Asia PacificSurfing Destinations

Surfing Guide to Piha, New Zealand

Piha surf New Zealand
Photo by Tim Marshall

 

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.

 

To find your next surfing destination, make sure to try our WaveFinder search engine

 

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.

 

Piha surf new zealand
Piha by @stsystem

 

 

When to go

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-FebruaryMarch-AprilMay-JuneJuly-AugustSeptember-OctoberNovember-December
Suitable for:All surfersAll surfersIntermediate
Advanced
Intermediate
Advanced
Intermediate
Advanced
All surfers
Air temperature21°C
70°F
18°C
64°F
14°C
57°F
12°C
54°F
12°C
54°F
18°C
64°F
Water temperature20°C
68°F
19°C
66°F
17°C
63°F
15°C
59°F
15°C
59°F
17°C
63°F
CrowdFairly crowdedFairly crowdedFew peopleFew peopleFew peopleFairly crowded
Swell Consistency80%85%85%90%90%85%
Swell height6 ft6 ft8 ft8 ft8 ft7 ft

Where to stay in Piha

Browse our interactive map to find the best accommodation deals in Piha!

 

Best hotels in Piha

Piha Beachstay Accommodation, Great for its price, under 100USD per night, well located and very clean.

 

 

 

Getting there

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.

 

 

Safety/things to know

-For visa information, visit the official New Zealand tourism website.

 

 

Surf spots in Piha

Piha beach

Piha surf new zealand
Piha Beach by @jiliandara

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

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