New Pier Surf Guide
Surf spot guide
Ideal Surf Conditions
Swell Direction
SW if the swell is big enough, E.
Wind
NW, W, SW
Surf Height
Head high to triple overhead
Tide
Low tide for the outside barrels, high tide for the inside bowls.
New Pier Surf Guide
The best wave along the town stretch, and also the most crowded. When it is small it's an easy wave to ride and is completely overrun; when it gets a bit of size it's a full-on freight-train tube and there are no beginners to be seen, but a lot of top surfers climb out of the woodwork. The vibe in the water can get incredibly competitive and intense, with a small takeoff area and a whole bunch of drop-in artists around. Arguments are common, and there are sometimes fights. The fisherfolk don't make the situation any better by casting their lines amongst the surfers. The pier makes for the easiest of access, and anyone and everyone can simply jump off the pier and be in the takeoff zone. The barrels are round, though, and when the banks are good surfers sometimes get barreled across the whole beach. On the high tides there are sometimes excellent waves in the inside bowls breaking towards the pier. Some people have taken to surfing it at night.
Ability Level
All Abilities
Beginners when small, experienced surfers only when big.
Local Vibe
Doable
Some tough characters dominate the New Pier lineup, and they're really good surfers. You'll see them.
Crowd Factor
Heavy
Unbelievably crowded on weekends, and still full up during the week if the waves are good. Early mornings it gets crowded with the before-work crew as well.
Spot Rating
Perfect
Gets pretty sick, with 6-second barrels on a good day pretty commonplace.
Shoulder Burn
Light
When it's not that big, which is most of the time, you simply drop off the pier into the lineup, and into the inside spot actually. When it gets big the jump off the pier and subsequent paddle through the zone can be horrendous, but not that often.
Water Quality
Fair
There is definitely poo and other muck in the lineup, but the local council won't acknowledge this. The fishermen also throw rubbish, cigarette butts, feces, fish guts and urine straight into the water where the surfers are surfing.
Hazards
Turning your back to the ocean.
Bring Your
Shortboard, Funboard, Longboard, Fish, Bodyboard
Access
Parking gets a bit tight on the weekend, park where there is a car guard.
Bottom
Sand. Fairly hard sand though, but sand.
Best Season
Year round, but largest April-September.
Do you have local knowledge about New Pier?
If you have any insights or information to add to this spot guide, drop us a note at [email protected]