Ocean Beach Hawkes Bay is the East Coast's shape-shifting canvas—a long stretch of beach and reef breaks where the constantly moving sandbars ensure no two sessions are ever quite the same. The year-round southeast groundswell exposure keeps waves arriving when other regions go flat, while the uncrowded nature means you can walk down the beach until you find your own peak. The Art Deco architecture of nearby Napier and the renowned Hawkes Bay wine region add cultural dimensions to surf trips here, creating a complete destination experience beyond the waves themselves.
Water temp
17°C
Wetsuit
3/2mm fullsuit
Difficulty
4/10
Crowd level
3/10
Access: 20km from Hastings. Multiple breaks along beach.
Peak: Jan-Dec
Year-round. Groundswells from SE.
Verified by Surf Forecast NZ
How well swell angle matches the spot
Wave height in the ideal range
Each spot has different period requirements. Points and reefs can handle longer periods than beaches.
Offshore/glassy conditions