Surf spot guide · Otago & Southland, New Zealand
Average beachie requiring a long sandhills hike — best on small swell at low tide. Yellow Eye Penguin reserve.
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. Dunedin's southern beaches hold several of the country's best beachbreaks, and Sandfly Bay shares that open exposure to S swell: it is seldom flat, though the waves are 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.
You’re seeing the next 3 days. A free account opens all 14, which is the difference between checking tomorrow and planning a trip.
Rarely crowded. Long sandhills hike filters most visitors.
Penguin reserve beachie
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
Hub of Dunedin surfing — quality beachbreak peaks plus a long right point near the hot pools on big S swells.
Otago & Southland
Sand spit A-frame near Dunedin offering square barrels on NE swells, with bigger waves beneath volcanic cliffs.
+4 MORE →Long hike over sandhills. Low tide only. Small swell best. Boulder Beach closed for penguin nesting — respect boundaries. Yellow Eye Penguin reserve.
HAZARDS · KNOW BEFORE YOU PADDLE
Yellow-eyed Penguin reserve — respect wildlife closures on neighboring beaches
Free car park available. Located in a Yellow-eyed Penguin reserve area. Note that neighboring Boulder Beach is closed to surfing due to penguin nesting.
Open in Maps