Nicks Point (Oraka Aparima Community)
- Shortboard, Advanced riders
- Best for
- Advanced
- Skill Level
- Swell, Medium waves
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Nicks Point is a remote, exposed right-hand point break in Southland near Invercargill, where waves can be highly inconsistent unless a sufficiently large southwest swell wraps around the headland. When it does connect, surfers can get long, peeling rides, but smaller swells often miss the point entirely. North winds are reported as the key wind direction for this spot, with offshore flow helping groom the swell face. Low tide is consistently identified as the optimal tide for accessing the best wave shape. The setting is rugged and challenging: rocky/submerged-boulder entries, kelp, and strong rip currents/sweep along the point are reported, and the water is very cold year-round. Multiple sources also flag shark presence as a core hazard. Crowds are typically low, described as relatively few surfers even on good days, reflecting the remoteness and the advanced skill level needed for safe navigation of currents, paddling difficulty, and rougher launch/approach conditions.
- Best at low tide
- Requires a large southwest swell to wrap into the bay
- North winds reported to groom the face
- Rarely crowded
- Advanced-level point break with long, peeling sections when it connects
- North winds can groom the face (reported offshore effect)
- Rarely crowded due to remoteness and high skill requirements
- Unreliable wave conditions unless the right swell wraps the headland
- Cold water and heavy kelp/rough entry conditions
- Strong rip currents and sweep along the point
- Shark hazards reported
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- N
- Offshore directions
- N
- Wind Range
- 15–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Frontal — Predominantly frontal/gradient pattern in the region; spot wind direction is reported as north.
- Reliability
- low
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — Reported gustiness is moderate.
- Best Months
- September, October, November
- Shadow Zones
- Sheltered from southerly winds by the headland.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Swell, Medium waves
- Beach
- Mixed — Conflicting reports: sand vs rocks. Sand is reported by some guides; rocky entry and rock composition are reported by others.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Medium — Reported wave size is medium; can work bigger when the SW swell is large enough to wrap.
- Launch
- Small — Rocky entry is reported; access involves walking along rocks from Colac Bay.
- Launch Difficulty
- Difficult — Rocky entry and slippery rock approach can make launching and walking to the point difficult.
Through the year
Rarely crowded year-round due to remoteness and high skill level required.
Winter months see frequent cold fronts and stormy conditions; vigorous cold fronts are most frequent in spring (September–November).
By sport
What to expect for each.
Exposed right-hand point break with unreliable waves unless a significant southwest swell wraps around the headland for it to connect properly. Rocky/kelp bottom and strong currents can make paddling and positioning challenging.
- Wave Direction
- Right
- Optimal Swell
- SW
- Swell Height
- 1.5–3 m
- Optimal Tide
- Low — Low tide is consistently reported as optimal.
- Shelter
- Semi-sheltered — Reported as semi-sheltered due to the headland, but overall the spot is described as exposed.
- Wind Effect
- North winds are reported as offshore for this break and can groom the swell face.
- Bigger Swell
- Holds size well, but can become difficult to paddle out; requires a large SW swell to work reliably.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Good wave quality is reported when swell conditions are sufficient.
- Wave Power
- Powerful — Reported as powerful when swell connects.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Reported as a peeling right-hand point break.
- Peel Speed
- Medium — Peel speed reported as medium.
- Ride Length
- Medium — Longer peeling sections when the swell is large enough to connect.
- Typical Ride Length
- 100–200 m
- Ride Length Details
- Can deliver long, peeling sections when the swell is large enough to connect the point.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Nicks Point (Oraka Aparima Community) in the full forecast view.
Nicks Point (Oraka Aparima Community) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 11–24 ktsGusts 42 kts
- Direction
- WNW289°
- Strongest day
- Thu, Oct 2924 kts
- Windy days
- 7/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 1.4–3.7 m11s period
- Temperature
- 7–20 °C
Over the next 7 days, Nicks Point (Oraka Aparima Community) is forecast for daytime winds of 11–24 kts, peaking around 24 kts on Thursday, October 29 with gusts to 42 kts. The prevailing direction is WNW. Waves run 1.4–3.7 m with a period of about 11s. 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
- Sharks
- Rocks
- Strong rip currents and sweep along the point
- Cold water
- Heavy kelp
- Submerged boulders
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguard presence reported at the spot.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue is coordinated via national emergency services; local coastguard coverage is reported for the wider area.
- Emergency Info
- Nearest medical facilities are in Riverton or Invercargill. Call 111 for police, fire, or ambulance needs.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Reported as a low-crowd, dedicated-local type environment; mild localism is indicated by sources.
Rules of the spot
Never surf alone: always go out with a mate or choose a lifeguarded beach. If conditions look too big or messy for your skill level, don’t risk it.
- Wait for a large southwest swell; smaller swells often miss the point entirely.
- The walk to the point can be over slippery rocks.
- Requires a massive SW swell to wrap all the way into the bay for it to really work well.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Invercargill
- Nearest Town
- Riverton
- Nearest Airport
- Invercargill Airport (IVC)
- Parking
- Limited parking near the access points at Colac Bay.
- Public Transport
- Extremely limited; a private vehicle is essential for accessing different spots and transporting equipment in this rural coastal region.
- Access
- Accessible via a coastal track or walking along the rocks from Colac Bay.
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Camping and small holiday homes in Colac Bay; motels in Riverton.
- Food & Drink
- Local tavern and small stores in Colac Bay.
- Equipment Rental:
- No rentals available on-site; limited availability locally.
- Gear Storage
- Not commonly available as a public service; usually provided by specific accommodation providers.
- Gear Repair
- Basic surfboard repairs may be available through local boardriders’ networks; specialized repairs may require shipping.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
A remote, rugged Southland coast with strong maritime and Māori heritage, centered around small communities and a developing surfing culture.
Ever-changing sands where semi-precious stones like jasper and garnet can be found.
Local marae and administrative center for the Ngāi Tahu people in the region.
Walking tracks with panoramic views over Foveaux Strait and the Southland plains.
Popular local dining option in Riverton with sea views.
Community space for children and skaters.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Nicks Point (Oraka Aparima Community)?
The best overall months at Nicks Point (Oraka Aparima Community) are September, October, November.
Which wind directions work at Nicks Point (Oraka Aparima Community)?
Nicks Point (Oraka Aparima Community) works with N winds. Offshore directions are N.
What skill level is Nicks Point (Oraka Aparima Community) suitable for?
Nicks Point (Oraka Aparima Community) suits these riding levels: Surfing: Advanced.