Shipwreck Bay
New Zealand · Australasia
Right now
DrizzleWind and swell direction
Swell: 2.0m SW
Wind: 15 km/h ESE (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 10:25Expected crowds
Prediction model v17amMidweek quiet
Next 7 days
Forecast via Open-MeteoWhat to pack
- 3/2mm wetsuit or spring suit for 18°C water.
- Strong winds on some days. Check the forecast each morning.
- Standard shortboard conditions.
Today's briefing
2.2m swell at 10s. Onshore wind creating some chop. Water temperature 19°C.
AI-generated summary for Shipwreck Bay. Always check local reports before heading out.
Forecast accuracy at Shipwreck Bay
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 Tomorrow around 4pm (score: 41). 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 Shipwreck Bay.
What's driving it
Recent form
Last 3 days of logged conditions.
About Shipwreck Bay
Shipwreck Bay is a renowned left-hand point break situated at the southern end of Ninety Mile Beach in Northland, New Zealand. The bathymetric profile comprises a mix of flat volcanic rock shelves and compacted sand corridors that extend from the prominent headland. When powerful westerly groundswells track across the Tasman Sea, they collide with this coastal structure, wrapping cleanly into the bay. An easterly offshore wind is required to hold up the wave face and maintain the structural integrity of the long, peeling lefts. The wave mechanics offer a steep take-off that transitions into exceptionally long, workable walls, allowing for extensive carving and rail-to-rail progression. On massive swells, the outside sections can connect all the way through to the inside sandbars, yielding rides that last for several minutes. Due to the high-velocity take-off, the length of the ride, and the presence of exposed boulders in the impact zone, it demands significant cardiovascular fitness and solid board control. It is universally classified as an outstanding canvas for intermediate to advanced surfers seeking long-distance leg-burning waves.
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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 Shipwreck Bay. 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 Shipwreck Bay?
Check our timing score heatmap above for a week-by-week breakdown combining surf conditions with crowd pressure.