Matauri Bay
- Bodyboard, Beginners
- Best for
- Beginner
- Skill Level
- Ocean
- Spot Type
- Quiet
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Matauri Bay is a sheltered sandy beach break in Northland with generally consistent, often small surf that can produce both left and right waves. Multiple sources emphasize that the area works best when offshore southwest winds pair with a northeast groundswells pattern—suggesting swell direction matters at least as much as wind. For surfing, the spot is described as approachable for beginners, with a peeling wave face and medium ride potential when sandbars are well formed. While the waves can be manageable for a range of abilities, conditions can be inconsistent in the sense that the surf is frequently small, and one source also flags that wave quality is sometimes poor. Seasonally, July is highlighted as the best month for the most consistent conditions, and the bay is reported to be rarely crowded year-round (with quieter winter periods compared with busier summer holiday periods). Visibility is noted as exceptionally clear, supporting a scenic experience alongside the surf. Safety is an important theme at Matauri Bay: rocks at the bay ends are a key hazard, with rip currents also possible near rocky areas. Sessions at the northern end may offer better wave shape but require extra caution, and access is typically via the holiday park area where common beach use is expected.
- Offshore southwest winds support cleaner surf.
- Northeast groundswells are ideal for surf.
- Sheltered beach break with mostly small waves and peeling shape.
- Rocks at the bay ends and nearshore rip currents require caution.
- Sheltered sandy beach break with consistent surf; works with both lefts and rights.
- Water visibility is reported as exceptionally clear.
- Best conditions align with offshore southwest winds and northeast groundswells; rarely crowded overall.
- Waves are often small and one source rates wave quality as poor.
- Rocks at/around the bay require caution, especially near the ends of the bay.
- Wind reliability is low; sessions depend heavily on swell and wind alignment.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- SW, S, SSW, WSW, W
- Offshore directions
- SW
- Wind Range
- 10–20 kts
- Wind Type
- Trade — Often works in offshore southwest winds; summer can feature NE sea breezes.
- Reliability
- 83% small in July (with low reported clean percentage in that month).
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — Moderate gusts reported for July.
- Best Months
- July
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 10–14 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Ocean
- Beach
- Sand — Sandy beach.
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Small — Often small; July has a high share of small conditions reported.
- Launch
- Medium — Wide sandy beach area; a nearby/through-park access route is commonly used.
- Launch Difficulty
- Easy — Wide sandy launch and easy access described; access can be through the holiday park.
Through the year
Busy during summer holidays and long weekends; quiet during winter.
Winter months (June to August) tend to be wetter.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Occasionally used for kitesurfing when the sea breeze develops (northeast sea-breeze conditions). Less common than the beach’s primary surf/camping use.
- Kite Sizes
- 10–14 m²
Possible in onshore conditions, though it is rarely the first choice for windsurfers in the region.
- Sail Sizes
- 5.5–7.5 m²
Clear, deeper water can suit wingfoiling when wind is onshore and waves are small.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes — Foil-friendly conditions reported when waves remain small.
- Min Depth
- 1.5 meters
- Wing Sizes
- 5–6 m²
Sheltered beach break with consistent but often small surf, both lefts and rights. Best wave shape is associated with an on-target northeast swell and offshore southwest winds; waves can be blown out in a minority of conditions during the peak month.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- NE, NNE
- Swell Height
- 0.5–1.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid, All tides — Sources indicate best performance around mid tide, with all-tides also workable depending on swell and sandbar formation.
- Shelter
- Sheltered — Sheltered beach setting; otherwise influenced by wind direction and local headlands.
- Wind Effect
- Offshore southwest winds provide cleaner surfing conditions; cross-offshore or lighter wind can still be workable.
- Bigger Swell
- Can hold size and often maintains shape up to head high, but may close out in very large swells and can be blown out in a minority of peak-month conditions.
- Wave Quality
- Poor — One source rates wave quality as poor, while another describes it as generally manageable with improved rides when sandbars form well.
- Wave Power
- Soft — Groundswells more frequent than windswells; generally manageable but often small.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling
- Peel Speed
- Medium
- Ride Length
- Medium
- Ride Length Details
- Rides can be decent especially when sandbars are well-formed; generally manageable for a range of abilities.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Matauri Bay in the full forecast view.
Matauri Bay wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–19 ktsGusts 31 kts
- Direction
- W281°
- Strongest day
- Tue, Oct 2719 kts
- Windy days
- 3/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.4–1.7 m6s period
- Temperature
- 11–19 °C
Over the next 7 days, Matauri Bay is forecast for daytime winds of 2–19 kts, peaking around 19 kts on Tuesday, October 27 with gusts to 31 kts. The prevailing direction is W. Waves run 0.4–1.7 m with a period of about 6s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Rocks
- Rip currents can occur near rocks
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguard presence reported.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Yes — Coastguard New Zealand has dedicated units in the Bay of Islands area, though spot-level rescue availability is not guaranteed.
- Emergency Info
- In emergencies, dial 111. Coastguard New Zealand operates dedicated units in the wider Bay of Islands area (Russell/Paihia and Whangaroa).
- Localism / Vibe
- None — No localism noted for this spot.
Rules of the spot
Watch out for rocks at/around the edges of the bay; respect that access can be through a holiday park area and that there are common beach users.
- Surf works best in offshore southwest winds.
- Groundswells more frequent than windswells; ideal swell direction is from the northeast.
- The northern end near the rocks can produce the best wave shape but requires caution.
- Access is typically through the holiday park.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Whangarei
- Nearest Town
- Kaeo
- Nearest Airport
- Bay of Islands Airport (KKE) in Kerikeri
- Parking
- Parking is available at the holiday park for a fee or near public access points.
- Public Transport
- Public transport is limited; a private vehicle is essential for accessing coastal spots.
- Access
- Accessible by road via Matauri Bay Road. Access to the beach is typically through the holiday park.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English, Maori
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Direct — Matauri Bay Holiday Park is located directly on the beachfront.
- Food & Drink
- General store at the holiday park.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Matauri Bay?
The best overall months at Matauri Bay are October, November, December, January, February, March, April. The best wind months are July.
Which wind directions work at Matauri Bay?
Matauri Bay works with SW, S, SSW, WSW, W winds. Offshore directions are SW.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Matauri Bay?
Recommended equipment sizes at Matauri Bay: Kitesurfing: 10–14 m² · Windsurfing: 5.5–7.5 m² · Wingfoiling: 5–6 m². The typical wind range is 10–20 kts.
What skill level is Matauri Bay suitable for?
Matauri Bay suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Intermediate · Windsurfing: Intermediate · Wingfoiling: Intermediate · Surfing: Beginner.