Whale Watch Reef

📍 Local Knowledge

Whale Watch Reef in Kaikoura and Marlborough is an exposed beach and reef break that does not work very often, with no particular seasonal pattern for its surf. The best conditions occur when a Northeast swell, consisting of windswells and groundswells in equal measure, combines with an offshore wind direction from the Southwest. While there is no beach break, it features a right-hand reef break that performs best around low tide when the tide is falling. It very rarely gets crowded here, though surfers should watch out for hazards such as rips, rocks, and sharks. The best time of year for consistent, clean waves is during the summer, particularly the month of April.