East Cape Surf Spots

Open beachbreak near Gisborne with shifting peaks over sand, famous as the Whale Rider filming location.

Long, meandering right point break over reef and sand on New Zealand's East Cape coast.

Long, mellow left reef breaking over uneven rock and sand at the north end of Makorori Beach.

Shifting beachbreak peaks inside a marine reserve, with reef outcrops adding texture on bigger swells.

Powerful, shifting rivermouth sandbar delivering long right-handers when rare S or NE swells align.

Sheltered reefy beachbreak near Gisborne with mellow peaks and a flanking left point, good for improvers.

New Zealand's most consistent beachbreak — five sections from Whales to Stock Route, hollow and powerful on any tide.

Gisborne's notorious A-frame beachbreak, where the town sewer pipe sandbars produce heavy, thumping barrels.

Hollow reef lefts off Tuamotu Island with long tube rides at The Bowl and intense rights at Inside Island.

Average left point past Gisborne yacht club that wakes up on large south swells — rocky with scattered reef sections.

Remote right-hand point break over boulders and sand on the East Cape, firing on solid E swells.

6km arc of fun longboard-friendly peaks — walk or drive south for empty waves. Rivermouth at Oraka Beach.

High-tide left crumbling off boulder reef at the north end — long rides for improvers on E swells.

Long beautiful beach with mellow easy rollers for beginners and longboarders. Campground at the north end.

Fast hollow left peeling down a boulder-lined point that works in most swells — private property access with localism.

Super consistent reef peak with barrel sections — rights are hollower and longer. Sheltered from wind. Crowded.

World-class righthand boulder point on the Mahia Peninsula — hollow, thick-lipped barrels for experts only.

Long righthand point beside the railway line — most protected of three quality points on Mahia Peninsula.

Square, super-shallow reef barrels on a rocky spit — one of the region's most powerful and hollow waves.

Pair of quality reef breaks — First and Second Reef — fun righthanders with performance turn opportunities.

Sketchy super-shallow barrelling right over rock shelf — very rare NE swell, air-drop takeoffs, bodyboarder favourite.

Slopey lefts on S swells around the Mokotahi cliffs — good for improvers and longboarders. Shoulders predictably.

Remote, fully exposed beachbreak at the eastern end of Mahia Peninsula — powerful triangular peaks, often empty.

Exposed beachbreak with multiple peaks over uneven reef and sand north of Gisborne.

East Cape rivermouth bar with a hollow right and shorter left — the highlight of an otherwise average beachbreak.

Hollow, powerful right-hand point break north of Tolaga Bay with three distinct sections over boulders and sand.

Powerful right-hand point break over boulders and sand at Cook's Cove, firing on big swells with hollow barrel sections.

Fast, hollow right-hand point break over uneven reef on New Zealand's remote East Coast.

Powerful right-hand point over uneven reef. Critical takeoff into long barrelling walls. Advanced surfers only.

Remote East Cape pointbreak complex with three distinct sections firing on NE to SE swells, best mid to high tide.

Punchy shifting peaks at the Waiapu River mouth over sand and shingle bars — quiet East Cape beachbreak.