Wainui.

Wainui, just north of Gisborne, is widely regarded as New Zealand's most consistent beachbreak, a claim backed by its ability to hold swell from NE through to S and produce quality surf on virtually any tide. The beach is divided into five distinct sections that behave differently depending on swell direction and size. Whales and Chalet, towards the northern end, come alive on S swell and offer longer, more workable walls. Moving south, Pines - in front of the surf club - sits mid-beach and is a reliable all-rounder. Schools and the standout Stock Route, the most coveted spot on the beach, both demand more E in the swell and reward with the hollowest, most powerful peaks on the stretch. Wainui handles size unusually well for a beachbreak, scaling up to a legitimate 3m on big E swells while maintaining shape that most sandy-bottomed spots lose above head-high. Waves are fast and often critically hollow, demanding a committed takeoff. Strong rips run between sections and submerged objects lurk closer to the northern end; awareness of current patterns is essential. Crowds spread across the multiple peaks, diluting localism pressure, though Stock Route draws the most competitive lineup on good days. Westerly winds groom the faces cleanly and are the dominant offshore. Wainui is a near-daily option for the East Cape.

Hollow peaks that scale to three metres while five beach sections splinter the crowd.