Paekakariki, New Zealand
Also within 20 km of Paekākāriki
- Ring rolls Surf spot · 2.1 km from Paekākāriki
- Scouts den Surf spot · 3.6 km from Paekākāriki
- Pukerua Bay Surf spot · 8.1 km from Paekākāriki
- The Pa Surf spot · 14.4 km from Paekākāriki
- Illusions - Plimmerton Surf spot · 14.6 km from Paekākāriki
- Titahi Bay Surf spot · 17.5 km from Paekākāriki
- Titahi bay beach Surf spot · 17.5 km from Paekākāriki
Watch this spot We email you when Paekakariki is worth the trip.
About Paekakariki
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces NW (293°), so it takes swell from the NW. The wind blows offshore from the SE (113°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 3–13 ft of swell. The sea floor shelves very gently: 10 m deep about 1.2 km out (1 in 123). On a typical 5 ft, 11 s swell the waves here would spill softly. The sea is about 14°C in July, its coldest month (4/3 wetsuit and boots), and 19°C in February, its warmest (2 mm shorty). The town to stay in is Paekākāriki, 1.9 km away (about 5 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 2 surf spots.
Water about 14°C: 4/3 wetsuit and boots. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
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Book the trip
From Chicago: about 29 h 40 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. MDW to WLG, changing at DFW and AKL.
See flights MDW → WLG · Skyscanner from about £750 returnAdGetting there. 1 h from the airport to Paekakariki.
Accommodation.
Stay in PaekākārikiAd
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Paekākāriki (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Paekākāriki 3 min by car · rooms from £85 a night · 1 places to stay · where Paekakariki stays
Places to stay in Paekākāriki · Booking.com AdLower Hutt 48 min by car · rooms from £85 a night · 3 places to stay
Places to stay in Lower Hutt · Booking.com AdŌtaki 55 min by car · rooms from £85 a night · 6 places to stay
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Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Paekākāriki · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Paekākāriki · GetYourGuideAd
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Where it is
Paekakariki on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
The score for intermediates, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for intermediates | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 18, too small | 2 ft10 smushy | 98kJ | wind from the west-south-west, 6 knots | 14°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 12, too small | 2 ft4 smushy | 6kJ | wind from the west, 1 knot | 16°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 12, too small | 1 ft10 ssoft | 35kJ | offshorewind from the east-north-east, 1 knot, offshore | 16°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 9, too small | 2 ft4 smushy | 8kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 7 knots | 16°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 12, too small | 2 ft5 smushy | 10kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 7 knots | 17°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 9, too small | 1 ft5 smushy | 6kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 4 knots | 18°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 13, poor | 3 ft5 smushy | 52kJ | wind from the north, 12 knots | 15°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 9, too small | 3 ft5 smushy | 46kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 13 knots | 14°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 3, too small | 1 ft6 smushy | 13kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 14 knots | 14°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 1, too small | 1 ft8 smushy | 17kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 19 knots | 15°C |
| Wed 28Oct | 15, too small | 3 ft8 smushy | 97kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 14 knots | 12°C |
Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Energy is the swell's power in kJ per metre of wave, from its height and interval: it grows with the square of each, so a long-period swell hits far harder than a short one the same size. The word under the swell is the wave's shape, our estimate from the sea floor. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to; offshore wind, blowing from the land out to sea, is green and says so.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for intermediate surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Fly MDW to WLG, changing at DFW and AKL, then 1h by road. About 29h 40 door to door
- Tue 20 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Sat 24 OctSurf Ring rolls
Best 19:00 to 22:00 local time: 3 ft at 5 s, wind 11 kn (20 km/h).
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Fly MDW to WLG, changing at DFW and AKL, then 1h by road. About 29h 40 door to door
The plan picks the best of 4 spots near Paekākāriki each day: Paekakariki, Pukerua Bay, Ring rolls, Scouts den.
Rough cost
About £1,440–£2,765 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return MDW to WLG, estimated from distance and season, changing at DFW and AKL, full-service airlines, with a hold bag | £750–£1,560 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Hire car | 6 days, shared | £100–£170 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | £225–£375 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £230–£430 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £100–£165 |
| Total | £1,440–£2,765 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Book the trip
Where to stayAd
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