Papatowai, New Zealand
Also within 20 km of Owaka
- Long Point Surf spot · 13.2 km from Owaka
Watch this spot We email you when Papatowai is worth the trip.
About Papatowai
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces SE (147°), so it takes swell from the SE. The wind blows offshore from the NW (327°). It is sheltered to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 3–14 ft of swell. The sea floor shelves gently: 10 m deep about 950 m out (1 in 97). On a typical 5 ft, 11 s swell the waves here would spill softly. The sea is about 10°C in August, its coldest month (4/3 or 5/4, boots and gloves), and 14°C in January, its warmest (4/3 wetsuit and boots). For intermediate surfers the best months are usually February, May, June and August, with about 2 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Owaka.
Water about 11°C: 4/3 or 5/4, boots and gloves. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
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From Chicago: about 31 h 20 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to DUD, changing at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Auckland International Airport (AKL).
See flights MDW → DUD · Skyscanner from about £780 returnAdGetting there. 1 h 50 from the airport to Papatowai.
Accommodation.
Nearest beds: Owaka, 16 km (about 30 min by car)Ad
No town with beds to book is nearer Papatowai: plan on the drive each day you surf.
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 Owaka, 16 km away (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Owaka 29 min by car · rooms from £85 a night · where Papatowai stays
Places to stay in Owaka · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Owaka · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Owaka · GetYourGuideAd
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Papatowai on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
The score for experts, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for experts | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 29, poor | 9 ft10 ssoft | 1,554kJ | wind from the west, 17 knots | 15°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 29, too small | 6 ft10 ssoft | 548kJ | offshorewind from the west-north-west, 16 knots, offshore | 13°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 34, poor | 7 ft9 ssoft | 738kJ | wind from the west, 13 knots | 16°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 25, too small | 5 ft8 ssoft | 291kJ | offshorewind from the west-north-west, 16 knots, offshore | 18°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 12, too small | 5 ft7 smushy | 210kJ | wind from the west-south-west, 15 knots | 15°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 36, fair | 5 ft10 ssoft | 470kJ | offshorewind from the west-north-west, 14 knots, offshore | 20°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 34, too small | 5 ft10 ssoft | 351kJ | offshorewind from the west-north-west, 13 knots, offshore | 20°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 31, too small | 4 ft11 ssoft | 427kJ | offshorewind from the north-west, 13 knots, offshore | 21°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 13, too small | 2 ft11 ssoft | 102kJ | offshorewind from the north, 10 knots, offshore | 23°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 14, poor | 6 ft6 smushy | 296kJ | wind from the west, 10 knots | 11°C |
| Wed 28Oct | 15, too small | 3 ft6 smushy | 49kJ | wind from the north-east, 6 knots | 13°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 expert surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Fly MDW to DUD, changing at DFW and AKL, then 1h 50 by road. About 31h 20 door to door
- Tue 20 OctSurf Papatowai
Best 10:00 to 13:00 local time: 7 ft at 9 s, wind 13 kn (24 km/h).
- Wed 21 OctSurf Papatowai
Best 10:00 to 13:00 local time: 5 ft at 8 s, offshore wind.
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Too small: 5 ft at best.
- Fri 23 OctSurf Papatowai
Best 10:00 to 13:00 local time: 5 ft at 10 s, offshore wind.
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Too small: 5 ft at best.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Fly MDW to DUD, changing at DFW and AKL, then 1h 50 by road. About 31h 20 door to door
Rough cost
About £1,470–£2,820 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 DUD, estimated from distance and season, changing at DFW and AKL, full-service airlines, with a hold bag | £780–£1,615 |
| 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 | £1,470–£2,820 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
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