Surf Forecast Surf Report
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Clarence River break guidePhoto by: Gig Bassett

Clarence River Surf Guide

Clarence River in Kaikoura is an exposed point/Rivermouth break that has consistent surf, although summer tends to be mostly flat. Works best in offshore winds from the southwest. Windswells and groundswells in equal measure and the ideal swell direction is from the southeast. Good surf at all stages of the tide. Rarely crowded here. Watch out for dangerous rips.

Clarence River Spot Info

Type:Rating:
Point/river3
Reliability:Todays Sea Temp*:
consistent
60°F*ocean temperature recorded from satellite

Surfing Clarence River:

The best conditions reported for surf at Clarence River occur when a Southeast swell combines with an offshore wind direction from the Southwest.

Surf Forecasts:

What's the best time of year to surf Clarence River (for consistent clean waves)?

juneBest Season: winter
The best time of year for surfing Clarence River with consistent clean waves (rideable swell with light / offshore winds) is during Winter and most often the month of June. Clean surfable waves are typically found 49% of the time in June while 30% of the time it tends to be blown out. For the remaining 21% of the time it is considered too small by most surfers but may still be OK for beginners and groms at times.
clean
49%
Surfable waves that hold up well for longer rides in prevailing cross-offshore, offshore or light wind conditions.
blown out
30%
Surfable sized waves that are of poorer quality due to prevailing onshore, cross-onshore or windy conditions (may be preferable for kitesurfing).
too small
21%
Waves usually considered too small for good surf. Some wave-magnet breaks may still work though if conditions are right (on occasion).

Explore Clarence River Location Map

Interactive Clarence River surf break location map. View information about nearby surf breaks, their wave consistency and rating compared to other spots in the region. Current swell conditions from local buoys are shown along with live wind speed and direction from nearby weather stations. Click icons on the map for more detail. The closest passenger airport to Clarence River is Woodbourne Airport (BHE) in New Zealand, 70 km (43 miles) away (directly). The second nearest airport to Clarence River is Nelson Airport (NSN), also in New Zealand, 111 km (69 miles) away.

  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (ft)
  • Live Wind Speed (mph)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (ft)
  • Wind Speed (mph)
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Please note that some surf spot locations are approximate to protect their exact location while others are not shown at close zoom level.
Clarence River Surf Forecasts:
Todays Surf Summary
Wednesday, 8 January 2025, 16:03 Local Time
Wednesday 08Thu
4PM7PM10PM1AM
Wave (ft)
6
S
5
S
4.5
S
3.5
S
Period (s) 6 6 6 6
Wind (mph)
15
15
10
10
Wind State cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
off

Swell History at Clarence River

Surf stats for Clarence River, see the swell variation by month or season on the history page here.

Wind History at Clarence River

Wind stats for Clarence River, see the variation in direction and stength by month or season on the history page here.

Other Nearby Breaks Closest To:

Discover surf breaks near Clarence River. Click below to view there surf guides.


Wave Buoys Nearest To Clarence River:

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Nearest