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Best Beginner Surf Spots in the Bay of Plenty (2026 Guide)

The Bay of Plenty delivered 200+ beginner-friendly surf days at spots like Waihi Beach and Mount Maunganui. These are the best places to learn, with lessons, rentals, and local forecasts.

Tobias, Founder of Swellify
By Tobias
Mount Maunganui at sunrise
Mount Maunganui at sunrise Β· Photo by Skyviewphotography (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Are you a beginner surfer looking for waves in Bay of Plenty? Bay of Plenty was rated New Zealand’s most beginner-friendly surf region for 2025! With long sandy beaches, consistent swell, and a huge concentration of surf schools around Mount Maunganui and Waihi Beach, it’s an ideal place to learn or to build confidence if you’re still early in your surfing journey.

Below are the best beginner surf spots in the Bay of Plenty, broken down by:

  • Spots with surf lessons nearby
  • Spots with board rentals nearby
  • Spots that are beginner-friendly if you already have a board

All spots are ranked using 365 days of real Swellify forecast data, including how often they feature beginner-friendly conditions.

🌊 Best Beginner Surf Spots in the Bay of Plenty (With Lessons Nearby)

1. Waihi Beach

πŸ“ Bay of Plenty πŸ₯‡ ~214 good days / year, ~73 perfect days

Current Waihi Beach surf forecast β†’

Waihi Beach is one of the most reliable beginner beaches in the upper North Island. It’s a long, open beach with plenty of space, soft sand bottoms, and mellow waves on the right swell. The consistency here means beginners get more chances to practice β€” a huge win when you’re learning.

Surf lessons & rentals near Waihi Beach:

2. Arataki Beach

πŸ“ Mount Maunganui πŸ₯ˆ ~208 good days / year, ~58 perfect days

Current Arataki Beach surf forecast β†’

Arataki Beach sits just east of Mount Maunganui and offers a more relaxed alternative to the main Mount beaches. It’s wide, forgiving, and works well for beginners on smaller days β€” especially when Mount Main Beach is too powerful.

Surf lessons & rentals near Arataki Beach:

3. Shark Alley

πŸ“ Mount Maunganui πŸ₯‰ ~202 good days / year, ~57 perfect days

Current Shark Alley surf forecast β†’

Despite the name, Shark Alley is a very popular beginner-to-intermediate surf spot. Located near the Mount, it benefits from sandbanks that can help shape manageable waves β€” especially on smaller swells. It’s also one of the most lesson-dense spots in the region.

Surf lessons & rentals near Shark Alley:

πŸ„ Beginner Surf Spots in the Bay of Plenty (With Rentals Nearby)

If you don’t have your own board yet, these spots make it easy to rent one nearby and paddle straight out:

  • Waihi Beach β€” Excellent local surf school rentals right on the beach
  • Arataki Beach β€” Multiple Mount-based surf shops and schools within minutes
  • Shark Alley β€” One of the highest concentrations of rental options in NZ

Most Mount Maunganui surf schools offer soft-top boards, wetsuits, and beginner-friendly advice on where to paddle out safely.

🌞 Beginner-Friendly Spots (If You Already Have a Board)

Already sorted with a board and just want easy waves? These Bay of Plenty spots are consistently beginner-friendly:

  • Waihi Beach β€” Long beach, forgiving waves, lots of space
  • Arataki Beach β€” Softer alternative to Mount Main Beach
  • Shark Alley β€” Best on smaller days with friendly sandbanks

Just remember: conditions change quickly. Always check the forecast and surf within your limits.

🧭 Final Thoughts

The Bay of Plenty is one of the best regions in New Zealand to learn to surf. With reliable waves, sandy beaches, and an unmatched number of surf schools, it’s perfect whether you’re booking your first lesson or heading out solo.

Want help choosing the best day or spot for your skill level? πŸ‘‰ Check the latest Bay of Plenty forecasts on Swellify and take the guesswork out of learning to surf.

Remember, different surf spots suit different levels. If you want to stop guessing and start surfing more, that's literally what we built Swellify for. Thanks for reading! πŸ€™

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Exploring more of the North Island? The Coromandel is just up the coast with similarly consistent waves, or head inland to Raglan β€” New Zealand's most famous learner wave.

See all 20 regions in our Complete Beginner's Guide to Surfing in New Zealand.

Tobias Work, Founder of Swellify

Tobias is the Founder of Swellify, a surf forecasting app built in Wellington that helps surfers like you catch more waves with way less hassle. After "accidentally" moving to New Zealand in 2019 and falling in love with Aotearoa, he's spent years obsessively studying every beach, point break, and island to make sure Swellify's 420+ spots are dialed in. Got any feedback or a killer session to share? Flick him an email at tobias@swellify.app.