The Catlins Coast

To get amongst some of the best surf on New Zealand’s east coast you will need to go overseas - that is by plane or fast ferry to The Barrier

So you’re a serious surfer looking for a whole bunch of hot spots to check out with truckloads of varied breaks and no downtime. Well, the tight curves of the Taranaki coastline serve up some of the best surf beaches in the country.

Surf travellers looking for the ideal beach to ride fabulous waves often head for the Bay of Plenty. This broad bountiful bay was well named by its discoverer Captain Cook.

You’ll be seriously stoked with the neat waves and the party atmosphere on Coromandel’s east coast beaches. This is ‘must-see’ country for any ‘surfari’ tour of the North Island, especially its acclaimed ‘Capital’ Whangamata.

The City of Sails is spoiled for choice surf locations, with two coasts and several northern beaches just an hours drive from downtown. Big city surfers, from the greenest grommets to the craziest enchiladas, head west, to ride every wild, whipped-up wave from Whatipu to Muriwai.

Head north in search of New Zealand’s sensational surf and discover the wild, desolate black sand beaches of the ‘Winterless North’. Get amongst the big west coast swells powering in from the Tasman Sea - endless lines of rollers stacked to the horizon.