Best time to surf Mātauri Bay

The best time to surf at Mātauri Bay is April, with waves of about 1.8 m and water around 20°C.

Mātauri Bay, Northland, New Zealand

Sports: Surfing

Best time to go: April

Mātauri Bay is a long white-sand bay on Northland's east coast, about 30 km north-east of Kerikeri: State Highway 10 north for about 22 km, then Matauri Bay Road for about 17 km. The beach faces east towards the Cavalli Islands, where the wreck of the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior, scuttled there in 1987, is now a dive site; its memorial stands on the Pukepika headland at the northern end of the beach, a short signposted walk from the holiday park. The Matauri Bay Holiday Park on the beach is open all year, with cabins and camping sites; for shops and fuel, go back to Kerikeri.

The surf is a soft beach break with several peaks along the beach, giving lefts and rights. The waves are usually fat and forgiving, which makes it a good place for longboards and learners, and the lineup gets busy on good days. It works best in an easterly to north-easterly swell with a west wind, which blows offshore; it works on all tides, usually better on the rising tide. The wave figures are highest from April to August (about 1.5 to 1.8 m out at sea, against 1.3 m from September to December), so autumn and winter bring the most surf. In summer the bay is often small and good for swimming and snorkelling.

There are rocks at both ends of the beach, and in summer swimmers share the water, so keep your board under control. In a bigger swell, rips form along the beach: surf near other people. The water is about 15 °C in August and 22 °C in February: a 5/4 with boots in winter, a 3/2 in summer.

Month by month at Mātauri Bay

January: 7 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.5 m, water 21°C, air 23°C (nights 17°C), 28 sunny days, 17 rainy days
February: 3 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 1.4 m, water 22°C, air 23°C (nights 17°C), 24 sunny days, 14 rainy days
March: 4 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 21°C, air 23°C (nights 16°C), 28 sunny days, 11 rainy days
April: 7 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 1.8 m, water 20°C, air 21°C (nights 15°C), 23 sunny days, 17 rainy days
May: 6 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.6 m, water 19°C, air 18°C (nights 13°C), 25 sunny days, 13 rainy days
June: 5 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 1.6 m, water 17°C, air 17°C (nights 11°C), 23 sunny days, 14 rainy days
July: 7 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.6 m, water 16°C, air 16°C (nights 10°C), 24 sunny days, 13 rainy days
August: 7 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.5 m, water 15°C, air 16°C (nights 10°C), 24 sunny days, 14 rainy days
September: 7 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 16°C, air 17°C (nights 11°C), 26 sunny days, 14 rainy days
October: 8 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 1.4 m, water 16°C, air 18°C (nights 12°C), 27 sunny days, 15 rainy days
November: 5 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 18°C, air 20°C (nights 14°C), 28 sunny days, 17 rainy days
December: 5 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 20°C, air 22°C (nights 16°C), 27 sunny days, 15 rainy days