Westport Breakwater Surf Guide
Surf spot guide
Ideal Surf Conditions
Swell Direction
W, SW, NW
Wind
E, SE
Surf Height
Waist high-slightly overhead
Tide
Mid to high, incoming
Westport Breakwater Surf Guide
Westport is a relaxed town of around 6,000 people, and it's a great base for checking out what the neighboring region has to offer. It has a nice cruisy feel to it, while still providing the comforts you may have been missing if you've been on the spartan west coast for too long.The town still operates as a fishing village and functioning seaport, so there's no excuse for not finding a great feed of fish after a fun surf at the Breakwater.The waves are located just out of town where the breakwater keeps the entrance to the Buller River in check. Head out past the horse track and follow the road out to the jetty where you can park easily. You can drive onto the beach if you're keen.The surf can get great here, left and right peaks that peel and throw-out down the line. There can be a fair bit of water moving around though, due to it being a river mouth and the fact that it also gets quite a big tidal range happening. It's definitely a spot worth checking out on any west coast tour.
Ability Level
Beginner - Intermediate
Beginner, Intermediate
Local Vibe
Doable
Local surfers are mellow, but lock car.
Crowd Factor
Mellow
No crowd to worry about, gets busier on summer holiday weekends.
Spot Rating
Fun
Gets good when it's on and offers up plenty of peaks.
Shoulder Burn
Medium
Can get heavy currents and rips.
Water Quality
Clean
Not bad, but is in front of a rivermouth so can get dirty after a rain
Hazards
Rip currents.
Bring Your
Shortboard
Access
Easy access, jump off the rocks to avoid a paddle out.
Bottom
Sandy
Best Season
All year, obviously cold in winter
Do you have local knowledge about Westport Breakwater?
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