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Papeete Harbour Reef 98.6
#35 of 5753 surf spots in the world · 🇵🇫 French Polynesia · Windward Islands · near Papeete
Works almost every day, no off season, boardshorts water.
Works all yearWarm waterIntermediate
Surf score98.6 /100
Surfable days100% of the year
Clean days51% groundswell + friendly wind
Groundswell75% period 11 s+
Typical size1.5 m 4.8 ft median
Water27°C boardshorts
Best time to surf Papeete Harbour Reef
The best time to surf Papeete Harbour Reef is April, May, September. The season runs Jan to Jan. In May the water sits around 28°C, so pack boardshorts, and the typical wave is 1.8 m. The nearest airport is PPT (3 km) and the nearest town is Papeete (2 km).
| Month | Surfable | Clean | Size | Water | Suit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 100% | 54% | 1.4 m | 28°C | boardies |
| Feb | 100% | 35% | 1.4 m | 28°C | boardies |
| Mar | 100% | 58% | 1.3 m | 28°C | boardies |
| Apr | 99% | 68% | 1.4 m | 28°C | boardies |
| May | 100% | 69% | 1.8 m | 28°C | boardies |
| Jun | 100% | 51% | 1.8 m | 27°C | boardies |
| Jul | 100% | 47% | 1.7 m | 26°C | boardies |
| Aug | 100% | 32% | 1.6 m | 26°C | boardies |
| Sep | 100% | 65% | 1.6 m | 26°C | boardies |
| Oct | 100% | 43% | 1.5 m | 26°C | boardies |
| Nov | 100% | 60% | 1.2 m | 27°C | boardies |
| Dec | 100% | 34% | 1.2 m | 27°C | boardies |
Why 98.6
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%
24.0
Groundswell 12%
12.0
Season spread 10%
10.0
Wave size 8%
4.0
Water comfort 10%
10.0
Access 10%
10.0
The detail
Faces 325° with 56% open water around it. Friendly morning wind 68% of days. Mean peak period 12.4 s. Days over 3 m: 1%. Mellow days (0.4 to 1.2 m): 27%. Months that work: 12 of 12. Coordinates -17.536, -149.589 (OpenStreetMap).
Spots nearby
Papeete Harbour🇵🇫 French Polynesia · score 98.0La Fayette Reef🇵🇫 French Polynesia · score 81.8La Fayette🇵🇫 French Polynesia · score 79.6Taapuna🇵🇫 French Polynesia · score 99.7
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