Brighton.

Brighton sits west of Blackhead on the Otago coast where lines of S swell bend around a large rock island, producing right-handers with a hollow takeoff that open into easy, workable walls stretching 200 to 500 metres. Positioning and the paddle-out through the rocky channel at size require experience and confidence. The Brighton beachbreak alongside can get genuinely epic too, with barrels forming on sandbanks anchored by patches of rock - a setup that gives the banks unusual consistency of shape. Mid tide on an incoming push is the sweet spot for the point section. S swell is optimal from the wider E to S window, and westerly winds hold the face clean. Size ranges from 2 to 3m, and the locals at Brighton Surf Club are a good resource for navigating the broader Catlins area. The atmosphere is welcoming. Rips, sharks, and submerged rocks are the primary hazards.

Swell bends around the island's shoulder, opening right-handers that stretch half a kilometre clean.