Summary
The west coast of New Zealand is still a bit of a hidden gem it the surfing world. This part of the country is exposed to some very constant swells coming from the Tasman Sea and provide good surfing conditions all year long.
Of course, Raglan is the most popular surfing destination in New Zealand, but there are several other spots that make this country a very special place to chose for a surf trip. One of those places is Piha…
This little coastal town is located just under an hour drive away from Auckland, the country’s capital city, and is a pretty popular place for people to come on weekends or holidays.
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The main thing to do in Piha is surfing, and it gets good. The setup is a wide black-sand beach break with picturesque Lion Rock in the middle. Both beginners and experts can attack this beach break as long as conditions are right and currents are not too strong.
There is at least one surf school in Piha for people making their first steps in the sport of surfing.
The best time to surf Piha is probably during autumn although there is very consistent swell all year long.
Waves are smaller during the summer months from December to March which is more suitable for beginners. Weather will also be warmer over this period of time.
Advanced surfers looking for bigger waves will want to aim for April to August, when the swell picks up in size for winter and winds remain not so strong.
January-February March-April May-June July-August September-October November-December
Suitable for: All surfers All surfers Intermediate
AdvancedIntermediate
AdvancedIntermediate
AdvancedAll surfers
Air temperature 21°C
70°F18°C
64°F14°C
57°F12°C
54°F12°C
54°F18°C
64°F
Water temperature 20°C
68°F19°C
66°F17°C
63°F15°C
59°F15°C
59°F17°C
63°F
Crowd Fairly crowded Fairly crowded Few people Few people Few people Fairly crowded
Swell Consistency 80% 85% 85% 90% 90% 85%
Swell height 6 ft 6 ft 8 ft 8 ft 8 ft 7 ft
Where to stay in Piha
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Best hotels in Piha
Piha Beachstay Accommodation, Great for its price, under 100USD per night, well located and very clean.
About a 45 minute drive from Auckland and Auckland International Airport. Best way is to hire a car or campervan as there is a holiday park right in Piha, only a few meters from the beach.
-For visa information, visit the official New Zealand tourism website.
Piha beach
A classic beach break with fairly strong currents to be aware of. Both beginners and experts can find their days on this beach right by Lion Rock.
Wave direction : Left and right
Bottom : Sand
Best tide : Any
Skill level : Any
Optimal swell direction : SW
Optimal wind direction : E