Overview
Graveyards is a right-hand point break a kilometre south of Kaikoura's main point, and a handy option when the crowds up the coast get too much. The wave has a fast take-off before it soon backs off into a fat wall, peeling over boulders. It's a good spot overall.
When It Works
The point picks up swell from southwest through north to northeast (SW-N-NE), but it lines up best on a southeast swell. It works from 0.6 m / 2 ft to 2.4 m / 8 ft, so there's a decent working range to play with. Consistency is moderate, so it pays to pick your windows.
Wind and Tide
Look for a west offshore wind to clean it up. The point breaks through low and mid tide, with a rising tide generally the better call.
Local Tips
That quick take-off makes it best suited to intermediate surfers. Expect a moderately busy lineup when it's working, and it's a natural fallback when the main point up the coast is crowded.
Access
Head north from Kaikoura on State Highway 1 for about ten minutes, cross the Hapuku River, and pass Hapuku. Just past Hapuku Lodge, where the road meets the coast at a tight left-hand corner, turn onto Kiwa Road just before the bend. Follow the gravel road across the railway line toward the cemetery, where the right-handers break in front of the graveyard. There's free roadside parking.
