Sandfly Bay
Wild, south-facing beach below huge sand dunes on the Otago Peninsula, reached by a steep walk down the sand hill. Works on SW to SE swell with a north wind, best at low tide. Share it with fur seals and sea lions.
Sandfly Bay 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 Sandfly Bay 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
- S (180°)
- Direction range
- 178° - 242°
- Size range
- 0.37m - 2.25m
- Ideal size
- 1.2m - 1.8m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 11s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- N (0°)
- Offshore range
- 315° - 45°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- low
Water temp
12°C
Wetsuit
5/4mm + boots
Difficulty
5/10
Crowd level
1/10
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is Sandfly Bay?
Sandfly Bay is a beach break in Otago Peninsula, New Zealand, with peaks that run both left and right.
What swell works best at Sandfly Bay?
Sandfly Bay picks up swell from the S round to the WSW, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the S. It starts working at around 0.37m and handles up to about 2.25m, with the sweet spot around 1.2 to 1.8m. 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 Sandfly Bay?
A N wind is dead offshore at Sandfly Bay, and anything from the NW round to the NE 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 Sandfly Bay?
Sandfly Bay is at its best around low tide.
When is the best time of year to surf Sandfly Bay?
The most reliable run of swell at Sandfly Bay comes Dec to Feb, through the southern summer.
How cold is the water at Sandfly Bay?
The water at Sandfly Bay 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 Sandfly Bay 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 1/10). Steep sand-hill access; fur seals and sea lions haul out here and can approach surfers.
How do I get to Sandfly Bay?
The nearest airport on our list is DUD, then it's roughly a 45-minute drive.
What other surf spots are near Sandfly Bay?
The closest breaks we track are Boulder Beach (2.7 km), Allans Beach (4.4 km) and Smaills Beach (6.8 km), handy when Sandfly Bay isn't working. We track 6 spots around Otago Peninsula in total.
Best Season
Peak: Dec, Jan, Feb
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Boulder Beach
🥝 Lefts and rights • Beachbreak • S swell, Otago Peninsula
Allans Beach
🥝 Lefts and rights • Beachbreak • SSE swell, Otago Peninsula
Smaills Beach
🥝 Lefts and rights • Beachbreak • S swell, Dunedin south coast
Tomahawk Beach
🥝 Lefts and rights • Beachbreak • S swell, Dunedin south coast
Papanui Beach
🥝 Lefts and rights • Beachbreak • ESE swell, Otago Peninsula
St Kilda Beach
🥝 Lefts and rights • Beachbreak • S swell, Dunedin south coast