Beatons.

Beatons is a left-hand reef break on the remote Southland coast west of Riverton, accessible only across private farmland - permission from the landowner is required before visiting. The wave grinds along an uneven rocky reef, producing a mix of barrel sections and open walls that stretch 200 to 500 metres when conditions align. S swell is optimal, with the wider SE to SW window also producing rideable surf. NE winds are offshore and essential for clean conditions. The spot works best at mid tide on an incoming push - too low and the reef becomes dangerously exposed, too high and the wave loses its form. Wave size ranges from 2 to 2.4m, with the quality rated as good. This is expert territory: the rocky reef is shallow and unforgiving, and the remote location means there is no safety net if something goes wrong. Sharks are present in these southern waters and submerged reef is a constant hazard. The payoff for the access difficulty and skill requirement is genuine solitude - Beatons is one of the emptiest quality waves in New Zealand.

A 500-metre left grinding shallow reef where solitude demands both permission and expertise.