Surfing the southern wave
Any Kiwi surfer will tell you the deep south of New Zealand has some of the country’s best surf.
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Clear sunny days bring glassy, uncrowded waves… you can see the attraction.
The rugged southeast coast of the country is largely undiscovered in surfing terms and there are plenty of exciting waves to be had. There’s something for beginners and experts around here, from fun city surf to long breaks and challenging reef waves. Southern Ocean swells lash the beaches, regularly reaching up to 6 metres.
Kaka Point, southeast of Balclutha, offers several breaks and is a great place to start. Continue along the Southern Scenic Route to the Catlins and you’ll find beaches with surf to suit all skill levels. The area boasts large and consistent swells and some of the southern hemisphere’s biggest surfing waves. Dolphins and sea lions frequent these waters so you may have company while you surf.
Porpoise Bay has gentle surf, making it popular with learners, and a surf school runs out of the Curio Bay campground seven days a week.
South of the Catlins are numerous breaks with consistent surf. Riverton and Colac Bay, where a statue or a surfer riding a wave greets visitors, are great spots. Colac Bay’s western point has a superb right-hand point break that is best towards low tide.
Nothing compares to the feeling of standing on a surfboard and riding a wave into shore. It should be a must-do on your next trip.
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