Surf spot

Piha

Forecast conditions and map view for Piha in New Zealand, New Zealand NI, West Coast Auckland. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: New Zealand, New Zealand NI, West Coast Auckland
Coordinates: -36.9561, 174.4674

Metric
Metric	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00
Wave height (m)	4.3	4.2	3.9	4	4	3.9	3.8	3.7	3.5	3.4	3.3	3.1	3	2.9	2.8	2.7	2.6	2.4	2.3	2.1	2	1.9	1.8	1.8	1.6	1.4	1.4	1.3	1.2	1.1	1.1	1	1	1	1.4	1.2	1.3	1.5	1.6	1.8	2.1	2.5	3.1	3.6	3.4	4.1	4	3.8	3.5	3.3	2.6	3.1	3	2.7	2.6	2.7
Wave direction	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	WSW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	WSW	WSW	WSW	WSW	WSW	SW	SW	SW	SW	WSW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW
Wave period (s)	11	11.4	11.9	11.7	11.4	11.2	10.8	10.5	10.4	10.4	10.3	10.2	10.2	10.2	9.9	9.8	9.8	9.8	9.8	9.7	9.6	9.4	9.3	9.2	9.5	10.1	9.2	8.9	8.7	8.9	8.9	9.1	8.4	8.1	9.1	11.8	12.3	12.2	12.3	12.4	12.3	10.8	9.8	9.4	8.9	10.7	10.4	10.7	11.1	10.9	10.2	11.4	11.8	12.2	12.1	11.3
Wave energy (kJ)	4392	4538	4434	4343	4153	3821	3440	3084	2737	2471	2233	2026	1854	1709	1530	1394	1246	1095	988	862	767	672	586	519	439	377	332	279	233	206	180	172	143	142	306	428	539	652	762	960	1374	1448	1846	2290	1875	3888	3494	3207	3088	2588	1414	2466	2440	2121	1903	1917
Wind speed (km/h)	25.3	28.3	29.4	26.7	26.5	23.7	23.4	23	19.2	18.8	16.4	18.9	22.1	20	16.9	15.5	11.8	12.2	13	16.6	15.1	14.9	13.9	14.7	15.3	15	12.1	13.4	15.8	15.6	13.3	15.3	14.5	11.2	9.5	10.5	12.6	9.9	8	7.2	6.2	23	14.5	14.5	20.8	19.9	22.4	20.2	20	16.3	19.5	26.4	28.8	27	26.1	26.4
Wind direction	SWOnshore	SWOnshore	SWOnshore	SWCross-on	SWCross-on	SWCross-on	SWCross-on	SWCross-on	SSWCross-on	SSWCross-on	SSWCross-on	SSWCross-on	SSWCross-on	SSWCross-on	SWCross-on	SSWCross-on	SWCross-on	SWCross-on	SWCross-on	SWCross-on	SWOnshore	SWOnshore	WSWOnshore	WSWOnshore	WSWOnshore	WSWOnshore	WSWOnshore	WOnshore	WNWOnshore	WOnshore	WNWOnshore	WNWCross-on	NWCross-on	NWCross-on	NCross-off	NCross-off	NNWCross-on	NWCross-on	ENEOffshore	NNECross-off	SCross-on	SSECross	SECross-off	SECross-off	ESECross-off	ESEOffshore	ESECross-off	SECross-off	SECross-off	SSECross	SCross-on	SSWCross-on	SSWCross-on	SWCross-on	SWOnshore	SWOnshore

Piha, New Zealand (North Island, West Coast Auckland) is one of the most famous surf beaches in the country, known for its powerful, exposed beach break and dramatic black-sand setting.

Surf description

Wave type: Predominantly a fast, powerful beach break with sandbars that shift frequently.
Wave quality: Can be excellent when the sand is lined up, with hollow, punchy waves and long lefts and rights.
Consistency: Very consistent thanks to its exposure to the Tasman Sea, picking up plenty of swell.
Best in: Typically works well on mid to larger swells with favorable wind conditions.
Skill level: Best suited to intermediate to advanced surfers due to strong currents, heavy waves, and a sometimes challenging rip setup.

Conditions and characteristics

Wind: Generally prefers offshore or light winds; onshore winds can quickly make it messy.
Hazards: Strong rips, powerful shorebreak, and changing bars make it a serious surf spot.
Crowd: Popular and well-known, so it can get busy, especially on good days.
Scenery: Set against the iconic Lion Rock and rugged Waitākere ranges, making it one of the most scenic surf locations in NZ.

Overall vibe

Piha has a wild, raw, and energetic feel — a classic New Zealand surf spot that delivers quality waves but demands respect.