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.
St Clair surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
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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
- 1.5m - 2m
- 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 kind of wave is St Clair?
St Clair is a beach break in Dunedin, New Zealand, that mostly breaks right.
What swell works best at St Clair?
St Clair picks up swell from the SSE round to the SW, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the S. It starts working at around 0.6m and handles up to about 2.5m, with the sweet spot around 1.5 to 2m. 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 St Clair?
A N wind is dead offshore at St Clair, 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 St Clair?
St Clair has a preferred tide range, roughly 0.4m to 1.6m on the local chart.
When is the best time of year to surf St Clair?
The most reliable run of swell at St Clair comes Mar to Oct. There's a second window in Nov to Feb too. Consistent S swells. Medium-high consistency year-round.
How cold is the water at St Clair?
The water at St Clair 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 St Clair 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 (5/10) when it's on. Rocky point on right side. Cold water - 5mm wetsuit needed.
How do I get to St Clair?
The nearest airport on our list is DUD, then it's roughly a 20-minute drive. 23km from Dunedin Airport. Right in Dunedin city.
What other surf spots are near St Clair?
The closest breaks we track are St Kilda Beach (2.4 km), Tomahawk Beach (4.8 km) and The Spit (Aramoana) (24 km), handy when St Clair isn't working.
Best Season
Peak: Mar-Oct
Secondary: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb
Consistent S swells. Medium-high consistency year-round.
Getting There
Nearby Spots
St Kilda Beach
🥝 Lefts and rights • Beachbreak • S swell, Dunedin south coast
Tomahawk Beach
🥝 Lefts and rights • Beachbreak • S swell, Dunedin south coast
The Spit (Aramoana)
🥝 Lefts and rights • Beachbreak • ENE swell, Dunedin north
Karitane Bar
🥝 Right-hand beachbreak • E swell magnet • Dunedin north
Karitane Point (The Point)
🥝 Right-hand point • E swell magnet • Dunedin north
Kaka Point
🥝 Lefts and rights • Beachbreak • SE swell, The Catlins
Plan a trip around St Clair
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