Mount Maunganui is arguably New Zealand’s most famous beach break, a consistent, high-quality sweep of sand on the spit at the northeastern tip of the Bay of Plenty, and a perennial contender for the country’s surf capital. The coast here serves up peaky sandbar barrels, mellow whitewater for learners and a protected right-hand point off Moturiki Island, so it genuinely covers every level in one town. Backed by a buzzing beach community of cafes and holiday parks, it is as easy a surf trip as New Zealand offers. It suits beginners taking lessons on the main beach and improvers chasing punchy, forgiving peaks, with the point for the experienced. Mount Maunganui features in our guide to surfing in New Zealand. Here is how to surf it.
Quick surf guide to Mount Maunganui
- Best season: year-round, prime January to April on cyclone and groundswells
- Best for beginners: Main Beach and Tay Street, sandy and forgiving
- Best for experienced surfers: the Blowhole point off Moturiki Island
- Wave type: a consistent sand-bottom beach break, plus a right-hand point
- Water temp: 14 to 21°C, a 3/2 most of the year, a springsuit in summer
- Crowds: busy, especially in summer and on good days
- Getting there: Tauranga airport (TRG) about 10 minutes, or Auckland (AKL) about 3 hours
- Budget: $50 to $130 a day depending on style
Where to surf at Mount Maunganui
The Mount is a long beach with several peaks and a point at its southern end. Tap a marker to preview a break, then click its name to jump to my full rundown below.
The breaks
A long, forgiving beach and a protected point, with something for every level.
Main Beach
The main beach runs for kilometers with peaks that shift along the sandbars, from gentle whitewater near the schools to punchier lefts and rights when the banks line up. It takes a N to NE swell with an offshore southerly and works across the tide depending on the bank, so there is usually something to suit your level somewhere along it. Walk to find your peak, mind the rips, and use the softer sections to learn and the sucky banks to progress.
The Blowhole (Moturiki point)
At the south end of the main beach, the Blowhole is the right-hand point off Moturiki (Leisure) Island, the spot to be when the open beaches are blown out, since it stays protected and offshore in a southwesterly. On its day it offers long rides of up to around 150 meters and suits confident intermediates and up. It draws a crowd and a local element when it turns on, so read the lineup and be patient. Note that the old artificial surf reef nearby was removed in 2014, so it is no longer a wave.
Tay Street
Further south along the beach, Tay Street is a favorite for its fast, sucky sandbar drops that peel both ways over sand, forgiving enough for all levels but punchy enough to keep improvers and longboarders happy. It works on a N to NE swell with an offshore at mid tide, and it is often the busiest peak in town because the banks are so reliable. A great place to log waves and work on your surfing, just expect company on the good days.
When to surf Mount Maunganui
Shoulder
Off (coldest, still surfable)
Mount Maunganui works year-round, with surfable days in most months, because the Bay of Plenty picks up swell two ways: ex-tropical cyclones and lows tracking down from the north in summer and autumn, and southerly and easterly lows through the cooler months. The prime stretch is January to April, when the cyclone and groundswell season lines up with the warmest water and the beach is at its liveliest. That combination of consistent waves and warm surf is why summer and early autumn are the classic time to visit.
Winter, July and August, brings the coldest water but still delivers swell, so it never really shuts off, just gets quieter and colder. The sea runs from about 14°C at the winter low to 21°C in late summer, so plan on a 3/2 for most of the year, a springsuit or shorty in summer, and a 4/3 with boots for the coldest winter sessions. Summer is warm, sunny and popular, so expect crowds on the good days.
Where to stay and surf Mount Maunganui
The Mount is a lively beach town with plenty of accommodation right by the sand, from holiday parks and hostels to apartments and hotels, plus a great cafe and food scene. The surf runs on schools rather than big camps, with operators offering lessons, coaching and board and wetsuit hire on the beach, so it is easy to build a self-guided trip around lessons and rentals. Base yourself near Main Beach or Tay Street to walk to the surf, and use a car to follow the wind and swell between the beach and the point. For the wider country, see our guide to surfing in New Zealand.
Compare surf camps in New Zealand on BookSurfCamps
What to pack for Mount Maunganui
Temperate water, a consistent beach break and shifting banks are what to plan for. My Mount checklist:
- A 3/2 wetsuit for most of the year, a springsuit in summer and a 4/3 with boots for the coldest winter sessions near 14 degrees
- A shortboard for the punchy banks and a longboard for the mellow days; if you are learning, rent a soft-top and check your board volume
- Spare leashes and fins, since a busy beach break sees plenty of dings
- A surf watch for the tides and banks, plus SPF and a surf hat for the strong summer sun
Getting to Mount Maunganui
Mount Maunganui sits on the coast in the Bay of Plenty on New Zealand’s North Island. The nearest airport is Tauranga (TRG), only about five kilometers and a 10-minute drive from the beach, with domestic connections. Most international visitors fly into Auckland (AKL) and drive southeast, roughly 3 to 3.5 hours. A car is handy for chasing the best surf between the main beach, Tay Street and the point depending on the wind and swell. If you are planning a wider trip, pair this with surfing in New Zealand.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mount Maunganui good for beginner surfing?
Yes, the main beach is one of the best beginner surf spots in the North Island, with mellow whitewater, a sandy bottom and surf schools on the beach. Lessons and board hire are easy to arrange. Just be mindful of the rips and stick to patrolled areas.
When is the best time of year to surf Mount Maunganui?
It surfs year-round, but the most consistent, warm-water surfing runs from January through April, when cyclone and groundswells arrive and the water is warmest. Winter can also deliver clean, consistent days, and summer is popular, so expect bigger crowds.
Can I still surf the Mount Reef artificial reef?
No. The artificial surf reef, built in 2005, underperformed and was removed in late 2014, so there is no reef to surf today. Older guides still mention it, but you will only find the natural beach breaks and the Moturiki point now.
Where should experienced surfers go around the Mount?
Experienced surfers head to the right-hand point at the Blowhole off Moturiki Island, which offers long rides and works best in southwest winds when the open beaches are blown out. The heavier, sucky sandbanks at Tay Street and Main Beach also reward confident surfers.
What wetsuit do I need for surfing at Mount Maunganui?
A 3/2 full suit covers most of the year. In summer you can get away with a springsuit or even boardshorts, while winter calls for a 4/3 with boots as the water dips to around 14 degrees Celsius. Bring the warmer suit if you plan long dawn sessions.
How do I get to Mount Maunganui for a surf trip?
Fly into Tauranga Airport (TRG), just about five kilometers from the beach, or into Auckland (AKL) and drive roughly 3 to 3.5 hours southeast. A car is handy for chasing the best surf between the main beach, Tay Street and the point depending on wind and swell.
Mount Maunganui is New Zealand surfing at its most welcoming: a long, consistent beach that teaches beginners, keeps improvers busy at Tay Street, and rewards the experienced at the point, all wrapped in one of the country’s best beach towns. Come in summer or early autumn for the warm-water cyclone swells, walk to your peak, respect the rips, and enjoy the cafes between sessions. See you in the lineup.
