Campbells Bay (Kakanui Coast)

Campbells Bay (Kakanui Coast) is an exposed beach-and-point surf spot on the Otago coast with fairly consistent waves throughout the year. It’s described as working any time of year, with a clear seasonal highlight in June and sessions often performing best around high tide. For surf quality, the spot is most favorable when winds come in offshore from the West to West-Northwest, helping groom the incoming swell into more rideable wave faces. The wave setup is influenced by both the beach break and a northern end point break, where longer rights are more likely from the point while the beach tends to form shorter, peakier waves. Swell-wise, the ideal direction is reported as south-southeast, and other favorable swell directions are also noted as South, Southeast, and East. On larger sets the spot can transition from moderate, peeling waves toward more closing-out behavior when the swell becomes very heavy, so it’s worth keeping expectations aligned to conditions. Safety considerations are a priority here: sharks are specifically noted as a hazard, and the area can also involve cold water, rocks around the point, and rip currents during larger swells. There is no lifeguard presence indicated at the spot, and while the nearest medical facilities are in Oamaru (about 15 minutes away), riders should plan conservatively and check both tide and swell timing before paddling out.