St Clair
St Clair is cold water surfing at its most rewarding—Dunedin's main beach break exposed to the roaring forties, where consistent southern swells meet dedicated locals in 5mm wetsuits and booties. The wave offers both beach break peaks and a right-hand rock point section, providing variety for all conditions. What St Clair lacks in tropical warmth it compensates with wild beauty: the dramatic Otago coastline, the Southern Alps as a distant backdrop, and a surf community forged in conditions that would send fair-weather surfers running. This is New Zealand's deep south, where the waves are cold but the stoke runs hot.
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Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- S (180°)
- Direction range
- 150° - 220°
- Size range
- 0.6m - 2.5m
- Ideal size
- 1.9m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 14s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- N (0°)
- Offshore range
- 320° - 40°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- all
- Optimal range
- 0.4m - 1.6m
Water temp
12°C
Wetsuit
5/4mm + boots
Difficulty
5/10
Crowd level
5/10
Access: 23km from Dunedin Airport. Right in Dunedin city.
Frequently Asked Questions
What tide is best at St Clair?
St Clair works best on a mid tide, ideally between 0.4m and 1.6m on the local tide chart. The tide chart above shows today’s strike window.
What wind direction is offshore at St Clair?
Offshore wind at St Clair blows from the N (0°). Anything in the 320° to 40° range grooms the faces; outside it, expect chop or bumpy conditions.
What swell size and direction work best at St Clair?
St Clair wants S swell (150° to 220°) between 0.6m and 2.5m, with a period of 14s or more for quality waves.
When is the best time of year to surf St Clair?
The main season at St Clair is Mar-Oct. A secondary window runs Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb. Consistent S swells. Medium-high consistency year-round.
How do I get to St Clair?
Fly into DUD, then allow about 20 minutes by road. 23km from Dunedin Airport. Right in Dunedin city.
What kind of wave is St Clair?
St Clair is a beach break, a right-hander. Difficulty is rated 5/10.
Best Season
Peak: Mar-Oct
Secondary: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb
Consistent S swells. Medium-high consistency year-round.