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Blue Tops 86.0
#1279 of 5753 surf spots in the world · 🇳🇿 New Zealand · Otago · near Dunedin
Works almost every day, no off season, thick rubber.
Works all yearIntermediate
Surf score86.0 /100
Surfable days99% of the year
Clean days40% groundswell + friendly wind
Groundswell49% period 11 s+
Typical size1.6 m 5.3 ft median
Water12°C a 5/4 with boots and hood
Best time to surf Blue Tops
The best time to surf Blue Tops is April, May, September. The season runs Mar to Jun. In September the water sits around 10°C, so pack a 5/4 with boots and hood, and the typical wave is 1.7 m. The nearest airport is DUD (9 km) and the nearest town is Dunedin (21 km).
| Month | Surfable | Clean | Size | Water | Suit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 99% | 36% | 1.5 m | 14°C | 4/3 |
| Feb | 100% | 27% | 1.6 m | 14°C | 4/3 |
| Mar | 100% | 41% | 1.5 m | 14°C | 4/3 |
| Apr | 99% | 58% | 1.7 m | 14°C | 4/3 |
| May | 98% | 55% | 1.7 m | 13°C | 5/4 |
| Jun | 97% | 44% | 1.8 m | 12°C | 5/4 |
| Jul | 97% | 28% | 1.8 m | 11°C | 5/4 |
| Aug | 100% | 40% | 1.7 m | 11°C | 5/4 |
| Sep | 97% | 63% | 1.7 m | 10°C | 5/4 |
| Oct | 99% | 35% | 1.8 m | 11°C | 5/4 |
| Nov | 98% | 31% | 1.4 m | 12°C | 5/4 |
| Dec | 100% | 23% | 1.4 m | 14°C | 4/3 |
Why 86.0
Seven parts, each normalised 0 to 1 and weighted; the sum is scaled so the best spot in the world is 100.
Consistency 26%
26.0
Clean days 24%
23.7
Groundswell 12%
9.7
Season spread 10%
10.0
Wave size 8%
4.8
Water comfort 10%
0.0
Access 10%
9.6
The detail
Faces 130° with 39% open water around it. Friendly morning wind 80% of days. Mean peak period 10.8 s. Days over 3 m: 5%. Mellow days (0.4 to 1.2 m): 15%. Months that work: 12 of 12. Coordinates -45.988, 170.269 (OpenStreetMap).
Spots nearby
Brighton Beach🇳🇿 New Zealand · score 86.5Brighton🇳🇿 New Zealand · score 85.5Blackhead🇳🇿 New Zealand · score 82.5Saint clair beach🇳🇿 New Zealand · score 82.6
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