Winner of Council's 2025 Sustainability Excellence Business Award, Let’s Go Surfing have been sharing the joy of the ocean with the community for over 30 years. We chat with co-founders Brenda Wiley and Craig Wachholz about their love of the coast, the importance of caring for our marine environments and their “leave only footprints” ethos.
Brenda and Craig, tell us about yourselves and how you got involved in the business.
Brenda Miley: As a locally born, competitive surfer I've always had a lifelong passion for surfing and the ocean. Growing up there were few women surfing. In the early 90s I was a PE teacher and wanted to use these skills to encourage more women to get into surfing. With a Bachelor of Education, I developed inclusive, community-focused surf programs, starting from the back of a Kombi van in the Bondi Beach car park, and Lets Go Surfing was born!
Craig ‘Wacca’ Wachholz: I soon joined Brenda as co-founder - a muso with a background in the surf industry. Together, guided by our motto 'Changing lives...One wave at a time' we have pioneered surf schools in Australia. More than 30 years on, Let’s Go Surfing is a locally loved and internationally recognised surf school, operating across Bondi, Maroubra, Byron Bay and Ballina.
What is the best thing about working in Bondi?
That's easy! The beach 🙏 & the Community 💙
How is your business making a positive environmental impact?
Our motto has always been “Leave only footprints.” As surfers, we naturally care deeply about the ocean and the environment. Even though we operate in a big city, we immerse ourselves in the ocean every day and that creates a strong sense of responsibility!
We are proudly Eco-accredited with Ecotourism Australia and support and partner with environmental organisations such as the Australian Marine Conservation Society and Surfers for Climate. Environmental education is built into every lesson we run, where we share ideas and inspiration with our guests on how to care for our local beaches and marine environment.
We’re also actively involved in local beach clean-ups and environmental awareness events - we love it.
'Women on Waves' with Brenda at Bondi
Can you tell us about your ‘leave only footprints’ ethos?
'Leave only footprints is something we live by every day at Let’s Go Surfing, especially here in Bondi and across our local coastline. We’re incredibly lucky to work on some of the most iconic beaches in the world, and we don’t take that for granted. These beaches aren’t just our workplace, they’re part of our everyday lives.
In every lesson, we talk to students about simple actions that make a big difference: taking rubbish home (or better yet, not bringing it at all), using reef-safe sunscreen, staying off sensitive natural areas, and being mindful of wildlife both in the water and on the sand. We’re also proud to promote Waverley Council’s Second Nature program as part of this education.
Surfing creates a powerful connection to place. When people learn to surf at Bondi, they often become part of its community. By sharing the stoke alongside environmental responsibility, we hope everyone leaves with more than just a great memory, they leave with respect for Bondi, our local beaches and a genuine desire to protect them for future generations.
World Ocean Day Bondi Beach Clean
Have you achieved your advanced eco accrediation? What did that entail?
We are Waverley's first business to be certified by Ecotourism Australia, which uses Global Sustainable Tourism Council standards to ensure tourism products and services are backed by strong, environmental, socio-economic and culturally sustainable practices. Our team has been proudly Eco-accredited since 2018, and we’re currently in the final stages of achieving Advanced Eco Certification in 2026. This process reflects a long-term commitment rather than a one-off tick-box exercise. It involves reviewing every aspect of how we operate, from waste reduction and recycling to equipment care, energy use and how we educate students about the local marine environment. This has been led by our passionate Eco-Warrior and Operations Manager, Lars Zeekaf, who has worked tirelessly with the whole team to implement these practices across the surf school.
For us, this certification reinforces what we already believe: running a surf school on Bondi is a privilege, not a right, and it comes with a responsibility to protect the beaches and ocean we rely on.
Recycling wetsuits to be turned into a kids soft playground
Do you have any additional plans for the future to protect our local environment?
We’re always looking for ways to do better. In the coming years, we want to expand our beach clean-up programs, use even more recycled and eco-friendly gear, and run more workshops with students focused on protecting local marine life.
We’re also excited to get more involved with Waverley Council’s Second Nature program. Every small action counts, and we hope to make sustainability a visible part of everything we do, at Bondi and across Waverley’s coastline.
What advice can you give other local businesses looking to take sustainability actions?
There are so many local businesses already doing great things for example, Sage Beauty has a fantastic program. The key advice is to start small, but start somewhere.
Simple changes like reducing single-use plastics, encouraging staff and customers to pick up litter, or choosing more sustainable suppliers can make a real difference. Share your journey openly with your community leading by example inspires others to act too.
Sustainability isn’t just good for the environment; it builds stronger local connections and a shared pride in the place we all love.
Surfing and beach education program with Waverley Council
Ways you can tread lightly on our coastal environment
- Learn more about protecting Waverley's coastline and marine biodiversity
- Visit Waverley Council's Sustainable Travel tips on our dedicated tourism webpages
- Apply for a council grant to reduce the environmental footprint of your business, through sustainability upgrades