The groyne, New Zealand
Also within 20 km of New Plymouth
- Boulders bay Surf spot · 1.3 km from New Plymouth
- Fitzroy Beach Surf spot · 1.6 km from New Plymouth
- Bog Works Surf spot · 2 km from New Plymouth
- Aquatic centre Surf spot · 2.7 km from New Plymouth
- Waiwakaiho River Mouth Reef, Waisys Surf spot · 2.8 km from New Plymouth
- Belt Road Surf spot · 3.4 km from New Plymouth
- Break water Surf spot · 4.4 km from New Plymouth
- Mikotai Surf spot · 5.4 km from New Plymouth
Watch this spot We email you when The groyne is worth the trip.
About The groyne
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces NW (334°), so it takes swell from the NW. The wind blows offshore from the SE (154°). It is sheltered to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 3–11 ft of swell. The sea floor shelves very gently: 10 m deep about 1.5 km out (1 in 152). 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 20°C in January, 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, about 0. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is New Plymouth, 3.2 km away (about 10 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 9 surf spots.
Water about 15°C: 4/3 wetsuit and boots. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
Saved: this link opens the same trip
The link holds the trip itself: nothing about you is kept. Check the forecast again before you book.
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 NPL, changing at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Auckland International Airport (AKL).
See flights MDW → NPL · Skyscanner from about £745 returnAdGetting there. 25 min from the airport to The groyne.
Accommodation.
Stay in New PlymouthAd
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 New Plymouth (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
New Plymouth 6 min by car · rooms from £85 a night · 45 places to stay · where The groyne stays
Places to stay in New Plymouth · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in New Plymouth · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in New Plymouth · GetYourGuideAd
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Where it is
The groyne on Google Maps · Directions
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Live webcam
Taranaki from New Plymouth, 4 km away
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Forecast
The groyne 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 | 41, fair | 3 ft9 ssoft | 135kJ | offshorewind from the south-south-east, 1 knot, offshore | 17°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 17, poor | 3 ft6 smushy | 75kJ | wind from the west, 5 knots | 17°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 33, poor | 3 ft6 smushy | 69kJ | wind from the east-north-east, 6 knots | 16°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 16, poor | 3 ft6 smushy | 61kJ | wind from the west-south-west, 12 knots | 16°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 14, poor | 4 ft7 smushy | 120kJ | wind from the west-south-west, 16 knots | 17°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 35, poor | 4 ft6 smushy | 112kJ | wind from the north-east, 3 knots | 17°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 29, poor | 4 ft13 smushy | 416kJ | wind from the west, 12 knots | 16°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 38, fair | 4 ft12 smushy | 464kJ | wind from the west-north-west, 8 knots | 16°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 24, poor | 4 ft12 smushy | 334kJ | wind from the north-west, 11 knots | 17°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 0, too big | 6 ft7 smushy | 321kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 19 knots | 17°C |
| Wed 28Oct | 0, too big | 6 ft7 smushy | 304kJ | wind from the west-south-west, 13 knots | 15°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 NPL, changing at DFW and AKL, then 25 min by road. About 28h 50 door to door
- Tue 20 OctSurf Back Beach
Best 10:00 to 13:00 local time: 4 ft at 6 s, wind 6 kn (11 km/h).
- Wed 21 OctSurf Mikotai
Best 10:00 to 13:00 local time: 4 ft at 6 s, wind 12 kn (22 km/h).
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 29 of 80.
- Fri 23 OctSurf Secrets
Best 10:00 to 13:00 local time: 4 ft at 6 s, wind 2 kn (3 km/h).
- Sat 24 OctSurf Waiwakaiho River Mouth Reef, Waisys
Best 19:00 to 22:00 local time: 4 ft at 12 s, wind 12 kn (22 km/h).
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Fly MDW to NPL, changing at DFW and AKL, then 25 min by road. About 28h 50 door to door
The plan picks the best of 13 spots near New Plymouth each day: Aquatic centre, Back Beach, Bell Block Reef, Belt Road, Bog Works, Boulders bay, Break water, Fitzroy Beach, Mikotai, Secrets, The groyne, Waitara(WBBRC)-Surf Club Side, Waiwakaiho River Mouth Reef, Waisys.
Rough cost
About £1,350–£2,610 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 NPL, estimated from distance and season, changing at DFW and AKL, full-service airlines, with a hold bag | £745–£1,550 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Taxi | airport and back, shared | £15–£25 |
| 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 | £1,350–£2,610 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near New Plymouth
- BurgerFuel New PlymouthBurger · 0.9 km from the centre
- Curry PointIndian · 1.1 km from the centre
- Deluxe DinerAmerican · 1.1 km from the centre
- Marbles BuffetBuffet · 1.1 km from the centre
- Pizza Hut New PlymouthPizza · 1.1 km from the centre
- St Pierre's SushiSushi · 1.1 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
Book the trip
Where to stayAd
Places to stay · Booking.com (ad)Links marked Ad may pay us a small commission if you book. You pay the same price, and it never changes a score.