Surf spot guide · Otago & Southland, New Zealand
S swell bends around a rock island into workable walls with a hollow takeoff — beachbreak gets epic with anchored sandbanks.
High Waves
Large waves up to 2.0m expected at Brighton. Peak conditions around 4:00 PM.
Exercise extreme caution when entering the water. Strong currents and large waves present. Warning valid until 9:00 PM.
Brighton lies west of Blackhead on the Otago coast, where S swells wrap around a big rock island and turn into right-handers: a hollow takeoff, then easy, workable walls running 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.
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Rarely crowded. Brighton Surf Club locals can advise on the wider Catlins area.
Rock island point walls
Otago & Southland
Hub of Dunedin surfing — quality beachbreak peaks plus a long right point near the hot pools on big S swells.
Otago & Southland
Dunedin beachbreak for small swells, with a left that sets up reliably in the east corner; plenty of rips and a crowd when it's working.
Otago & Southland
Average beachie requiring a long sandhills hike — best on small swell at low tide. Yellow Eye Penguin reserve.
+4 MORE →Paddle out through rocky channel. Brighton beachbreak gets epic with rock-anchored sandbanks. Brighton Surf Club locals are helpful. Mid incoming tide.
HAZARDS · KNOW BEFORE YOU PADDLE
Free car park and roadside parking available. Brighton Surf Club nearby can advise on conditions and other breaks in the Catlins area.
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