Browns Bay Bar, New Zealand
Also within 20 km of Whangaparāoa
- Gulf Harbour Yacht Club Sailing spot · 0.4 km from Whangaparāoa
- Whangaparaoa Kite spot · 2.5 km from Whangaparāoa
- Stanmore Bay Point Surf spot · 4.6 km from Whangaparāoa
- Long Bay Surf spot · 7.9 km from Whangaparāoa
- Long Bay Reef Point Surf spot · 8.1 km from Whangaparāoa
- Red Beach Surf spot · 8.2 km from Whangaparāoa
- Orewa Beach Surf spot · 8.6 km from Whangaparāoa
- Mairangi bay Surf spot · 13.4 km from Whangaparāoa
Watch this spot We email you when Browns Bay Bar is worth the trip.
About Browns Bay Bar
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces E (77°), so it takes swell from the E. The wind blows offshore from the W (257°). It is sheltered to the open swell. It suits beginners and up. It works in 4–19 ft of swell. The sea floor shelves very gently: 10 m deep about 1.3 km out (1 in 128). On a typical 5 ft, 11 s swell the waves here would spill softly. The sea is about 14°C in August, its coldest month (4/3 wetsuit and boots), and 22°C in February, its warmest (2 mm shorty). The town to stay in is Whangaparāoa. Within 5 km we also list 3 surf spots and 1 wind sports spot.
Water about 16°C: 3/2 wetsuit. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
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From Chicago: about 25 h 40 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to Auckland International Airport (AKL), changing at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).
See flights MDW → AKL · Skyscanner from about £740 returnAdGetting there. 55 min from the airport to Browns Bay Bar.
Accommodation.
Nearest beds: Whangaparāoa, 11 km (about 20 min by car)Ad
No town with beds to book is nearer Browns Bay Bar: plan on the drive each day you surf.
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Whangaparāoa, 11 km away (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Whangaparāoa 20 min by car · rooms from £85 a night · 2 places to stay · where Browns Bay Bar stays
Places to stay in Whangaparāoa · Booking.com AdOrewa 29 min by car · rooms from £85 a night · 9 places to stay
Places to stay in Orewa · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Whangaparāoa · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Whangaparāoa · GetYourGuideAd
Budget 
Mid-range 
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Where it is
Browns Bay Bar on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
The score for intermediates, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for intermediates | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 1, too small | under 1 ft4 s | 0kJ | wind from the south, 7 knots | 16°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 1, too small | under 1 ft4 s | 0kJ | wind from the south, 8 knots | 17°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 1, too small | under 1 ft4 s | 0kJ | wind from the north-east, 3 knots | 17°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 1, too small | under 1 ft3 s | 0kJ | offshorewind from the south-west, 12 knots, offshore | 17°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 1, too small | under 1 ft4 s | 0kJ | offshorewind from the south-west, 14 knots, offshore | 17°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 1, too small | under 1 ft5 s | 0kJ | offshorewind from the south-west, 6 knots, offshore | 18°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 1, too small | under 1 ft5 s | 0kJ | wind from the south-south-west, 9 knots | 18°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 1, too small | under 1 ft4 s | 0kJ | wind from the north-east, 2 knots | 16°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 2, too small | 1 ft3 smushy | 1kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 8 knots | 18°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 6, too small | 1 ft5 smushy | 7kJ | offshorewind from the west-north-west, 16 knots, offshore | 20°C |
| Wed 28Oct | 5, too small | 1 ft4 smushy | 3kJ | wind from the north, 6 knots | 17°C |
Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Energy is the swell's power in kJ per metre of wave, from its height and interval: it grows with the square of each, so a long-period swell hits far harder than a short one the same size. The word under the swell is the wave's shape, our estimate from the sea floor. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to; offshore wind, blowing from the land out to sea, is green and says so.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for intermediate surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Fly MDW to AKL, changing at DFW, then 55 min by road. About 25h 40 door to door
- Tue 20 OctRest day
Too small: under 1 ft at best.
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Too small: under 1 ft at best.
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Too small: under 1 ft at best.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Too small: under 1 ft at best.
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Too small: under 1 ft at best.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Fly MDW to AKL, changing at DFW, then 55 min by road. About 25h 40 door to door
Rough cost
About £1,385–£2,660 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return MDW to AKL, estimated from distance and season, changing at DFW, full-service airlines, with a hold bag | £740–£1,530 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Taxi | airport and back, shared | £55–£95 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | £225–£375 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £230–£430 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £100–£165 |
| Total | £1,385–£2,660 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Whangaparāoa
- Bombay to GoaIndian · 0.7 km from the centre
- Ma Rew Thai CuisineThai · 0.8 km from the centre
- Smoke and BbqBarbecue · 0.8 km from the centre
- Carpe Diem Restaurant, Gulf Harbour0.7 km from the centre
- The Waterfront0.7 km from the centre
- Drunken CrayfishFish and chips · 0.8 km from the centre
Within 2 km of the town centre, listed by how complete the listing is (website, opening hours, cuisine) and whether two sources name it. Not a judgement of the food: we have no reviews. Listings © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps Foundation. Credits
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