Best time to surf Woodpecker Bay

The best time to surf at Woodpecker Bay is July–September, with waves of about 1.5 m and water around 13°C.

Punakaiki, West Coast, New Zealand

Sports: Surfing

Best time to go: July–September

Woodpecker Bay is on State Highway 6 between Charleston and Punakaiki, about 10 km north of Punakaiki and some 40 minutes' drive from Greymouth. The road runs right beside the bay, and there are two gravel parking areas on the sea side of the road at Seal Island, at the south end, so there is no walk to the beach. Food, accommodation and a campground are in Punakaiki.

The break is at the south end of the bay. When the swell is big enough, it wraps round Seal Island and breaks as powerful, walling rights and lefts on the inside of the island. The bottom is stones and rock. It is usually best in a south-west swell with a southerly wind, from low to mid tide; on smaller days there is not much here.

This is a spot for intermediate and experienced surfers. Take care round the rocks, expect a lot of paddling, and remember that there are no lifeguards on this coast. The water is about 13 °C in August and 19 °C in February: a 5/4 with boots in winter, a 4/3 or 3/2 in summer.

Month by month at Woodpecker Bay

January: 0 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 0.6 m, water 19°C, air 21°C (nights 14°C), 27 sunny days, 15 rainy days
February: 1 windy day (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 0.5 m, water 19°C, air 21°C (nights 14°C), 24 sunny days, 12 rainy days
March: 1 windy day (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 0.7 m, water 18°C, air 19°C (nights 13°C), 23 sunny days, 14 rainy days
April: 1 windy day (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 1.1 m, water 17°C, air 18°C (nights 12°C), 20 sunny days, 15 rainy days
May: 2 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 1.2 m, water 15°C, air 16°C (nights 10°C), 19 sunny days, 16 rainy days
June: 2 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 1.4 m, water 14°C, air 14°C (nights 9°C), 17 sunny days, 16 rainy days
July: 3 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 1.5 m, water 13°C, air 13°C (nights 8°C), 17 sunny days, 17 rainy days
August: 2 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 1.6 m, water 13°C, air 13°C (nights 7°C), 21 sunny days, 17 rainy days
September: 3 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 1.5 m, water 13°C, air 14°C (nights 8°C), 21 sunny days, 23 rainy days
October: 3 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 14°C, air 15°C (nights 9°C), 23 sunny days, 20 rainy days
November: 1 windy day (15+ knots), average wind 7 knots, waves 0.9 m, water 15°C, air 17°C (nights 11°C), 23 sunny days, 19 rainy days
December: 1 windy day (15+ knots), average wind 7 knots, waves 0.9 m, water 17°C, air 19°C (nights 13°C), 26 sunny days, 20 rainy days