Forestry (Rodney)

Forestry (Rodney) is an exposed Northland surfing spot reached via forestry access—typically by parking near the entrance and walking a short distance through the forest to the beach. The line-up combines a series of beach-break peaks with a fun left-hand point break, and sources also describe it as capable of producing both left and right-hand waves depending on swell and setup. It’s consistently described as clean and good-quality when the wind is offshore (west to southwest). Swell direction is commonly given as northeast, with the spot best matching that NE swell. Wave power is generally described as moderate, with peeling wave shape and a medium peel speed. On larger sets, the point becomes the primary focus; the spot is described as able to hold bigger, more powerful winter swells before closing out. Conditions are best in summer, with multiple sources pointing to December through February (and one source highlighting January as the standout month). Water temperature is reported as substantially warmer in summer and colder in winter, and wetsuit guidance reflects this seasonal swing (thicker winter suits and standard suits in summer). One wind-related note is that the area’s afternoon sea breezes can be common in summer, but the spot is more reliably evaluated for surf than wind consistency. Safety-wise, the key concerns are rocks at/near the northern end and sharks, with rip currents also mentioned. Since there are no lifeguards reported, it’s important to stay clear of the rocky point and to avoid entry if conditions become too big or messy for your skill level. Access remoteness means plan for limited parking and possible restrictions on forestry roads.