Oakura Beach

Oakura offers a mellow, yet consistently rewarding beachbreak just south of New Plymouth, serving up both lefts and rights over a mix of sand and patchy reef. It’s a reliable go-to when strong southerlies spoil other spots, making it a prime refuge for surfers looking to escape the wind. The setup here is dynamic: at high tide, a playful beachbreak unfolds right in front of town, while low tide exposes shifting sandbars shaped by multiple stream mouths. For those chasing a bit more juice, an outer bombie comes to life on bigger swells, offering a wider, more powerful wave for experienced surfers. Overall, Oakura is a versatile, all-season option that delivers moderate waves across a range of tides, with the best conditions when the swell rolls in from the west or northwest and the winds swing offshore from the southeast.

Best Surf Season (April - August)

Oakura Beach hits its stride during the southern autumn and winter. From April through August, average swell heights climb into the 6-7ft (1.8-2.1m) class, wave periods sit in the powerful 11.7-12.3s range, and the Tasman Sea/Southern Ocean storm track is in full swing. The spot's preferred N, NNW, NW and WNW swell windows carry more of the available energy, while offshore S, SSW, SW and WSW winds still show up often enough to keep the lineup reasonably clean. This is the most reliable stretch for that combination of size, period and shape that makes Oakura's sandbars light up.