Piha
Piha is New Zealand's most iconic surf beach—a dramatic sweep of black iron sand framed by the distinctive Lion Rock formation on Auckland's wild west coast. The beach produces quality peaks up and down its length, with the northern end often offering the most consistent waves. Piha is raw and beautiful: native bush tumbling down steep hillsides, powerful rips (it's NZ's most rescued beach), and consistent swells from the Tasman Sea. The 45-minute drive from Auckland makes it an accessible escape that feels worlds away from the city.
Piha 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 AKL, 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 Piha 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
- SW (225°)
- Direction range
- 180° - 270°
- Size range
- 0.8m - 3m
- Ideal size
- 1.8m - 2.5m
- Height multiplier
- 1.00×
- Ideal period
- 14s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- E (100°)
- Offshore range
- 60° - 140°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- all
- Optimal range
- 0.5m - 2m
Water temp
17°C
Wetsuit
3/2mm fullsuit
Difficulty
5/10
Crowd level
6/10
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is Piha?
Piha is a beach break in Auckland, New Zealand, with peaks that run both left and right.
What swell works best at Piha?
Piha picks up swell from the S round to the W, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the SW. It starts working at around 0.8m and handles up to about 3m, with the sweet spot around 1.8 to 2.5m. Period matters too: aim for 14s or longer, as anything under 10s 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 Piha?
An E wind is dead offshore at Piha, and anything from the ENE round to the SE keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 6am to 11am. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
What tide is best at Piha?
Piha has a preferred tide range, roughly 0.5m to 2m on the local chart.
When is the best time of year to surf Piha?
The most reliable run of swell at Piha comes Mar to May, through the southern autumn. There's a second window in Jun to Oct too. Autumn best. Year-round swell. Iconic Lion Rock.
How cold is the water at Piha?
The water at Piha averages around 17°C, so you'll want a 3/2mm fullsuit. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
Is Piha 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. Expect a moderate crowd (6/10) when it's on. Very strong rips - most rescued beach in NZ. Black iron-sand.
How do I get to Piha?
The nearest airport on our list is AKL, then it's roughly a 45-minute drive.
What other surf spots are near Piha?
The closest breaks we track are Muriwai Beach (13 km), Takapuna Reef (North Reef) (33 km) and O'Neills Reef (34 km), handy when Piha isn't working.
Best Season
Peak: Mar-May
Secondary: Jun-Oct
Autumn best. Year-round swell. Iconic Lion Rock.
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Muriwai Beach
🪿 Gannet colony views • Auckland consistency • West coast access
Takapuna Reef (North Reef)
🥝 Lefts and rights • Reef • NE swell, Auckland east
O'Neills Reef
🥝 Left-hand reef • NE swell magnet • Auckland east
Milford Reef
🥝 Lefts and rights • Reef • NE swell, Auckland east
Long Bay Reef
🥝 Lefts and rights • Reef • NE swell, Auckland east
Mangawhai Heads
🥝 Lefts and rights • Beachbreak • ENE swell, Northland east coast
Plan a trip around Piha
Compare this break with other destinations in these surf guides.