Shipwreck Bay is New Zealand's remote reward—a long left point break at the end of Ninety Mile Beach in the far north that can produce rides lasting three minutes or more. The journey here requires commitment: a 4WD or lengthy beach walk through one of the world's most pristine stretches of sand. But that isolation preserves something increasingly rare: genuine solitude in world-class waves. The main left and the Peaks section further out both light up when distant groundswells arrive from the Tasman, offering the kind of soul-surfing experience that defined the sport before crowds and cameras.
Water temp
18°C
Wetsuit
3/2mm fullsuit
Difficulty
7/10
Crowd level
3/10
Access: 4WD required or long beach walk from Ahipara. 20km from Kaitaia Airport.
Peak: May-Oct
Secondary: Mar, Apr, Nov
Winter best (Oct peak). Receives distant groundswells.
Verified by Surfline NZ
How well swell angle matches the spot
Wave height in the ideal range
Each spot has different period requirements. Points and reefs can handle longer periods than beaches.
Offshore/glassy conditions