Piha
New Zealand · Australasia
Right now
DrizzleWind and swell direction
Swell: 1.9m SW
Wind: 9 km/h E (offshore)
Beach faces: W
Offshore wind (blowing from land to sea). Ideal conditions, holding up wave faces for cleaner surf.
Swell direction is a decent angle for this beach.
Today hour by hour
Updated 08:35Expected crowds
Prediction model v17amMidweek quiet
Next 7 days
Forecast via Open-MeteoWhat to pack
- 3/2mm wetsuit or spring suit for 18°C water.
- Standard shortboard conditions.
- Rain jacket for between sessions.
Today's briefing
2.0m swell at 10s. Light winds keeping things clean. Water temperature 18°C.
AI-generated summary for Piha. Always check local reports before heading out.
Forecast accuracy at Piha
Not enough data yet. Log a session to help build the accuracy score.
Best time to go
No great windows in the next 2 days
Best available option is Today around 7am (score: 33). Conditions are below the Good threshold but may still be surfable.
Crowd report
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Session journal
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Create free accountTide
Approximate modelSwell forecast
7-day forecastDaily score breakdown
This week is looking well above average for late April.
Comparing the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Piha.
What's driving it
Recent form
Last 3 days of logged conditions.
About Piha
Piha is a highly rugged, notoriously powerful black sand beach break located on the west coast of the North Island, near Auckland, New Zealand. The bathymetry relies entirely on mobile, heavy volcanic iron sandbanks, which are strongly influenced by tidal currents and the iconic, towering Lion Rock situated in the centre of the bay. The beach operates optimally on robust south-westerly groundswells generated in the Tasman Sea, paired with an easterly offshore wind. The interaction between the incoming oceanic swell and the structured sandbars creates steep, high-quality A-frame peaks providing both left and right-hand rides. While hollow sections frequently materialise, the waves generally offer steep, fast walls suitable for high-performance carving. This balance of power and predictability renders Piha ideal for intermediate to advanced surfers. The sandy bottom is relatively forgiving, but the incredibly fierce littoral rip currents demand supreme ocean awareness and disciplined paddle fitness.
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Create Profile →Frequently asked questions
How often is this page updated?
Current conditions refresh every 6 hours when the cron runs. Hourly data updates every 30 minutes. The 7-day forecast, luck factor, and packing notes are all pre-computed at the same time.
What is the luck factor?
We compare the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Piha. The delta tells you whether conditions are shaping up better, worse, or about the same as a typical late April.
How is 'best session' picked?
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Where does the data come from?
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
Does the score capture local knowledge?
Honestly, no. Every break has tide windows, swell directions and reef contours that a global model cannot see. Treat the score as a starting point, then check a local cam.
When is the best time to surf Piha?
Check our timing score heatmap above for a week-by-week breakdown combining surf conditions with crowd pressure.