Best Beginner Surf Spots on Northland's West Coast (2026 Guide)
Ahipara Beach had beginner-friendly surf 197 days last year. Here's your complete guide to learning on Northland's west side.
Are you a beginner surfer looking for waves on Northland's West Coast?
As a beginner surfer, mellow, small to medium-size waves are best for practicing and improving. Today we’ll be ranking these Northland West Coast surf spots based on:
- How many days each spot had 3+ hours of “good” surf for beginners in 2025
- How many days each spot had 3+ hours of perfect surf (ideal wave size and winds) for beginners in 2025
These rankings are based on real data: an entire year of Swellify surf data from 24 breaks around Northland West Coast. We wanted to find the beaches that gave you the most genuine opportunities to practice and improve.
Let’s crack into it!
If You Need Lessons or Rentals
Ahipara Beach is where you want to be. In 2025, this spot had good surf 197 days—that's 54% of the year! And 70 of those days had perfect beginner conditions.
More importantly, NZ Surfbros is just 5 minutes away with a perfect 5.0 rating from 25 reviews. They offer both lessons and rentals, so whether you're brand new or just need gear, they've got you sorted. 📞 021 210 7571. Let them know Swellify sent you!
If you're looking for both group and private options, NZ Surf Academy is about 35 minutes away and offers group lessons, private lessons, and beginner instruction. 📞 027 734 4877. Don't forget to mention Swellify when you book!
Why Ahipara? It's accessible, consistent, and you've got quality instruction right there. 197 surfable days means you've got options more than half the year.
The next closest option with lessons nearby is 90 Mile Beach (80 good days, 36 perfect days), with NZ Surf Academy right on the beach. It's worth considering if you're already in the far north.
If You Have Your Own Gear
When you've got your own board and wetsuit, one more spot becomes a possibility:
- Ahipara Beach - 197 good days, 70 perfect days
- Aranga Beach - 124 good days, 62 perfect days
- 90 Mile Beach - 80 good days, 36 perfect days
Aranga Beach is the hidden gem here. With 124 good days and 62 perfect days, it's more consistent than 90 Mile Beach, but there are no surf schools or rental shops nearby. If you've got your own equipment and want to escape the crowds, this is your spot.
Ahipara still leads the pack with 197 days, making it the most consistent beginner-friendly spot on the entire West Coast regardless of whether you need lessons or not.
For those of you curious about how surf gets into Shipwreck Bay, you should check out this rad writeup explaining how Shipwreck Bay (and Ahipara) work!
The Bottom Line
For beginners on Northland's West Coast, Ahipara Beach is the answer—whether you need lessons, rentals, or just a reliable spot with your own gear.
If you've got your own equipment and want variety, Aranga Beach offers solid consistency (124 days) without the crowds. But honestly? With Ahipara delivering nearly 200 surfable days and NZ Surfbros right there, most beginners will find everything they need in one place.
Different spots suit different levels. Check what's working for your ability, and go. But if you want to stop guessing and start surfing more, that's literally what we built Swellify for. Thanks for reading! 🤙
Want to know when the surf at Ahipara is going to be good for you? Swellify watches all your favorites and tells you exactly when they're good for your skill level. Get started free →
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Shipwreck Bay: A Fascinating Case Study
Ahipara Beach is in Shipwreck Bay! With 197 good days and 70 perfect ones, this one thing makes Shipwreck Bay unique.
Exploring both coasts? Northland's East Coast has beautiful bays and even more consistency — Tākou Bay hit 207 good days. Or if you're heading south, Auckland's West Coast continues the wild, powerful theme.
See all 20 regions in our Complete Beginner's Guide to Surfing in New Zealand.
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.