of the water.
Yes! Surfing is a year round activity, you can even surf your way into New Year!
All our surfing instructors wear exactly the same equipment as you and will also take a First Aid Kit in case of minor injuries on the beach. In the unlikely event of a serious incident occurring during a surfing lesson, the RNLI beach lifeguards will be on hand to respond and assist your surfing instructor.
If you have your own suit please bring it along but wait until you’ve spoken with our instructors before putting it on. Some wetsuits will be too thin for certain weather and water conditions.
All you need to bring is your swimwear and a towel. We will provide you with everything else!
If you have any medical needs, injuries or special requirements, just give us a ring and we can talk through how best we can cater for your needs during your surfing experience!
Surfing requires a basic level of fitness and it certainly gets the heart pumping, but you don’t have to be an athlete.
We ask that everybody who takes part in our surfing experiences can swim a minimum of 50 metres. However, during a beginner session there is no need to go any deeper than waist depth water as you’ll be practicing in broken waves!
We would love it if you took part, as we have designed this session for the whole family. Also, there needs to be a minimum of 4 family members to book, so your team might need you!
If you would really rather watch, the beach is only a 5 minute walk from our activity centre and easily accessible for those not wishing to take part in the surfing lesson.
We strongly advice against wearing glasses in the surf in case they fall off! However, you will be able to wear them during the instruction part of the lesson on the sand. They can then be stored with our first aid kits on the beach whilst you’re practicing in the water.
Surfing takes a lot of practice to get the hang of, but once you’ve got the basic skills they’re easy to build on. You can hire our equipment after the session if you would like to keep practicing!
We both loved it , the instructor was a gentleman . Clear , concise instructions and very helpful . Can’t remember his name sorry , very tall with long hair
Jamie was a good instructor but a bit disappointed with the time snorkeling and not seeing anything. The sighting of the seals and info about the coast was great
Everyone was so friendly. My crew leader Alex was really supportive and encouraging as I am not an avid swimmer and so easing my way into kayaking and coasteering was a breeze. The team back at their headquarters were amazing ... keeping my baggage safe as I toured and even…
We had a really good time with Heath today. He showed us all the safety information and kept checking we were all okay. Instead of just staying out snorkelling he showed us some caves and told us about the history and cool knowledge about the caves and rocks. Had a…
We had an amazing time with heath. He was so lovely and gave us a bit of history as we went along. Very caring and made sure we had a fab time
Fun and exciting. The guide Oleks made it really enjoyable for us
Olek was such a cool instructor…let you get on with enjoying the water whilst keeping you safe and giving lots of detail…dan was super helpful when we got there and having a chat afterwards 10/10 hope to be back next summer
Amazing time coasteering in Cornwall with our instructor James. Great fun and James was very knowledgeable and easy to chat to. Thanks for an amazing time
We partner with Rewilding Britain to help protect our natural spaces for future adventures.
All centres are vetted for safety and quality. Your adventure is in good hands with adventuro.
Operated by Newquay Activity Centre, a partner of adventuro.
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom
From £38.50
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom
From £45
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom
From £50
