Gisborne surf is some of the best on this eastern side of North Island, with big wavy bays for starters and even the occasional hollow point.
An introduction to Gisborne surf

As the wooded peaks of the Coromandel Peninsula give way to the ever-so-slightly softer terrain of the east coast of North Island on the opposite side of the Bay of Plenty, there’s one little surf town ready to take up the reigns. Welcome to Gisborne. Like Piha is to the west, this one is to the east. It’s tucked smack dab in the midst of some of the best and most consistent bays and points in the land of the Kiwi. The whole lot is exposed to a 180-degree swell channel that starts with long-period summer swells from the tropics and ends with the low-pressure systems of the roaring Southern Hemisphere during the winter months (that’s May-October here).
There’s a real mix on offer, from urban beaches where foamers and tray riders ply their trade to white-sand inlets with shapely right points and even barrels. At a push, we’d say that the Gisborne surf tends towards the intermediate section of the spectrum. We’ve found it to be generally mellower than punchy Piha and the Northland, and more accessible with the car to boot. That’s not to say there’s no heavier froth here. Midwinter pulses can kick it overhead and then some, with hollow sections and shoulders to cut up stretching along the Mahia Peninsula and beyond.
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This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in New Zealand
Gisborne surf at a glance
The good…
The bad…
What’s in this guide to Gisborne surf?
Where is Gisborne?
Gisborne is the hub of the Gisborne Region on the eastern side of North Island. It’s nearly seven hours in the car from Auckland when driving straight down the main State Highway 2, although many folks choose to add in detours to the wonderful Coromandel beforehand – we recommend the same if you have the time (there’s surf there in abundance, you know?). Luckily, there are also short-haul links into Gisborne Airport from Auckland and Napier to cut travel times.
A guide to the Gisborne surf spots

You have to reach all the way to the tip of the East Cape to get the full story of the Gisborne surf. And you have to go down about as far as Mahia to see what’s on offer that side of the city. See, this town might have urban breaks but really the quality for us lies in the 100-mile stretch of shoreline that spreads out in either direction. That’s where you’ll find the lonely sets with no one but you and the occasional dolphin in the water. We’ll start north and go south…
Hicks Bay
Hicks Bay is pretty much the first long stretch of sand that forms under the rugged edge at the tip of the East Cape. That means it’s the farthest of the northern breaks listed here from Gisborne town – you’re looking at about three hours in the car. It might just be worth it, though. The reason? How does totally empty line ups sound – not many people bar a few locals are willing to trek this far for what’s on offer. What is on offer is a nice right-hand point that comes off the south end of the beach on strong SE swells in the middle of the wintertime and a series of uber-mellow beginner waves that break on the inside of the bay.
Waipiro Bay
There’s about five miles of surfable coast at Waipiro Bay. But it’s not just peaky beach breaks a la Hossegor. This one crumples into little dashes of rock reef now and then. Other times it’s cut through by a river that drifts into the Pacific and creates lines of sandbanks as it goes. You could spend hours trawling the main beach for spots, and some are worth it because they hold fantastic quality. We’d recommend waiting for strong SE pulses, though, which is when this one really comes into its own.
If you aren’t in the mood to go hunting then stick to the south part of Waipiro Bay. There’s a cluster of named breaks there that tend to draw the crowds. Most are upper intermediate+ but there is Kitties, a more chilled inside break on the secondary swell that’s suitable for loggers. Outside is Frog Rock, a short, sharp right on reef that gets very shallow very fast – experienced surfers only.
Tokomaru Bay
We’re convinced that Three Points would be up there with the best breaks in NZ if it wasn’t so darn hard to get to. Sadly, private land – something Kiwis take pretty seriously – means you need permission to paddle out. If you have that, lucky you. Look forward to a real wrap-around hit of swell that acts more like a Californian point, peeling along a curved headland to give multiple take-off zones and truly rippable shoulders. The place can handle virtually any swell size because you can just slide further inside the bay to cut things down a notch.
Three Points
The height of the winter season with the strongest SE swell channels firing can mean it works at the top end of Tokomaru Bay. Go north to where the sand turns to black pebbles and you’ll find a dash of reef that gets covered at high tide. It plumps up a nice shoulder that quickly changes into a hollow right hander for fast rights and occasional pits.
Tolaga Bay
Tolaga Bay has a mushy beach break to entertain the learners but the money break here is the rivermouth. It’s a lippy sandbar that works with decent head-high size and long periods in the SE winter swell. There’s also a right near the pier at the south end of the bay where the wind is more commonly offshore. The break there can get busy because folk use the jetty to escape the paddle.
Waihau Bay
Swell-magnet Waihau Bay suffers from over-exposure most of the time, especially in the winter when the SW winds aren’t offshore. Smaller days can offer ankle burners for the hotdoggers in these parts provided that there’s not too much wind. You can also scour the beach for the little reef pockets where shapely, sometimes-hollow breaks can occur if there’s loads of size. This one should be working when the rest of the Gisborne surf is blown out, so bear it in mind for the summer days.
North Makorori Reef
The lefts that form on the rocks of the North Makorori Reef are generally reserved for the loggers of Gisborne. They’re mellow and super cruisy. If you’ve got the 8-footer+ strapped on the roof then this should be your chosen playground, although getting in early can be key to avoid the crowd (a crowd which actually shows rare bouts of localism for NZ on occasion).
Makorori Point
The point is the sister break of the North Makrori Reef. It’s a right and it’s similarly tailored to folk with an extra foot or five on the fiberglass. Gets busy but is probably worth it if the malibu is the stick in the trunk, as we’d put it down as the best cruiser wave in the Gisborne region. You’re looking at long, fat shoulders to ride however you please.
Wainui
There’s basically never an off day from fall to spring in Wainui. Consistency is the key here on a long stretch of sand that delivers okay-ish beach break sets that are beefy, strong, and occasionally rippable both left and right. They do lack some shape but the payoff is you know it’s always on. Watch out for the punchier sections of reef that can sometimes come into play on more full tides. They’re good waves but more intermediate that much of the rest of the beach and can shock surfers not used to having rock underfoot.
There are about five named breaks up and down the length of Wainui but there’s no doubt that Stock Route is the best of them. It’s a tubular little runner that offers hollow sections on bigger swells. A truly world-class right when it’s on.
Sponge Bay
Uber-fun Sponge Bay turns on the good with strong south swell that can refract enough through the outlying islands to give power in the middle of the beach. Still, the premier draws are the left and the right at opposite ends of the bay. The left – which breaks on the east side – is the best. It’s a mellowish peeler that sections into frothing bits and glassy walls. Overall, the beach is good for its accessibility and suitability for all levels.
Tuamotu Island
If you don’t have the paddle power of some Hawaiian duke then don’t even both thinking about crossing to Tuamotu Island. It’s a hefty journey of about 1km through the rips that pass south of Sponge Bay. On big days the reward is a gnarly left that can be hollow. It’s expert-only and great for escaping crowds. But…expert only.
The Cliff
A shifty left-hand point breaks at The Cliff right in front of the yacht club in eastern Gisborne. It’s a good starter wave to prime you for the bigger and better breaks of the region, offering long, sometimes cruisy rides from take-off to beach.
Waikanae Beach
Start here if you’re coming to Gisborne to learn how to surf. Knee-high breakers usually roll into Waikanae Beach and it’s right by the city center and the surf rental shops. This is where the schools will usually ply their trade, on sand-pebble stretches that are uber-forgiving and mushier than a NZ sourdough that’s been left in the snow.
Gizzy Pipe/Midway Pipe
Not called pipe because it’s anything like the North Shore’s Pipeline, sadly. Nope, this one gets its name because it’s where the municipal sewerage line meets the ocean. Still, that’s been a magnet for silt and sandbars, which now offer changing shoulders that can even creep up to hollow tube lines when it’s heavy in the winter.
Where to stay when surfing in Gisborne?
There are some cracking hotels to pick from if you’re looking to hit the Gisborne surf. Some are in the town center nearer the beginner breaks, but we think the best put you on the coast road leading north to the bulk of the spots.
Tatapouri Bay
There’s nothing like bagging a pad at the Tatapouri Bay lodge. Part glamping, part luxury hotel, this one has cabin-style rooms built in the Scandi style. You’ll wake in the morning and have visions of the green North Island hills rolling into the Pacific Ocean. Surf breaks abound on this coastline just north of Gisborne, too – we’re talking 10-15 options within a 20-minute drive!
Boutique @ Portside Hotel
A very sleek stay with boho-styled rooms that ooze luxury, only a stone’s throw up the river from beginner-friendly Waikanae Beach. Units are equipped for some independent living – think microwaves and kitchenettes. Go for one with an outdoor area. It’s lovely chilling and people watching after a long surf sesh.
Ocean Beach Motor Lodge
A comfy and simple option that ticks all the boxes, the Ocean Beach Motor Lodge puts you on the main coast road leading north out of town. That’s perfect for reaching all the Gisborne surf provided you’re willing to drive. Rooms are modern and contemporary, often coming with adjoining living spaces and working areas for added convenience.
Step-by-step guide to planning your Gisborne surf trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the Gisborne surf…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 five: Enjoy!
For paying for stuff when you’re traveling – Get a Wise borderless card/account. They charge NOTHING for POS payments in any country and have some of the best FX rates around in our humble opinion.
When to surf in Gisborne?

This side of North Island lets the South Pacific do the work in the winter months from April to October. Then, virtually non-stop S-SE pulses come up from the roaring Southern Ocean and do all sorts of fun things as they refract and bend into the bays north of Gisborne. The good news is that the dominant wind direction happens to SW here, so it’s often offshore on the more northern beaches, but can blow on at beginner spots like Sponge and Waikanae closer to town. The NZ summer isn’t bad here, but it’s calmer and smaller almost everywhere.
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!