Best Beginner Surf Spots in Wairarapa (2026 Guide)
The Gap had beginner-friendly surf 207 days last year, with Wellington Surf Lessons operating right at Castle Point. Here's where to learn on the wild Wairarapa coast.
Are you a beginner surfer looking for waves in the Wairarapa? The Wairarapa coast is rugged, beautiful, and surprisingly consistent for surfing. Just over the Rimutaka Range from Wellington, it's an easy day trip from the capital. The coastline faces east into the Pacific, picking up swells that miss the more sheltered Wellington harbour.
As a beginner surfer, mellow, small to medium-size waves are best for practicing and improving. Today we’ll be ranking these Wairarapa 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 35 breaks around Wairarapa. 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
Great news: Wellington Surf Lessons operates at Castle Point in the Wairarapa, so you can get lessons and rentals right where the waves are.
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The Gap — 207 good days, 60 perfect days
The most consistent beginner spot in the Wairarapa with over 200 good days. Wellington Surf Lessons is about 2 minutes drive away at Castle Point. That's a lot of opportunities to learn!
Wellington Surf Lessons has a ★4.9 rating (57 reviews) and offers lessons plus rentals. Give them a call at 📞 021 176 4073 and tell them Swellify sent you!
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Christmas Bay — 168 good days, 64 perfect days
Around the corner from The Gap and Castlepoint Beach, Christmas Bay had fewer good days than The Gap, but more perfect days. It's a bit of a mission, but you can't argue with the stats!
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Castlepoint Beach — 100 good days, 22 perfect days
Wellington Surf Lessons operates right on this beach, so it's the most convenient option for lessons. The trade-off is fewer good days compared to The Gap and Christmas Bay. But if you're learning, having the instructor right there is worth a lot. Don't forget to let them know Swellify sent you 🙏🏻
If You Have Your Own Gear
Got your own board and wettie? Now we're talking! The Wairarapa coast opens up with some seriously consistent spots.
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The Gap — 207 good days, 60 perfect days
Still the top spot, and with lessons/rentals nearby if you need a backup.
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Uruti Point — 188 good days, 79 perfect days
No services nearby, but 79 perfect days is excellent. Quality over quantity at this spot.
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Tora Stream — 187 good days, 83 perfect days
The highest perfect day count on this list at 83. Tora is down the coast from Castle Point, remote and beautiful. No services out here, so come prepared.
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God Squad — 186 good days, 77 perfect days
Great name, great waves. Another remote spot with no services, but solid consistency.
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Stony Bay — 172 good days, 73 perfect days
The pattern here is interesting. The Gap has the most good days overall, but the remote spots down the coast (Tora Stream, Uruti Point, God Squad) have more perfect days. If you're after quantity, head to The Gap. If you're chasing quality and don't mind the adventure, explore further south.
The Bottom Line
Wairarapa delivered 207 surfable days for beginners at The Gap last year. The only way you miss out is if you're not paying attention.
Need lessons? Castle Point Beach has Wellington Surf Lessons right on the sand. Or head to The Gap (2 min drive) for more consistent waves with lessons still close by.
Need rentals? Same deal. Wellington Surf Lessons does rentals at Castle Point.
Have your own gear? The Gap is the most consistent overall, but Tora Stream has the most perfect days at 83.
The Wairarapa is an easy day trip from Wellington, but it feels like a world away. The coast is wild and rugged, the waves are consistent, and thanks to Wellington Surf Lessons operating at Castle Point, you can get lessons and rentals without having to bring your own gear. It's a great option for Wellingtonians looking to escape the city and score some waves.
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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Closer to the city? Wellington and Kapiti are both under an hour from the Wairarapa. Heading north, Hawke's Bay continues the east coast with even more consistency.
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.