Blackhead
Beach break tucked under Black Head, south-west of Dunedin. Best on a SE swell with a NE offshore at any tide.
Blackhead surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
Today's ConditionsToday's Conditions
Find FlightsLocation & Conditions
Hourly Forecast, Tide & Strike Windows
Tide times today
Strike Score Breakdown
Plan Your Strike
Return flights to DUD, departing today with a 5-day trip window.
Search Flights on SkyscannerLocation & Conditions
Know when Pacific is about to fire
Get the best strike windows in Pacific — and worldwide — in your inbox every Monday & Thursday. Live Strike Scores, the swell behind them, zero fluff.
Get the full Blackhead trip window
Pro unlocks the 10-day forecast window, unlimited alerts, and custom spot tracking that help turn a good-looking surf report into a better travel decision.
10-day window
See the trip window before flights get expensive.
Unlimited alerts
Let the app watch your score threshold for you.
Custom spots
Track the breaks that actually matter to your travel plans.
Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- SE (135°)
- Direction range
- 118° - 210°
- Size range
- 0.75m - 3m
- Ideal size
- 1.8m - 2.4m
- Height multiplier
- 1.00×
- Ideal period
- 11s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- NE (45°)
- Offshore range
- 0° - 90°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- all
Water temp
12°C
Wetsuit
5/4mm + boots
Difficulty
5/10
Crowd level
3/10
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is Blackhead?
Blackhead is a beach break in Dunedin, New Zealand, with peaks that run both left and right.
What swell works best at Blackhead?
Blackhead picks up swell from the ESE round to the SSW, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the SE. It starts working at around 0.75m and handles up to about 3m, with the sweet spot around 1.8 to 2.4m. Period matters too: aim for 11s or longer, as anything under 8s tends to be weak. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
What wind is offshore at Blackhead?
A NE wind is dead offshore at Blackhead, and anything from the N round to the E keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 6am to 10am. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
What tide is best at Blackhead?
Blackhead isn't especially fussy about tide and generally works through the cycle, so swell and wind matter more here. Big tides can still change how it breaks, so it's worth checking before you paddle out.
How cold is the water at Blackhead?
The water at Blackhead averages around 12°C, so you'll want a 5/4mm with boots. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
Is Blackhead good for beginners?
It's more of an intermediate wave, rated 5/10 for difficulty, so newer surfers are best off sticking to the smaller days. The lineup is usually quiet (crowd 3/10).
How do I get to Blackhead?
The nearest airport on our list is DUD, then it's roughly a 25-minute drive.
What other surf spots are near Blackhead?
The closest breaks we track are St Clair (4.7 km), Brighton Point (7.0 km) and St Kilda Beach (7.2 km), handy when Blackhead isn't working. We track 5 spots around Dunedin in total.
Getting There
Nearby Spots
St Clair
❄️ Southern Ocean cold • Roaring forties power • Deep south dedication
Brighton Point
🥝 Right-hand point • S swell magnet • Dunedin south
St Kilda Beach
🥝 Lefts and rights • Beachbreak • S swell, Dunedin south coast
Tomahawk Beach
🥝 Lefts and rights • Beachbreak • S swell, Dunedin south coast
Cob Cottage
🥝 Lefts and rights • Reef • S swell, Brighton coast
Smaills Beach
🥝 Lefts and rights • Beachbreak • S swell, Dunedin south coast