(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
“Respect the locals, tourists are not welcome in the line up
Locals will get hostile with you if you don’t respect them
Go to Dunners!!”
Njh from NEW ZEALAND - 21 Jan 2024
Campbells Bay Ratings
Overall: 3.0. Based on 16 votes and 16 reviews. Vote
Quality on a good day: 2.9(1 star: Even when the swell and winds are optimum, the waves are poor quality, 5 stars: If conditions are right, the waves will be World Class). |
Consistency of Surf: 3.1(1: Campbells Bay is a fickle surf spot that only works a few times a year. 5: Reliable year-round spot). |
Regional Rating: 2.9(1: Campbells Bay is usually very poor quality compared to other spots in Otago. 5: the best break in Otago). |
Difficulty Level: 2.4(1: Suitable for Groms. 3: Intermediates. 5: Expert tow-in surfers only). |
Onshore Wind: 3.1(1: even a light onshore ruins the surf. 5: Campbells Bay can offer better rides with a light wind behind them). |
Other Options: 2.1(1: If wind or tide conditions are poor at Campbells Bay, it will be poor everywhere nearby. 5: other locations nearby provide a rich variety of wind and swell exposures). |
Wind and Kite Surfing: 2.1(1: An unsuitable spot. 5: Wind and wave conditions at Campbells Bay are often excellent). |
Water Quality: 3.3(1: Known health risks from pollution. 5: Never any pollution). |
Crowds: 2.9(1: Often too crowded. 5: Campbells Bay is an isolated spot where you are unlikely to meet other surfers). |
Access: 4.0(1: Getting to Campbells Bay requires an overland expedition or chartering a boat. 3: A 30 minute walk from the nearest parking. 5: Park a vehicle right by the break). |
Scenery: 3.6(1: An ugly industrial backdrop. 5: A spectacular setting). |
Local Attitude: 3.1(1: Locals are hostile to visitors. 5: Either there are no locals who surf, or else they are accommodating and friendly). |
Accommodation: 2.7(1: No convenient places to stay indoors. 5: A wide variety of accommodation near Campbells Bay for all budgets from hostels to luxury hotels). |
Camping: 3.1(1: Camping at Campbells Bay is not possible. 3: Camping tolerated but no facilities. 5: A nearby camp ground has excellent facilities and a good vibe). |
Entertainment: 2.8(1: Besides the surf and the solitude there is nothing to do when it is flat. 5: Campbells Bay is in such an interesting area to visit that getting wet is a bonus). |
Equipment and Repairs: 1.6(1: Nothing can be sourced, not even wax. 5: Quality surfing equipment can be purchased or hired. Major repairs can be fixed too). |
Eating: 2.8(1: Bring your own food, there isn't even a shop. 5: A wide variety of places to eat and drink at Campbells Bay, from fast food and cafes to fancy restaurants). |
Drinking: 2.6(1: Alcohol is not allowed in the country. 5: There is an excellent pub near Campbells Bay where you can stay or park a camper van overnight). |
“Terrible waves, you can barely get on them too, there's like one or two waves a set, too much kelp and a few sharks pop up here and there. Got to watch out for them, had one circling by the other surfer but you got to watch out for the locals most of all as they are quite aggressive towards non locals and won’t let you catch a wave. There’s normally 2 or 3 forms out there burning you out with little to no surf etiquette, go to Dunners instead.”
Kooky surfer from NEW ZEALAND - 20 Apr 2022
“Kook city is all I have to say!
Way too many people for such a bad wave, we stayed for 3 weeks and never got over 2 foot, very disappointing. Next time I will travel to Dunedin.”
Nathan from NEW ZEALAND - 25 Feb 2021
“Surf wasn’t great but we did manage too catch and release 2 decent sized sharks while staying here.”
Alice from NEW ZEALAND - 11 Feb 2021
“Barely swell at this break!
Look out for the goat boaters and paddle boarders that can’t turn properly!”
Karl Anderson from NEW ZEALAND - 17 Dec 2020
“Barely surfable. Best to try Dunedin.”
Jeff from NEW ZEALAND - 05 Nov 2020
“No sharks, big and Wally on a good SSE swell even East swell goes nice, locals super mellow and more options around like Wainak, Crossroads and Dump.”
Gringo from NEW ZEALAND - 26 Sep 2020
“No sharks at all that’s a lie locals mellow as can surf true Wainak and Crossroads too, 2 kooky kids in the line up is the only problem think they are gods gift just burn them out and ya sweet.”
Dingo from NEW ZEALAND - 25 Sep 2020
“Waste of time driving here, no surf and seals everywhere!”
Travelling tourist from NEW ZEALAND - 14 Jul 2020
“2 sharks last time we visited so didn’t get a chance to surf :(”
Rick Martin from NEW ZEALAND - 09 Jul 2020
Nearest