Overview
Clarence River is a right-hander that breaks over boulders at the mouth of the Clarence River, north of Kaikoura. It's usually a river-mouth peak, but shifting bars and changing swell direction can also send waves onto the shingle strand. On its day it's a decent wave.
When It Works
The break draws swell from east to south (E-S), with southeast (SE) the best match, and it favours medium SE-through-S swells. It's usable from 0.6 m / 2 ft to 2.4 m / 8 ft. Consistency is moderate, so it takes the right swell to come together, but the windows are worth timing.
Wind and Tide
Look for northwest (NW) offshore wind. The wave breaks on low and mid tide, and both rising and falling tides can work.
Local Tips
This one is best left to expert surfers, and the lineup usually stays fairly quiet. If a northeast wind is blowing onshore everywhere else, the nearby beachbreak at Okiwi (Sandy Bay) turns offshore and tends to work on lower tides with a south swell.
Access
From Kaikoura, drive north on State Highway 1 for about 20 minutes. Just before the Clarence River, gravel and sand forestry tracks head off the east side of the road; follow them out toward the river mouth, with a short walk possible, or make your way down the river bed. There's free roadside parking.
