Sannis

Sannis is a remote, sandy beach-break on the ocean side of Matakana Island in New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty. It’s described as rarely crowded, and the best conditions are tied closely to getting the right tide—high tide is consistently identified as the key. The wave character is generally peeling with medium power, and the break is exposed to the ocean, so conditions can vary with swell and wind. Surf tends to work best with offshore West or Southwest winds, which are noted as producing the cleanest wave quality. For swell, sources point to effective swell coming from east-to-southeast directions, with a working swell height window around 1.0 to 2.5 meters. When the swell grows large, it may still hold size, but can shift toward closing out as the swell becomes massive. From a safety standpoint, multiple hazards are flagged for this location, including sharks and strong rip-currents, and the remoteness of the beach is emphasized. There is no lifeguard presence reported for the spot, and rescue coverage at the spot itself is not reported as available; plan accordingly. Access is boat-only from the mainland, and visitors are advised to bring all necessary supplies because there are no shops or facilities at the beach. Seasonally, February is highlighted as the best month for the best combination of swell and conditions, with additional useful windows extending across summer. Water temperatures are cool-to-mild through the year (roughly mid-teens to low 20s °C depending on month), so wetsuit choice will matter.