Surfing
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Surfing
Where the Waves Are Wild
New Zealand's surf spots tend to reward the explorers. The South Island in particular has a raw, uncrowded coastline that most travellers drive straight past. Down in Coastal Otago, Allans Beach on the Otago Peninsula gives keenos that wild, seclusive session with sea lions watching on, while Aramoana across the other side fires up to high quality on its day. Further south into the Catlins, Purakanui Bay is a genuine A-grade beachbreak when it's blowing offshore. Worth timing your travels around it.
Read the Conditions
These aren't your groomed, sign-posted surf beaches. Most spots here are swell and wind dependent, so a bit of homework goes a long way. Up near Kaikoura, the famed Meatworks break north of town is worth a look even if you're just watching from the shore. In the Nelson Region, the lefthanders at Delaware Bay can be epic when the swell is running, though you'll need to time your visit around low tide and watch the rising water for your return. It's that kind of surfing here. A little effort, a lot of reward.
Surfing Spots
36 items with the highest ranking score first, showing page 1 of 2.
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