Best Beginner Surf Spots in Taranaki (2026 Guide)
Fitzroy had beginner-friendly surf 217 days last year, and there's a surf school right on the beach. Here's where to learn in the shadow of the mountain.
Are you a beginner surfer looking for waves in Taranaki? Taranaki's west-facing coastline picks up a tonne of swell, and the beaches around Oakura and New Plymouth offer mellow conditions surprisingly often.
As a beginner surfer, mellow, small to medium-size waves are best for practicing and improving. Today we’ll be ranking these Taranaki 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 41 breaks around Taranaki. 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
Here's the thing about Taranaki: the most consistent beginner spots and the spots with lessons nearby are actually different beaches. But that's okay! Both options are solid, and you've got choices depending on what matters most to you.
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Fitzroy 🥇 217 good days, 78 perfect days
Fitzroy is right in New Plymouth with New Plymouth Surf School literally on the beach. They've got a perfect ★5.0 rating (17 reviews) and specialize in group lessons. Give them a call at 📞 027 307 5842 and tell them Swellify sent you!
Beach Street Surf Shop is also just a 2 minute drive if you need to grab rentals (📞 06 758 0400, ★3.6 rating, 28 reviews). The convenience factor here is hard to beat.
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Back Beach 🥈 208 good days, 99 perfect days
Interesting one here. Fewer good days overall than Fitzroy, but actually MORE perfect days. If you want to time your lesson for when conditions are dialed in, Back Beach delivers. Beach Street Surf Shop is about a 15 minute drive and offers lessons (📞 06 758 0400). New Plymouth Surf School is 18 minutes away. Mention Swellify when you book!
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Waitara 🥉 194 good days, 62 perfect days
A bit further from the main action, but Quantum Flow Surf Coaching is just 10 minutes away. They offer beginner lessons, group lessons, private lessons AND advanced coaching, so they can grow with you as you improve. Perfect ★5.0 rating (3 reviews). Reach them at 📞 0210 878 1529. Don't forget to let them know Swellify sent you 🙏🏻
If You Need Rentals (But Not Lessons)
Already know the basics but need a board or wettie? Now the most consistent spots open up to you.
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Ahu Ahu (Right) 🥇 231 good days, 96 perfect days
This is the most consistent beginner spot in all of Taranaki. The catch? No lessons right nearby. But Surf Revival in New Plymouth is about 25 minutes away and does rentals with a perfect ★5.0 rating (7 reviews). Call them at 📞 021 110 5854.
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Weld Road 🥈 231 good days, 96 perfect days
Same excellent stats as Ahu Ahu (Right), and they're neighbours. Same rental situation applies. Surf Revival is about 26 minutes away, or Beach Street Surf Shop is 30 minutes (📞 06 758 0400, ★3.6 rating, 28 reviews).
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Oakura Beach 🥉 229 good days, 93 perfect days
Just a whisker behind the Ahu Ahu spots in terms of good days and perfect days. Surf Revival is about 18 minutes away for rentals.
If You Have Your Own Gear
Got your own board and wettie? Now we're talking! Here are the most consistent beginner-friendly spots in Taranaki, period.
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Ahu Ahu (Right) — 231 good days, 96 perfect days
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Weld Road — 231 good days, 96 perfect days
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Oakura Beach — 229 good days, 93 perfect days
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Ahu Ahu (Left) — 225 good days, 94 perfect days
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Fitzroy — 217 good days, 78 perfect days
The Oakura area absolutely dominates. The top four spots are all within a few minutes of each other, and they're all pumping out 225+ good days per year for beginners.
Fitzroy is the pick if you're in New Plymouth and don't fancy the 20 minute drive south to Oakura. Still 217 good days, and that's more than most regions in the country.
The Bottom Line
Taranaki delivered 230+ surfable days for beginners at the top spots last year. The only way you miss out is if you're not paying attention.
Need lessons? Head to Fitzroy. New Plymouth Surf School is right on the sand, and you'll have 217 good days to work with.
Need rentals? The Ahu Ahu / Weld Road stretch near Oakura is where the consistency is. Grab a board from Surf Revival and enjoy 231 good days.
Have your own gear? Same deal. Ahu Ahu and Weld Road are your spots.
Taranaki's west coast exposure means it picks up almost everything the Tasman throws at it, but the beaches around Oakura manage to stay mellow enough for beginners a surprising amount of the time. Add in that volcano backdrop and you've got one of the most scenic places to learn to surf in the country.
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! 🤙
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Road tripping? Raglan is 3 hours north and equally legendary for learners. Heading south, Kapiti and Wellington offer capital city waves.
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.