Motunau Beach Island Surf Guide
Surf spot guide
Motunau Beach Island Surf Guide
Less than an hour's drive north of Christchurch (about 80 km), you'll find the little town of Motunau Beach. You can park in a huge car park near the campground, and a short walk through the trees will reveal a long stretch of beach. Motunau Island, which lies not far offshore, serves to break up the swell just enough to provide some shifting peaks, both lefts and rights. The Motunau rivermouth also helps by providing sediment build up, which can lead to some reasonable sandbars.Further along the beach, at the western end, you might be lucky enough to score a left-hand point break, which seems to work best on high tides with a south swell. This stretch picks up a lot of southerly swell due to the aspect of the beach and can handle northerlies pretty well too.
Ability Level
Beginner
Beginner
Local Vibe
Welcoming
Mellow.
Crowd Factor
Mellow
Minimal
Spot Rating
Fun
An average zone, but makes up for quality with a variety of waves to surf as well as good consistency.
Shoulder Burn
Medium
Only bad when the river produces currents, rips.
Water Quality
Clean
A lot of sediment, but not poop, from the river
Hazards
Rip currents.
Bring Your
Shortboard
Access
Easy walk across the dunes from the car park
Bottom
Sand
Best Season
March-May, September-November
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