Ōakura

A small township on Taranaki's Surf Highway 45, Ōakura lies just south-west of New Plymouth on the western bulge of the North Island, a coast shaped by the volcanic cone of Mount Taranaki. The region's numerous reef and beach breaks have made it one of New Zealand's most rewarding surf areas.

Ōakura's main beach offers a beach break suited to a range of abilities, with sand banks producing lefts and rights, while the wider Surf Highway 45 threads past a string of reef and point breaks such as those around Stent Road, known for quality peeling waves that draw experienced surfers. The volcanic reefs give this coast a wealth of options within a short drive, from gentle learner waves to serious, hollow reef.

West and south-west swells wrap around the Taranaki coast, and because the peninsula juts into the Tasman Sea, some break faces catch swell while others are offshore, meaning there is usually somewhere working. Autumn to spring often brings the most consistent surf, and the water is cool, requiring a wetsuit year-round.

Ōakura keeps a laid-back, artsy village feel, with a black-sand beach, cafes and galleries, set against the backdrop of the near-perfect volcanic peak inland. The mountain, its national park and the coastal walkway around New Plymouth add to the region's appeal. The township lies about fifteen kilometres from New Plymouth, which has its own airport, making the Taranaki surf coast readily accessible for those exploring one of the country's most diverse surf regions.