Summary
Dunedin is a great surfing destination located on New Zealand’s South Island. Second largest city of the island behind Christchurch, Dunedin might have colder conditions than Raglan, but on the brighter side, you will find yourself with far fewer crowds.
Dunedin is not your typical tropical surfing destination but it will reward anyone making the effort to put on their wet suit and face the conditions, whether you are a beginner or an advanced surfer.
To find the best surfing destination for you, try our WaveFinder search engine!
When to go
The best time to surf Dunedin, New Zealand is from April to June for more consistent waves and favorable wind.
| January-February | March-April | May-June | July-August | September-October | November-December | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suitable for: | All surfers | All surfers | Intermediate Advanced | Intermediate Advanced | Intermediate Advanced | All surfers |
| Air temperature | 15°C 59°F | 13°C 55°F | 9°C 48°F | 8°C 46°F | 10°C 50°F | 13°C 55°F |
| Water temperature | 12°C 54°F | 11°C 52°F | 9°C 48°F | 8°C 48°F | 9°C 48°F | 10°C 50°F |
| Crowd | Few people | Few people | Few people | Few people | Few people | Few people |
| Swell consistency | 65% | 75% | 80% | 80% | 70% | 65% |
| Swell height | 5ft | 6ft | 7ft | 7ft | 7ft | 6ft |
Where to stay in Dunedin
You may also be interested in: our Surf Guide to Raglan, North Island.
Surf spots in Dunedin
St. Kilda
Wave direction : Left and right
Bottom : Sand
Best tide : Any
Skill level : Any
Optimal swell direction : S
Optimal wind direction : NNW
Smails beach
Wave direction : Left and right
Bottom : Sand
Best tide : Any
Skill level : Any
Optimal swell direction : S
Optimal wind direction : N
Dunedin
Wave direction : Left and right
Bottom : Sand
Best tide : Any
Skill level : Any
Optimal swell direction : S
Optimal wind direction : NW