Surfing

Activities ▷ Water Activities ▷

Surfing

Where the Waves Are Wild

New Zealand's surf spots tend to reward the explorers. The South Island in particular has a raw, uncrowded coastline that most travellers drive straight past. Down in Coastal Otago, Allans Beach on the Otago Peninsula gives keenos that wild, seclusive session with sea lions watching on, while Aramoana across the other side fires up to high quality on its day. Further south into the Catlins, Purakanui Bay is a genuine A-grade beachbreak when it's blowing offshore. Worth timing your travels around it.

Read the Conditions

These aren't your groomed, sign-posted surf beaches. Most spots here are swell and wind dependent, so a bit of homework goes a long way. Up near Kaikoura, the famed Meatworks break north of town is worth a look even if you're just watching from the shore. In the Nelson Region, the lefthanders at Delaware Bay can be epic when the swell is running, though you'll need to time your visit around low tide and watch the rising water for your return. It's that kind of surfing here. A little effort, a lot of reward.

36 items with the highest ranking score first, showing page 1 of 2.

North Island ▷ Northland ▷

4.9 5 reviews

North Island ▷ Tairāwhiti Gisborne ▷

4.7 8 reviews

North Island ▷ Bay of Plenty ▷

4.7 5 reviews

North Island ▷ Hawkes Bay ▷

4.6 2 reviews

North Island ▷ Bay of Plenty ▷

4.6 2 reviews

North Island ▷ Tairāwhiti Gisborne ▷

4.5 8 reviews

South Island ▷ Southland ▷

4.5 5 reviews

South Island ▷ West Coast ▷

4.5 2 reviews

North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷

4.5 3 reviews

North Island ▷ Tairāwhiti Gisborne ▷

4.5 1 review

North Island ▷ Wellington Region ▷

4.5 1 review

South Island ▷ Kaikoura Region ▷

4.5 1 review

South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷

4.5 1 review

North Island ▷ Wellington Region ▷

4.5 1 review

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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷

4.5 1 review

North Island ▷ Waikato ▷

4.4 24 reviews

North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷

4.4 7 reviews

North Island ▷ Northland ▷

4.4 3 reviews

North Island ▷ Bay of Plenty ▷

4.4 2 reviews

South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷

4.1 3 reviews

North Island ▷ Taupo Region ▷

4.1 1 review

North Island ▷ Waikato ▷

4.1 1 review

North Island ▷ Northland ▷

4 2 reviews

North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷

3.8 1 review

South Island ▷ Coastal Otago ▷

3.3 4 reviews

North Island ▷ Tairāwhiti Gisborne ▷

A beauty beach

Lifeguards on patrol during summer. Swim between the flags :)

Wainui Beach Reserve provides access to Wainui Beach, it also has neighbourhood parks with play equipment and picnic tables.

Lifeguard patrols during summer. Please swim between the flags.

North Island ▷ Taranaki ▷