Orakawa / North Island / New Zealand

This gorgeous spot is just to the north of Waihi, and is suitable for surfers of all abilities. It's for those who like it quiet and relaxed, yet within easy reach of a decent sized town.

The beach is just beautiful. It's a long stretch of white sand, with a forest behind it and rocky outcrops at both ends.  Most people don't bother walking this far, so if you come during the week you are likely to have the place to yourself, and even at weekends you probably won't see more than a handful of others.  The water temperature reaches an average high of about 21° C in February and an average low of about 14° C in September.

This spot works when the wind is blowing from the east and the swell is meeting it from the west. It will start working at 1.5 to 2 m and reach a maximum of just over 3 m, working at all tide positions as long as the water is rising. It is a beach break, both right and left, and the waves are often a bit more powerful than you'd expect for their size, and can be quite heavy in winter. Length is usually short at around 50 m, although it can see up to 150 m.

For access to this spot you're better parking at Waihi and then following the walkway north for about 15 minutes, or if you are feeling like you need a warmup it's about a 20 min paddle.  There aren't any facilities on this beach, but Waihi is only a short distance to the south and is well set up to cater for surfers and other tourists.

The only potential issue here are the undertows which can be quite strong on occasion, but the site is generally considered to be pretty safe.