Wainakarua Bay, New Zealand
Also within 20 km of Hampden
- Current bay Surf spot · 5.4 km from Hampden
- Wainak bar Surf spot · 10.4 km from Hampden
- Kakanui Surf spot · 16.9 km from Hampden
- Campbell´s bay Surf spot · 17.2 km from Hampden
Watch this spot We email you when Wainakarua Bay is worth the trip.
About Wainakarua Bay
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces E (72°), so it takes swell from the E. The wind blows offshore from the W (252°). It is sheltered to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up, because of a steep sea floor. It works in 4–17 ft of swell. The sea floor shelves very steeply: 10 m deep about 100 m out (1 in 9). On a typical 5 ft, 11 s swell the waves here would break hollow. The sea is about 10°C in August, its coldest month (4/3 or 5/4, boots and gloves), and 16°C in January, its warmest (3/2 wetsuit). For intermediate surfers the best months are usually June, July and August, with about 1 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Hampden, 2.6 km away (about 5 min by car).
Water about 12°C: 4/3 or 5/4, boots and gloves. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
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Book the trip
From Chicago: about 30 h 30 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to CHC, changing at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
See flights MDW → CHC · Skyscanner from about £765 returnAdGetting there. 4 h 35 from the airport to Wainakarua Bay.
Accommodation.
Stay in HampdenAd
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 Hampden (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Hampden 4 min by car · rooms from £85 a night · where Wainakarua Bay stays
Places to stay in Hampden · Booking.com AdOamaru 58 min by car · rooms from £85 a night · 2 places to stay
Places to stay in Oamaru · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Hampden · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Hampden · GetYourGuideAd
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Luxury 
Where it is
Wainakarua Bay 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 | 11, too small | 3 ft10 shollow | 163kJ | wind from the north-east, 7 knots | 14°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 6, too small | 2 ft6 shollow | 23kJ | wind from the east, 3 knots | 17°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 5, too small | 2 ft6 shollow | 29kJ | wind from the east, 4 knots | 15°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 5, too small | 1 ft9 shollow | 27kJ | wind from the north, 2 knots | 17°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 4, too small | 1 ft5 shollow | 4kJ | offshorewind from the west-north-west, 10 knots, offshore | 20°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 4, too small | 2 ft10 shollow | 37kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 7 knots | 19°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 2, too small | 1 ft6 shollow | 12kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 10 knots | 16°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 3, too small | 1 ft11 shollow | 9kJ | wind from the east-north-east, 4 knots | 21°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 5, too small | 2 ft5 shollow | 13kJ | wind from the east-north-east, 0 knots | 13°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 15, too small | 3 ft6 shollow | 52kJ | offshorewind from the west-north-west, 20 knots, offshore | 22°C |
| Wed 28Oct | 5, too small | 2 ft5 shollow | 12kJ | wind from the north-west, 13 knots | 14°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 CHC, changing at SFO, then 4h 35 by road. About 30h 30 door to door
- Tue 20 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Fly MDW to CHC, changing at SFO, then 4h 35 by road. About 30h 30 door to door
The plan picks the best of 2 spots near Hampden each day: Current bay, Wainakarua Bay.
Rough cost
About £1,455–£2,790 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 CHC, estimated from distance and season, changing at SFO, full-service airlines, with a hold bag | £765–£1,585 |
| 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 | £1,455–£2,790 |
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
Places to stay · Booking.com (ad)Links marked Ad may pay us a small commission if you book. You pay the same price, and it never changes a score.