Surf Highway 45

Taranaki

Surf Highway 45 follows the stunning Taranaki coastline through many of NZ's best surfing spots, including Ohawe Beach, Opunake, Okato and Oakura. Surfing options abound; beginners can take a lesson with a local or ride tandem with an instructor. More experienced surfers are free to explore - maybe hire an off-road vehicle to reach those secluded waves.

Taranaki Accommodation  |  Taranaki Activities

Surf Breaks En Route

• Ohawe Beach - right-hander, fast
• Mangahume - A-frame, challenging wave in NE wind
• The Dumps - best at lower tide
• Opunake Beach - right-hander, high-tide, offshore NE wind
• Arawhata Road - right break; left and right in middle of bay
• Kina Road - popular windsurfing spot 
• Stent Road - five spots, working on all tides, offshore NE
• Graveyards - left-hander, SE wind
• Rocky Point - Rocky Rights (NE wind) and Rocky Lefts (SE wind)
• Weld Road - good longboard spot
• Ahu Ahu Road - gentle left-hander and fast right-hander
• Oakura Beach - local club spot, beach break
• Back Beach - West-facing, bars change frequently
• East End Beach - NW-facing, best at mid-high tide
• Fitzroy Beach - local club spot, barrels, right and left-hander
• Waiwhakaiho River Mouth & Groyne - left and right off A-frame peak

Egmont National Park

It’s not all sea and surfing along the highway - visitors will be impressed with Egmont National Park, and its stunning centrepiece – the conical Mount Taranaki. The mountain is visited by over 300,000 people a year, and experienced climbers can ascend the peak. Egmont National Park also offers a wide range of walks, the beautiful Dawson’s Falls, and a ski field.

Taranaki Accommodation  |  Taranaki Activities

New Plymouth

The region's main centre of New Plymouth also has a wealth of activities. Visit the acclaimed Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, which houses the works of kinetic sculptor Len Lye, or take a look at his most accessible work – the beautiful 45 metre high Wind Wand. 

New Plymouth Accommodation  |  New Plymouth Activities