Piha - surf spot statistics

Piha, New Zealand, is a powerful, exposed beach break that receives consistent swell year-round, with ground swell dominating over wind swell in all months. The best time to surf here is during the autumn and winter months (March to August), when swell energy is strong and consistent, with mean swell sizes peaking around 2.1m from May to October. However, wind conditions are generally less favorable during this period, with bad wind days occurring over 70% of the time, particularly from August to November when unfavorable winds exceed 80%. The shoulder seasons (February to April) offer a slightly better balance, with decent swell size (1.5m to 1.8m) and marginally improved wind conditions—around 30% good wind days in February to March. Summer (December to January) brings smaller swells (1.6m mean) and higher wind swell influence, though ground swell still dominates. While summer has the least frequent bad wind days (around 76% in January), it’s still not ideal due to inconsistent winds and smaller waves. Advanced surfers will prioritize the larger, cleaner swells of autumn and early winter, while intermediates may find late summer and early autumn more manageable despite the still-challenging wind patterns. Overall, March stands out as a strong month with a high percentage of ground swell (91%), manageable mean size (1.7m), and slightly better wind odds (31% good days) compared to deeper winter.

March at Piha offers solid surf conditions with an average swell height of 1.7m and a strong average period of 13.1s, indicating consistent, well-formed waves. The dominant swell direction is from the WSW, contributing the majority of rideable waves, especially in the 1-2.5m range (28.3% at 1-1.5m, 20.2% at 1.5-2m). While smaller waves (0.5-1m) are frequent, there’s a good chance of overhead sets (over 2.5m) 0.7% of the time, appealing to advanced surfers. Wind conditions are favorable for surfing 31% of the time, with light to moderate offshore or cross-shore winds (predominantly ENE to SE) keeping the surface clean. However, stronger onshore winds from the SSW and SW can occasionally disrupt conditions. Overall, March delivers reliable, powerful surf with a mix of mid-sized and larger waves, though wind variability requires selective timing for optimal sessions.