Best surf spots in New Zealand for beginners
The beaches in New Zealand where a beginner can surf on the most days of the year: small enough, clean enough, on sand. Ranked from 2 years of hourly wave and wind model data at each spot, rated the way the app rates them for beginners. Updated 3 November 2026.
Today's forecast for beginners in New Zealand →
The beaches with the most beginner days
| # | Spot | Beginner days a year | Best months | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fitzroy Beach New Plymouth · North Island | ~163 (34 good) | January to May | 14–20 °C |
| 2 | Muriwai Beach Muriwai · North Island | ~94 (11 good) | January to March | 14–21 °C |
| 3 | Pauanui Beach Pauanui · Waikato | ~82 (13 good) | April to July, November | 15–21 °C |
| 4 | Kaka Point Kaka Point · Otago | ~67 (10 good) | July, November | 11–15 °C |
| 5 | Whangamata Beach Whangamata · Waikato | ~65 (14 good) | May to July | 15–21 °C |
| 6 | Mount Maunganui Main Beach Mount Maunganui · North Island | ~57 (5 good) | April to May, August | 14–21 °C |
"Beginner days": days with a surfable hour for a beginner (small waves, light or offshore wind, no dangerous size) at that spot; "good" days rate Good or better for a beginner. From 2 years of model data, not observations: a sandbank, a rip or a crowd can change a beach. How the rating works.
When beginners should go
Across New Zealand's beginner spots, the best months are February to August. May has the most surfable days for a beginner (about 12 a month at the best spots), December the fewest (about 6). Water: 13–20 °C over the year, see the wetsuit by month.
Questions
Where is the best place to learn to surf in New Zealand?
On our numbers, Fitzroy Beach (New Plymouth, about 163 beginner days a year), Muriwai Beach (Muriwai, about 94 beginner days a year), Pauanui Beach (Pauanui, about 82 beginner days a year). These are sandy, forgiving spots where the waves are small and clean enough for a beginner on the most days.
When is the best time for beginners to surf in New Zealand?
February to August: the months with the most days of small, clean waves at the beginner spots. The fewest are in December.
Is New Zealand good for beginner surfers?
6 of the 35 spots we follow suit beginners. At the best of them a beginner finds about 12 surfable days in May and 6 in December. Take a lesson first and surf near lifeguards.
Before your first session: your first surf lesson and rips and safety. More: all surf spots in New Zealand · best time to surf in New Zealand.