Surfing New Zealand means remote spots in stunning settings. Throw in some of the most awesome left-hand point breaks on the globe and you’ve got yourself a darn fine surf destination.
An introduction to surfing New Zealand
New Zealand splits its surf between the North and the South islands. Like the culture and geography of the nation, that means two very different places to paddle out!
Up around Auckland are perhaps the most famous spots in the country. They roll out along the west coast by Raglan (NZ’s surf mecca) between headlands where the left-hander points are some of the longest and most consistent in the world – goofies eat your hearts out. Go further and you hit the eastern shores of Mangawhai, with long beach breaks and reef spots with regular waves and regular dolphin visitors. North Island also throws in the treats of Coromandel Peninsular and the rights of rocky Stent Road, which sits in the shadow of snow-capped Taranaki volcano, and that’s really just scratching the surface of what’s out there.
Head across the Cook Strait to South Islands and the surfing in New Zealand takes a turn for the hardcore. The west coast around Christchurch is by far the most popular region. It’s got Sumner Beach and the long peaks of New Brighton. But the true class of waves there comes with Kaikoura. Whale watchers will frequent the shoreline, as they look for pods beyond the perfect, peeling points and mushy beach breaks alike.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in Oceania
New Zealand’s surfing at a glance
The good…
The bad…
What will I find in this guide to surfing New Zealand
New Zealand surf destinations guide
North Island
Raglan
The home of surfing New Zealand is surely Raglan. It’s the place that put the islands on the map for surfers way back as early as the 60s and 70s. The reason? It’s trio of world-class left-hand points. The most famous of the lot is surely Manu Bay. A classic point, it can clock up long (seriously long) rides right across the front of the cove. Indicators is the northerly option, with speedy waves that zip left off steep sections. Whale Bay is great for longboarders and starters looking for something more chilled.
Read our ultimate guide to Raglan surf right now!
The Coromandel Peninsula
There’s surf all over the wild Coromandel Peninsula that juts out of the top of North Island. It’s a haven for ancient kauri forests and hidden beaches. But those with their board in tow will also find tonnes to get stuck into. On the south-eastern shores, check out Pauanui and Onemana for sandy beach breaks that offer multiple points – both left and right. Further north are the Hahei points, which need a bit of punch to get going, and stunning Hot Water Beach, where shimmering sand meets all sorts of wave types.
Shipwreck Bay
For goofy riders, Shipwreck Bay is heaven. It’s considered the jewel of the Northland region, with a series of left-handers that draw their power straight from the trenches of the Tasman Sea. The rides here tend to be mellow, cruisy longboard waves, but can also get big and fast at times. The secondary break at Peaks is harder, with steep drop-ins and some barreling. Try to linger a little – the early bird catches the worm in Shipwreck.
Auckland
Traveling to the buzzing metropolis of Auckland? You’re going to be within striking distance of some of North Island’s finest surf country. Choices abound, with the Northland coast on the Pacific and the Tasman Sea coast to the west. You can even find some surf spots within Auckland city limits!
Read all about the surfing in Auckland right now
Mount Maunganui
Mount Maunganui is among the most popular surf towns in all of New Zealand. It’s blessed with uber-reliable Pacific swell on the top of the Bay of Plenty. It’s also really accessible, with breaks for all levels right in front of the beach-fringed resort town.
Read all about it in our ultimate guide to surfing in Mount Maunganui
Lyall Bay
Lyall Bay is the epicentre of surf culture in the New Zealand capital of Wellington. It’s got a south orientation right by the city’s main airport. That means most of the swell comes from the Pacific, but you can also ride other nearby spots like Houghton when things are better on the Tasman Sea. Always busy but great vibes in the water. Lots of peaks to go around.
Check out our complete guide to surfing in Lyall Bay
Piha
The beach break at Piha is now the stuff of legends. It’s a reliable wave getaway for Aucklanders, so busy it gets on the weekends. The most iconic feature is the huge Lion Rock (a little like the Haystack on Cannon Beach in Oregon). That splits the bay into two and produces a hefty rip current to help paddlers. There are peaks at both ends of Piha Beach and lots of surf schools in the vicinity.
Read our full guide to the surf in Piha right now
Gisborne
Gisborne is a small town on the eastern side of North Island. It’s the hub of about 120 miles of pristine coastline that enjoys a wide swell window that can bring SE and NE swells to bear on the points and bays. It’s got variety, accessible urban beaches, and – at least in our opinion – is a fine spot for improving intermediates who want rippable waves but don’t want to be crowded.
Check out our complete guide to Gisborne surf
Wellington
Wellington mainly makes this list because of Lyall Bay (we’ve got a separate guide for that). However, the city also boasts some inner-suburb breaks worthy of note, along with access to the rugged capes that pick up varying swell directions throughout the year. Not the best spot in North Island but certainly worth a look in.
Check out our complete guide to Wellington surf
South Island
Christchurch
The Garden City of South Island isn’t all vintage trams and leafy parks, you know. It faces the open Pacific to the east, which means there are waves aplenty. Top spots include the awesome Taylor’s Mistake, where you’ll need to wait for ripe conditions, but can nail perfect 4-foot rippable frames. You’ll also catch Sumner Beach (Or Sumner Bar) within reach – home to sets and secondary sets of nice right-handers when the swells are up.
We’ve got a complete guide to the surf in Christchurch, from north to south
Kaikoura
Choose Kaikoura to challenge yourself on the hard points of Kahutara. That rocky reef draws in big crowds of locals when it’s working, with steep drop-in zones and some seriously high-speed runs across the gravel and stone. That’s not all there is, though. You can also hit the rock-bottomed Meatworks for some shallow points (helmets recommended!) or hit the gorgeous Mangamaunu Bay, which comes shrouded by the high ridges of the Kaikoura Range.
Read our ultimate guide to Kaikoura surf right now!
Step-by-step guide to planning your surfing New Zealand trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the surfing New Zealand…Lately, we like Omio for searching flights. It’s a nice interface and has lots of airline options. We also use Skyscanner because that sometimes offers deals that even beat going direct to the carrier!
Step two: Book your surf camp Book Surf Camps is the numero uno online booking platform for fully-fledged surf-stay packages on the internet right now. Then there’s Booking.com. That has consistently unbeatable rates for hotels and a nifty map feature that lets you check EXACTLY how close your hotel is to a surf break.
Step three: Get insuranceThis is kinda’ important. Not just for surf trips but for any trips. SafetyWing is great for nomad travelers. They offer rolling contracts that cover amateur surfing.
Step four (optional): Rent a car If you’re surf camping then you might not need wheels. If you’re not then we’ll just say this: We’ve never been on a surf trip that wasn’t improved by having our own car. Use RentalCars – they’re the best.
Step four: Enjoy!
A guide to the New Zealand surfing season
One of the great draws of surfing New Zealand – like Australia – is just how reliable the waves are. You can usually find something working every day of the year, provided you’re happy to drive for it. Generally speaking, warmer, calmer and more uniform conditions come with the summer months, while winter brings strong storms, gnarly swells and more challenging weather.
Summer (December-March)
As the warmth cranks up and the rain drops away, the surfing in New Zealand really comes into its own. There’s nothing quite like a day on the glimmering sands of Mangawhai at this time of year – not a wetsuit or a hood in sight. Still, this is NZ, and that means weather is ALWAYS unpredictable. Rain can hit any time and winds can pick up too, especially around the coastal mountains on South Island. Oh, and talking of South Island…you’ll need to bring a wetsuit if you’re heading there, summer or not.
Winter (May-September)
When the adventure meccas of Queenstown and Wanaka are under layers of snow, there Tasman Sea and the Pacific get pretty wild. Storms crash into the Wild West Coast of South Island – you wouldn’t even consider surfing north of Greymouth unless you had an in-depth knowledge of the rips! Up north, wetsuits are needed but Raglan and Piha can see some of their best breaks. The waves of Coromandel, meanwhile, tend to get a little mushy and broken.
Top things to do in New Zealand when you’re not surfing
New Zealand is one downright awesome country. Whittled by mighty mountains and fluted with fjords, the South Islands is considered the wilder of the two. But you still get smoking volcanos and sulphur lakes up north. Basically, we LOVE it here and we reckon you will too, even on days when the waves aren’t pumping…
Milford Sound
Wow – just wow. It doesn’t get much more dramatic than this huge inlet on South Island. Do a glass-roofed bus and ferry combo to make the most of it.
Mount Cook
Mount Cook might be a little tricky to climb, but you can drive to see its glacier and do hikes like the Sealy Tarns around Mount Cook Village.
Franz Joseph Glacier
Eye-watering Franz Joseph Glacier can’t be missed. You can even do glacier treks that will take you right onto the ice!
Travel essentials for anyone surfing in New Zealand
Quick facts
- Currency: New Zealand dollar (NZD)
- Population: 4.8 million
- Capital: Wellington
- Language: English, Māori
If you’ve got anything to add to this ultimate guide to surfing New Zealand, then we’d sure love to hear it in the comments below! We’re always looking to update and change the information here so it’s in line with what’s currently happening on the islands – otherwise it would hardly be the ultimate guide, eh!?
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!