Purakaunui Bay

📍 Local Knowledge

Purakaunui Bay in the Catlins is a reasonably exposed beach break with fairly consistent surf and can be surfed year-round. The best surf occurs with a south-southeast swell and offshore winds from the northwest, typically during winter—most often in June—when clean, rideable waves are most reliable. Windswells and groundswells are equally common, the beach produces both left and right-handers, and it is surfable across all stages of the tide. The lineup is rarely crowded, but surfers should be mindful of strong rips and the potential presence of sharks.