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The rock 69.8
#2538 of 5753 surf spots in the world · 🇳🇿 New Zealand · Gisborne District · near Gisborne
Works almost every day, no off season, a mission to reach.
Works all yearRemoteIntermediate
Surf score69.8 /100
Surfable days98% of the year
Clean days24% groundswell + friendly wind
Groundswell32% period 11 s+
Typical size1.6 m 5.2 ft median
Water16°C a 3/2 wetsuit
Best time to surf The rock
The best time to surf The rock is April, September, October. It rarely works. In April the water sits around 17°C, so pack a 3/2 wetsuit, and the typical wave is 1.7 m. The nearest airport is HLZ (254 km) and the nearest town is Gisborne (5 km).
| Month | Surfable | Clean | Size | Water | Suit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 100% | 19% | 1.3 m | 20°C | 2mm |
| Feb | 100% | 20% | 1.6 m | 20°C | 2mm |
| Mar | 100% | 15% | 1.7 m | 19°C | 3/2 |
| Apr | 98% | 32% | 1.7 m | 17°C | 3/2 |
| May | 98% | 29% | 1.7 m | 16°C | 4/3 |
| Jun | 97% | 26% | 1.8 m | 14°C | 4/3 |
| Jul | 97% | 23% | 1.8 m | 13°C | 5/4 |
| Aug | 97% | 28% | 1.7 m | 12°C | 5/4 |
| Sep | 98% | 31% | 1.7 m | 13°C | 5/4 |
| Oct | 99% | 31% | 1.5 m | 14°C | 4/3 |
| Nov | 96% | 8% | 1.2 m | 18°C | 3/2 |
| Dec | 99% | 16% | 1.4 m | 19°C | 2mm |
Why 69.8
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%
13.9
Groundswell 12%
6.1
Season spread 10%
10.0
Wave size 8%
4.6
Water comfort 10%
2.3
Access 10%
5.0
The detail
Faces 185° with 44% open water around it. Friendly morning wind 74% of days. Mean peak period 10.4 s. Days over 3 m: 6%. Mellow days (0.4 to 1.2 m): 21%. Months that work: 12 of 12. Coordinates -38.700, 178.051 (OpenStreetMap).
Spots nearby
Sponge bay🇳🇿 New Zealand · score 70.0The Island🇳🇿 New Zealand · score 69.3Cliffs🇳🇿 New Zealand · score 66.2Wainui Beach🇳🇿 New Zealand · score 69.7
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