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Northwest Rock, New Zealand

Stay in Mount Maunganui: see the trip Its beds, the way there and every spot near it.

Also within 20 km of Mount Maunganui

All 12 on Mount Maunganui's map

Watch this spot We email you when Northwest Rock is worth the trip.

Mount Maunganui 25
Mount Maunganui, the nearest town, 5 km away. Photo: Schwede66, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

About Northwest Rock

Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.

The spot faces N (0°), so it takes swell from the N. The wind blows offshore from the S (180°). It is sheltered to the open swell. It suits beginners and up. It works in 2–9 ft of swell. 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 beginners the best months are usually January, February, March and April, with about 1 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Mount Maunganui, 5.3 km away (about 10 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 8 surf spots.

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 27 h 30 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.

  1. 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 returnAd

  2. Getting there. 2 h 45 from the airport to Northwest Rock.

    Car hire · Discover CarsAd

  3. Accommodation.

    Stay in Mount MaunganuiAd

    Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.

    Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).

    See all places to stay on Booking.com →

    Closest towns to stay in

    Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.

  4. Hire and lessons.

    Surf lessons in Mount Maunganui · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Mount Maunganui · GetYourGuideAd

Everything else for the trip

Where it is

Northwest Rock on Google Maps · Directions

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One finger scrolls the page; two fingers move the map. Pins are our own positions. Map OpenFreeMap, © OpenMapTiles, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Live webcam

Port of Tauranga - Berth 1 and 2, 2 km away

Open the webcam on port-tauranga.co.nz

Port of Tauranga - Berths 1-5, 3 km away

Open the webcam on port-tauranga.co.nz

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Forecast

The score for beginners, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small

DayScoreSwellEnergyWindTemp
Mon 19Oct91 ft10 s9kJ17°C
Tue 20Oct111 ft9 s8kJ16°C
Wed 21Oct121 ft10 s9kJ19°C
Thu 22Oct111 ft9 s8kJ19°C
Fri 23Oct101 ft9 s6kJ17°C
Sat 24Oct5under 1 ft8 s2kJ17°C
Sun 25Oct6under 1 ft11 s3kJ18°C
Mon 26Oct91 ft3 s3kJ19°C
Tue 27Oct242 ft4 s22kJ20°C
Wed 28Oct452 ft5 s18kJ19°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. 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 Tue 20 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for beginner surfers. Change dates

  1. Tue 20 Oct
    Travel out

    Fly MDW to AKL, changing at DFW, then 2h 45 by road. About 27h 30 door to door

  2. Wed 21 Oct
    Rest day

    Too small: 1 ft at best.

  3. Thu 22 Oct
    Rest day

    Too small: 1 ft at best.

  4. Fri 23 Oct
    Rest day

    Too small: 1 ft at best.

  5. Sat 24 Oct
    Rest day

    Too small: under 1 ft at best.

  6. Sun 25 Oct
    Rest day

    Too small: under 1 ft at best.

  7. Mon 26 Oct
    Travel home

    Fly MDW to AKL, changing at DFW, then 2h 45 by road. About 27h 30 door to door

The plan picks the best of 11 spots near Mount Maunganui each day: Banks Ave, Blowhole, Mount main beach, Mount Maunganui, Mt Maunganui, Mt Reef (Artificial), Northwest Rock, Omanu(kanes bar), Rabbit Island, Tay street, Torrins Poo Pipe.

The trip from Mount Maunganui, with every spot near it

Rough cost

About £1,430–£2,735 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.

WhatHow we worked it outEach
Flightsreturn MDW to AKL, estimated from distance and season, changing at DFW, full-service airlines, with a hold bag£740–£1,530
To the UK airportparking or the train, there and back£35–£65
Hire car6 days, shared£100–£170
Stay6 nights, a mid-range double, shared£225–£375
Food7 days eating out£230–£430
Board and wetsuit5 days, or about £85 to fly your own£100–£165
Total£1,430–£2,735

Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.

Places to eat near Mount Maunganui

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

Book the trip

Getting thereAd

Flights · Skyscanner Car hire · Discover Cars

Where to stayAd

Places to stay · Booking.com

In the waterAd

Surf lessons · GetYourGuide Board and wetsuit hire · GetYourGuide

Links marked Ad may pay us a small commission if you book. You pay the same price, and it never changes a score.