Overview
North Beach is a consistent, sand-bottomed right that's almost as good as New Pier, with the same firing right coming off the end. At high tide a left bowl fires on the inside, and a second short right bowl shows up at the north end near the Bay of Plenty pier on higher tides. On its day it can be huge and hollow; other times it turns onshore and dribbly.
When It Works
The main wave is a right that breaks over sand and pulls in a wide range of swell, taking anything from southwest through north to northeast (SW-N-NE), with southeast (SE) the best direction. It's a reliable spot that works from 0.6 m / 2 ft to 3 m / 10 ft.
Wind and Tide
Look for west (W) offshore wind. North Beach breaks across low, mid and high tide, with a rising tide generally the better call.
Local Tips
Beginner-friendly but rarely quiet, North Beach draws a busy lineup whenever it's working: longboarders when it's small, shortboarders once it picks up, and bodyboarders on it the whole time. Surfboards are banned from the patrolled swimming zones between 9 am and 5 pm, so while the lifeguards are on duty the bodyboarders get the line-up to themselves.
Access
You'll find restrooms, showers, lifeguards, a surf school and a surf shop on hand. Parking is easy, with a car park offering free spaces alongside paid and roadside options.
