Sandfly Bay
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Hourly Forecast
Timezone: Pacific/Auckland
⏱️s.
⚡️kJ
Thursday 28
Friday 29
Saturday 30
Sunday 31
Monday 01
Tuesday 02
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Sandfly Bay surf guide

Sandfly Bay is located along Dunedin’s southern beaches and is known for its relatively accessible surf. The area features a long hike over sandhills that leads down to the beach. While this spot might not be as famous as some other surf locations, it offers a mix of tranquil scenery and decent waves, particularly for beginners who are looking to get some experience without the crowds. Given that it's a Yellow Eye Penguin reserve, it's worth noting that the area has some restrictions, especially with nearby Boulder Beach being closed to surfers.

The surf at Sandfly Bay is generally best on small swells, especially during low tide. You can expect the waves to handle sizes starting from about 1 ft (0.3 m) and can break both left and right over sand. The optimal swell direction is from the south, but it can also pick up swells from the southeast and southwest. Winds coming from the north are preferable, so keep that in mind when planning your session. Overall, it’s a beachie more suited for those just starting out due to its forgiving conditions.

Make sure to plan your visit around low tide for the best surfing experience. The beautiful surroundings make the hike worth it, although the surf can be inconsistent. If you're after a mellow session with a chance to spot some wildlife, Sandfly Bay could be a good option. Just be aware of the local environment and the penguin nesting areas.

Surf reports and surf forecasts nearby Sandfly Bay

Oamaru Harbour
Otago, New Zealand
Reef break
Thu 28
Fri 29
Sat 30
Sun 31
Mon 1
Tue 2
Wed 3
Thu 4
Fri 5
Sat 6
Sun 7
Mon 8
Kakanui
Otago, New Zealand
Point break
Thu 28
Fri 29
Sat 30
Sun 31
Mon 1
Tue 2
Wed 3
Thu 4
Fri 5
Sat 6
Sun 7
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Karitane
Otago, New Zealand
Rivermouth break
Thu 28
Fri 29
Sat 30
Sun 31
Mon 1
Tue 2
Wed 3
Thu 4
Fri 5
Sat 6
Sun 7
Mon 8
Aramoana
Otago, New Zealand
Beach break
Thu 28
Fri 29
Sat 30
Sun 31
Mon 1
Tue 2
Wed 3
Thu 4
Fri 5
Sat 6
Sun 7
Mon 8
Murderers
Otago, New Zealand
Point break
Thu 28
Fri 29
Sat 30
Sun 31
Mon 1
Tue 2
Wed 3
Thu 4
Fri 5
Sat 6
Sun 7
Mon 8
Potato Point
Otago, New Zealand
Point break
Thu 28
Fri 29
Sat 30
Sun 31
Mon 1
Tue 2
Wed 3
Thu 4
Fri 5
Sat 6
Sun 7
Mon 8
Sandfly Bay
Otago, New Zealand
Beach break
Thu 28
Fri 29
Sat 30
Sun 31
Mon 1
Tue 2
Wed 3
Thu 4
Fri 5
Sat 6
Sun 7
Mon 8
Smails Beach
Otago, New Zealand
Beach break
Thu 28
Fri 29
Sat 30
Sun 31
Mon 1
Tue 2
Wed 3
Thu 4
Fri 5
Sat 6
Sun 7
Mon 8
St Clair
Otago, New Zealand
Beach break
Thu 28
Fri 29
Sat 30
Sun 31
Mon 1
Tue 2
Wed 3
Thu 4
Fri 5
Sat 6
Sun 7
Mon 8
Brighton - Dunedin
Otago, New Zealand
Point break
Thu 28
Fri 29
Sat 30
Sun 31
Mon 1
Tue 2
Wed 3
Thu 4
Fri 5
Sat 6
Sun 7
Mon 8
Wind certainty

Wind certainty tells you how much the weather models agree on the forecast.

  • High certainty: Models agree closely; forecast is reliable.
  • Medium certainty: Some disagreement; conditions may shift slightly.
  • Low certainty: Models diverge; treat forecast with caution.

We calculate this by comparing wind speed, gust and direction from multiple models (like GFS, ECMWF, Arome, and Harmonie) and seeing how closely they match. They are weighted, meaning that some models count more than others, depending on how good they are for a certain spot.

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"Great Forecasts. Nothing more, nothing less."

Readme

Welcome! If you’re new to surf forecasting, check out this quick guide.

Forecast Table

The forecast table (the section on the page with all the numbers) is designed to pack as much information in the screen as possible. Although intimidating at first, it will help you make informed decisions about the waves faster, trust me :D. The table consists of roughly four sections, time and predictions, wind, waves, and tides:

🔮 Time and predictions section

Here we show the forecast thour and the overall surf quality prediction. This is determined based on the wave, wind and tide quality prediction. These individual predictions can be found on the forecast map.

💨 Wind section

The first row on the table (with the 💨 icon) shows wind speed, direction and gust. The more the wind speed the more aggressive the color (from blue, green, orange to red).

🌊 Wave section

The waves section consists of three rows, one for wave height and direction, one for period and one for wave energy. Our algorithm choices the "dominant wave". This is normally the first swell partition, but with heavy local storms it displays the wind waves. If that's the case, we display the numbers in italic and in gray.

🌒 Tide section

The tide section consists of a row with the actual heights per hour (measured at the half hour) and a table that displays the flow of the tide and the extremes (lows and highs).

Forecast map

The forecast map consists of arrows. These arrows represent all wave partitions (swell partitions and wind wave partition) and the wind. This allows you to see things like: a secondary swell or wind waves messes up the surf, or the wind is just a tick offshore so very surfable. Click a metric label in the bottom left to bring that arrow to the front — handy when arrows overlap.

Forecast Cheat Sheet

Short on time? Focus on wave energy. It’s the best single metric to gauge how big and powerful the waves will be.

Click any table cell to jump to that forecast hour. The map will update with forecast arrows, so you can see if wind and swell direction are lining up.

Use the table sidebar to switch units for height and speed.

Log your surf sessions to compare forecasts with real sessions and sharpen future predictions.

Models and Updates

Surfnerd blends multiple global and local wind and swell models using advanced interpolation and spatial techniques to create an "ensemble" forecast. Forecasts are refreshed hourly.

Surf Predictions

Our AI-driven algorithm scores surf quality, shown by green, orange, and gray dots. Each forecast hour is rated for wind, swell, and tide quality, then combined into an overall score. Here’s the scale:

Perfect
Good
Average
Bad or No Data

Session logs also feed the algorithm — the more you log, the smarter your forecasts get.

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