The rock, New Zealand
Also within 20 km of Gisborne
- Gizzy Pipe Surf spot · 3 km from Gisborne
- The pipe (midway beach) Surf spot · 3.3 km from Gisborne
- Roberts rd Surf spot · 3.6 km from Gisborne
- Cliffs Surf spot · 6.3 km from Gisborne
- Big River Surf spot · 7.6 km from Gisborne
- Sponge bay Surf spot · 7.9 km from Gisborne
- The Island Surf spot · 8.4 km from Gisborne
Watch this spot We email you when The rock is worth the trip.
About The rock
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces S (165°), so it takes swell from the S. The wind blows offshore from the N (345°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 3–11 ft of swell. The sea floor shelves gently: 10 m deep about 800 m out (1 in 78). 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 20°C in January, its warmest (2 mm shorty). For intermediate surfers the best months are usually January, February, March and April, with about 2 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Gisborne, 8.1 km away (about 15 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 7 surf spots.
Water about 15°C: 4/3 wetsuit and boots. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
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The link holds the trip itself: nothing about you is kept. Check the forecast again before you book.
Book the trip
From Chicago: about 29 h door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to GIS, changing at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Auckland International Airport (AKL).
See flights MDW → GIS · Skyscanner from about £730 returnAdGetting there. 30 min from the airport to The rock.
Accommodation.
Stay in GisborneAd
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 Gisborne (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Gisborne 14 min by car · rooms from £85 a night · 12 places to stay · where The rock stays
Places to stay in Gisborne · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Gisborne · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Gisborne · GetYourGuideAd
Budget 
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Luxury Where it is
The rock 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 | 23, poor | 5 ft7 smushy | 196kJ | wind from the south, 9 knots | 13°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 49, good | 4 ft6 smushy | 103kJ | offshorewind from the north-north-west, 5 knots, offshore | 14°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 23, too small | 2 ft7 smushy | 49kJ | wind from the south-east, 8 knots | 15°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 31, too small | 2 ft9 ssoft | 78kJ | wind from the south-west, 1 knot | 16°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 36, fair | 2 ft9 ssoft | 69kJ | offshorewind from the north, 9 knots, offshore | 21°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 20, too small | 2 ft8 ssoft | 32kJ | wind from the south-south-east, 2 knots | 17°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 37, fair | 2 ft11 ssoft | 101kJ | offshorewind from the north-west, 15 knots, offshore | 21°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 23, too small | 2 ft8 smushy | 36kJ | offshorewind from the north-north-west, 4 knots, offshore | 19°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 12, too small | 1 ft9 scrumbling | 15kJ | offshorewind from the north-west, 15 knots, offshore | 19°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 10, too small | 1 ft4 smushy | 4kJ | offshorewind from the north-west, 19 knots, offshore | 20°C |
| Wed 28Oct | 10, too small | 1 ft3 smushy | 1kJ | offshorewind from the north-west, 14 knots, offshore | 20°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 GIS, changing at DFW and AKL, then 30 min by road. About 29h door to door
- Tue 20 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 27 of 80.
- Wed 21 OctSurf The rock
Best 10:00 to 13:00 local time: 2 ft at 9 s, wind 1 kn (2 km/h).
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Fly MDW to GIS, changing at DFW and AKL, then 30 min by road. About 29h door to door
The plan picks the best of 8 spots near Gisborne each day: Big River, Cliffs, Gizzy Pipe, Roberts rd, Sponge bay, The Island, The pipe (midway beach), The rock.
Rough cost
About £1,335–£2,580 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 GIS, estimated from distance and season, changing at DFW and AKL, full-service airlines, with a hold bag | £730–£1,520 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Taxi | airport and back, shared | £15–£25 |
| 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 | £1,335–£2,580 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Gisborne
- Tamarind of GisborneIndian · 1.8 km from the centre
- Lytton West Fish ShopFish and chips · 1.9 km from the centre
- Dining Delight0.8 km from the centre
- Aberdeen Fish ShopFish and chips · 1.8 km from the centre
- Elgin Fish Shop1.4 km from the centre
- Makaraka Fish Shop1.5 km from the centre
Within 2 km of the town centre, listed by how complete the listing is (website, opening hours, cuisine) and whether two sources name it. Not a judgement of the food: we have no reviews. Listings © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps Foundation. Credits
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Where to stayAd
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