Tarawera, New Zealand
Also within 20 km of Whakatāne
- Ohope Beach West End Surf spot · 4.5 km from Whakatāne
- Coastlands Beach Surf spot · 4.7 km from Whakatāne
- Otarawairere bay Surf spot · 4.7 km from Whakatāne
- Ohope beach Surf spot · 4.8 km from Whakatāne
Watch this spot We email you when Tarawera is worth the trip.
About Tarawera
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces N (18°), so it takes swell from the N. The wind blows offshore from the S (198°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 2–9 ft of swell. The sea floor shelves gently: 10 m deep about 550 m out (1 in 53). On a typical 5 ft, 11 s swell the waves here would spill softly. The sea is about 15°C in July, its coldest month (4/3 wetsuit and boots), and 22°C in February, its warmest (2 mm shorty). For intermediate surfers the best months are usually January, February, March and April, with about 1 good days in 7; in October and November, about 0. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Whakatāne.
Water about 16°C: 3/2 wetsuit. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
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Book the trip
From Chicago: about 28 h 50 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to WHK, changing at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Auckland International Airport (AKL).
See flights MDW → WHK · Skyscanner from about £730 returnAdGetting there. 30 min from the airport to Tarawera.
Accommodation.
Nearest beds: Whakatāne, 20 km (about 35 min by car)Ad
No town with beds to book is nearer Tarawera: 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 Whakatāne, 20 km away (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Whakatāne 35 min by car · rooms from £85 a night · 2 places to stay · where Tarawera stays
Places to stay in Whakatāne · Booking.com AdMaketu 56 min by car · rooms from £85 a night · 4 places to stay
Places to stay in Maketu · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Whakatāne · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Whakatāne · GetYourGuideAd
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Where it is
Tarawera on Google Maps · Directions
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Live webcam
In Whakatāne, the nearest town, 20 km away
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Forecast
Tarawera does not suit beginners. This is the forecast for intermediates, so you can see what it does.
The score for intermediates, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Scorefor Intermediate | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 9, too small | 1 ft11 smushy | 32kJ | wind from the north, 10 knots | 15°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 9, too small | 1 ft9 scrumbling | 12kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 1 knot | 16°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 9, too small | 1 ft8 scrumbling | 13kJ | offshorewind from the south-south-west, 3 knots, offshore | 16°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 6, too small | 1 ft9 smushy | 16kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 8 knots | 17°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 9, too small | 1 ft9 scrumbling | 15kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 1 knot | 19°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 8, too small | 1 ft9 scrumbling | 7kJ | wind from the east, 3 knots | 17°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 3, too small | 1 ft7 s | 3kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 3 knots | 17°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 3, too small | 1 ft3 smushy | 1kJ | wind from the north-west, 6 knots | 18°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 3, too small | 1 ft3 smushy | 1kJ | wind from the north-west, 8 knots | 18°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 10, poor | 4 ft5 smushy | 82kJ | wind from the north-west, 15 knots | 18°C |
| Wed 28Oct | 22, too small | 3 ft5 smushy | 40kJ | wind from the west-north-west, 11 knots | 18°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 WHK, changing at DFW and AKL, then 30 min by road. About 28h 50 door to door
- Tue 20 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Fly MDW to WHK, changing at DFW and AKL, then 30 min by road. About 28h 50 door to door
Rough cost
About £1,340–£2,590 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 WHK, estimated from distance and season, changing at DFW and AKL, full-service airlines, with a hold bag | £730–£1,520 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Taxi | airport and back, shared | £20–£35 |
| 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 | £1,340–£2,590 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Whakatāne
- Viet Eatery & CafeVietnamese · 2.0 km from the centre
- Noodle Canteen1.8 km from the centre
- Freds Fish & ChipsFish and chips · 1.9 km from the centre
- Gallipoli Turkish Restaurant1.9 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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Links marked Ad may pay us a small commission if you book. You pay the same price, and it never changes a score.