Surfing Aotearoa. © Derek Morrison

Must-do surf breaks

By Paul Hersey

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This handful of surf beaches are easy to access and, in the right conditions, a good place to learn to surf.

The exception is Raglan, which is not a beginner’s wave. But I couldn’t leave it out since it is our most famous surf break and a great place to immerse yourself in the surfing ‘scene’.

1. Waipū Cove, Whangārei

My father once told me that, back when he was learning to surf in Northland during the 1960s, the lifeguards and surfers didn’t like each other at all. Thankfully, today, that animosity is mostly absent.

Waipū Cove has a long history of both surfing and surf lifesaving.

With a campground right by the beach, it's an ideal place to stay awhile and practise your skills under the watchful eyes of the local guards.

When you can’t surf so you get out the boogie boards @acklandsophie

A post shared by Laura (@laura_danford) on Oct 7, 2017 at 11:42pm PDT

2. Mount Maunganui, Tauranga

During the peak of summer, this sandy stretch of coastline can have more than 10,000 beachgoers, making for crowded waves. Luckily, the sand stretches for many kilometres,  creating lots of options. Just drive or walk a bit further down the beach and pick an uncrowded peak.

3. Raglan, Hamilton

Most Kiwis – surfers and non-surfers alike – have heard of Raglan. This is New Zealand’s iconic wave and ranks as one of the best left-hand points in the world. Actually, it’s three points, which helps to spread the crowd. This is a good thing because it certainly attracts surfers from all over the world. The nearby township has grown to cater for everyone and boasts a number of hip cafés and places to stay.

4. Wainui Beach, Gisborne

Gisborne has more waves than seems fair. And while there are a number of lesser-known breaks of a higher quality around, you can’t beat Wainui for its long, sandy beach and clean fun waves. This isn’t to say that the intensity doesn’t jump up with the swell size.

Depending on sand conditions, Wainui produces hollow, intense rides. Another plus is that the locals are usually friendly to visiting surfers.

5. St Clair Beach, Dunedin

Dunedin is known for cold water, scary sea lions, occasional sharks and excellent surf. A decent wetsuit and an ability to ignore close encounters with large inquisitive mammals is a must. There are rarely any flat days here, although sometimes the waves at St Clair can be quite powerful for learners.

Check the latest surf reports and follow The Water Safety Code.

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