World › New Zealand › Waikato › Ruapuke
Ruapuke 91.2
#591 of 5753 surf spots in the world · 🇳🇿 New Zealand · Waikato · near Hamilton
Works almost every day, no off season.
Works all yearAdvanced
Surf score91.2 /100
Surfable days96% of the year
Clean days43% groundswell + friendly wind
Groundswell75% period 11 s+
Typical size1.8 m 5.9 ft median
Water17°C a 3/2 wetsuit
Best time to surf Ruapuke
The best time to surf Ruapuke is February, March, November. The season runs Jan to Mar. In February the water sits around 20°C, so pack a 2 mm shorty, and the typical wave is 1.4 m. The nearest airport is HLZ (50 km) and the nearest town is Hamilton (48 km).
| Month | Surfable | Clean | Size | Water | Suit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 97% | 40% | 1.6 m | 20°C | 2mm |
| Feb | 97% | 67% | 1.4 m | 20°C | 2mm |
| Mar | 99% | 56% | 1.5 m | 19°C | 3/2 |
| Apr | 97% | 37% | 2.0 m | 18°C | 3/2 |
| May | 91% | 45% | 1.9 m | 17°C | 3/2 |
| Jun | 94% | 44% | 1.9 m | 16°C | 4/3 |
| Jul | 94% | 40% | 2.1 m | 14°C | 4/3 |
| Aug | 96% | 31% | 2.1 m | 14°C | 4/3 |
| Sep | 94% | 35% | 2.2 m | 14°C | 4/3 |
| Oct | 97% | 42% | 1.8 m | 16°C | 4/3 |
| Nov | 99% | 46% | 1.8 m | 18°C | 3/2 |
| Dec | 99% | 31% | 1.6 m | 19°C | 2mm |
Why 91.2
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%
5.5
Water comfort 10%
2.9
Access 10%
8.4
The detail
Faces 265° with 44% open water around it. Friendly morning wind 57% of days. Mean peak period 12.6 s. Days over 3 m: 12%. Mellow days (0.4 to 1.2 m): 15%. Months that work: 12 of 12. Coordinates -37.939, 174.780 (OpenStreetMap).
Spots nearby
Raglan - Indicators🇳🇿 New Zealand · score 88.1Raglan - Whale Bay🇳🇿 New Zealand · score 88.0Raglan - Manu Bay🇳🇿 New Zealand · score 88.0Karioitahi🇳🇿 New Zealand · score 92.7
Compare Ruapuke with 5,700 other spots
Filters by month, level and water, map, side by side comparison and a trip planner.
Open the interactive profileMore spots good in FebruaryFilters by month, level and water, map, side by side comparison and a trip planner.