Mataveri is a left-hand point that peels over boulders and lays claim to the longest wave on the island, with rides of up to 800m when everything lines up. A rocky outcrop stops it from linking all the way through from the island, but the section that does break is fast and tubular. It is deceptive, too, and always bigger than it looks once you are sitting out there.
When It Works
Mataveri is fickle and only somewhat consistent, so it rewards patience. It comes to life on a moderate swell with plenty of long period behind it, and the more west in the swell the better. It draws swell from southwest through northwest, with west the best match. Plan on it being surfable from 1.5 m / 5 ft to 6.1 m / 20 ft.
Wind and Tide
Look for east offshore wind. It can work through low, mid, and high tide, with a rising tide generally the better call.
Local Tips
This is an expert-only wave and not one to underestimate. The lineup tends to stay fairly quiet when it breaks.
Access
Getting in is the easy part, a straightforward jump off the cliff. Getting out is where it turns serious: you climb onto a barely submerged rack and scale a 6ft razor-sharp lava cliff, pull your board up after you, then repeat with the board under your arm before reaching the ledge and safety from the sets.
