World › New Zealand › Canterbury › Magnet Bay
Magnet Bay 76.5
#2125 of 5753 surf spots in the world · 🇳🇿 New Zealand · Canterbury · near Christchurch
Works almost every day, no off season, thick rubber.
Works all yearIntermediate
Surf score76.5 /100
Surfable days98% of the year
Clean days31% groundswell + friendly wind
Groundswell38% period 11 s+
Typical size1.3 m 4.3 ft median
Water13°C a 4/3 with boots
Best time to surf Magnet Bay
The best time to surf Magnet Bay is March, May, September. The season runs May to May. In May the water sits around 13°C, so pack a 4/3 with boots, and the typical wave is 1.4 m. The nearest airport is CHC (43 km) and the nearest town is Christchurch (35 km).
| Month | Surfable | Clean | Size | Water | Suit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 99% | 22% | 1.1 m | 17°C | 3/2 |
| Feb | 100% | 26% | 1.3 m | 17°C | 3/2 |
| Mar | 99% | 38% | 1.2 m | 16°C | 3/2 |
| Apr | 99% | 37% | 1.4 m | 14°C | 4/3 |
| May | 93% | 45% | 1.4 m | 13°C | 4/3 |
| Jun | 97% | 38% | 1.5 m | 11°C | 5/4 |
| Jul | 98% | 29% | 1.4 m | 10°C | 6/5 |
| Aug | 97% | 34% | 1.3 m | 10°C | 6/5 |
| Sep | 99% | 41% | 1.4 m | 10°C | 5/4 |
| Oct | 97% | 32% | 1.4 m | 12°C | 5/4 |
| Nov | 97% | 14% | 1.1 m | 14°C | 4/3 |
| Dec | 96% | 17% | 1.1 m | 16°C | 3/2 |
Why 76.5
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%
18.5
Groundswell 12%
7.3
Season spread 10%
10.0
Wave size 8%
3.4
Water comfort 10%
0.3
Access 10%
9.0
The detail
Faces 215° with 39% open water around it. Friendly morning wind 83% of days. Mean peak period 10.5 s. Days over 3 m: 4%. Mellow days (0.4 to 1.2 m): 42%. Months that work: 12 of 12. Coordinates -43.843, 172.741 (OpenStreetMap).
Spots nearby
Taylors mistake🇳🇿 New Zealand · score 64.5Hickory Bay🇳🇿 New Zealand · score 74.2Raupo Bay🇳🇿 New Zealand · score 62.4Sumner Bar🇳🇿 New Zealand · score 60.9
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