Sandfly Bay.

Sandfly Bay sits on Dunedin's Otago Peninsula, requiring a long hike over sandhills to reach what is, in honest terms, an average beachbreak that works best on small swell at low tide. The southern beaches around Dunedin shelter some of the best beachbreaks in the country, and Sandfly Bay benefits from that wider exposure to S swell - flat days are rare but the quality is standard rather than exceptional. A-frame peaks break across the sand with the usual mix of lefts and rights. Northerly winds provide the offshore. The hike acts as a natural crowd filter. The bay is also a Yellow Eye Penguin reserve, and neighbouring Boulder Beach is now closed to surfing due to penguin nesting - respect the boundaries. Strong rips and heavy storms are common features of this stretch. Size range is modest at 1 to 1.8m. The setting is dramatic - towering sand dunes, native bush, and the penguin colonies make it a worthwhile visit even on flat days.

A-frames across sand where the hike keeps crowds thin and penguins nest nearby.