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.

May at Piha offers solid surf conditions with an average swell height of 2.1m and a strong period of 13.4s, indicating powerful, well-formed waves. The dominant swell directions are WSW (56.9% of waves between 1-2.5m) and SW (8.0% in the same range), producing consistent, high-quality peaks ideal for intermediate to advanced surfers. Smaller swells from W (5.4%) add variety. Wind conditions are less favorable, with only 25% of days offering clean offshore or light cross-shore winds—primarily from the NE and E (below 20kph). However, onshore WSW and SW winds (20-40kph) occur frequently, causing choppiness. Expect larger, powerful swells (over 2.5m) 8.5% of the time, mostly from WSW, bringing challenging but epic conditions for experienced riders. Overall, May delivers reliable surf, though wind quality is hit-or-miss.