Papamoa East End / Bay of Plenty / New Zealand

This is the place to come to when the rest of the coast is blown out or the crowds at the main beaches are just too much.  It has a good atmosphere, is suitable for everybody, and you'll know when conditions are right here as everywhere else will be struggling.

The beach around here just has miles and miles of gorgeous white sand, you can look east and west and never see the end of it. It has got a pretty laid back feel to it and even if you aren't surfing it is one of those places where you would just be happy to spend some time.  The size means there is plenty of room for everybody, and the handful of surfers out here can pick their own waves.

Working best with the swell from the east and the wind from the south-west or the south, the waves here begin at about 1.5 m and will hold up to just over 3 m if you catch them on a rising tide and at either mid or high tide position. It is a beach break, both right and left, and the waves are fun – not too powerful or fast, but often hollow. The only downside is the length which doesn't often get to more than about 50 m, although sometimes the wave can wedge and give a longer ride.

This is a rapidly expanding area, with development going on all the time and as such it isn't the cheapest place to stay but has a decent choice when it comes to accommodation, restaurants etc. Lifeguards do patrol the beach here.

Just watch out for the currents here, though they are only really a problem if the tide is falling.