Long Bay Reef
- Bodyboard, Beginners
- Best for
- Beginner
- Skill Level
- Mixed
- Spot Type
- Moderate
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Long Bay Reef is a sheltered reef break in Auckland’s Long Bay/Torbay area, known for producing mellow, fat waves when the right swell wraps into the bay. It can be a straightforward learning option when conditions line up, but it also tends to be very small and inconsistent, so you’ll often need some patience and a good read of the incoming swell. Wind-wise, surfing conditions are reported best with west-southwest flow, and the spot is described as sheltered from southwest winds. For warm-season sessions, afternoon sea breezes are common, and wind sports can be moderately reliable when the expected weather pattern sets up onshore conditions. When the wind doesn’t cooperate, the reef can feel fickle. Safety is a key theme at Long Bay Reef. The reef and surrounding shoreline include exposed rocks and sea urchins, and conditions at low tide can be especially risky due to shallow reef sections. Summer months also bring many swimmers, so plan your timing, keep clear of swimming zones, and follow local right-of-way expectations for surf. Lifeguards are seasonal and rescue availability is described as limited. On amenities and logistics, the area sits within a regional park with parking and visitor facilities, and access is straightforward from central Auckland. Marine reserve rules apply (including no fishing and no taking shellfish), so anglers and anyone tempted to collect wildlife should be prepared to follow the restrictions.
- Sheltered reef break with mellow, fat waves when it’s working
- Common hazard: shallow rocks/reef and sea urchins
- Marine reserve setting with clear no-fishing / no-shellfish rules
- Seasonal crowds: quiet in winter weekdays, busier on weekends
- Sheltered reef break setup that can be beginner-friendly when it’s working
- Mellow, fat waves across several peaks
- Good amenities and easy access for day trips from Auckland
- Part of a marine reserve with generally high water quality
- Often very small and inconsistent
- Shallow reef/rocks and sea urchins require careful line choice
- Can be crowded (especially weekends and summer holidays)
- Reef depth and conditions change noticeably with tide
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- W
- Offshore directions
- W, WNW, NW
- Wind Range
- 12–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Sea breeze — Afternoon sea breezes in spring and summer, with onshore conditions.
- Reliability
- moderately reliable when the prevailing weather pattern sets up the expected onshore flow
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts — Typically light gustiness reported.
- Best Months
- January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 9–14 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Mixed
- Beach
- Sand — Sandy beach in the launch/setting-up area.
- Beach Size
- Big
- Waves
- Small — Often small; commonly described as mellow and fat rather than powerful.
- Launch
- Big — Large sandy beach with space to rig/set up gear outside swimmer zones.
- Launch Difficulty
- Easy — Easy access/launching described for surf and wind sports.
Through the year
Extremely crowded on weekends and summer holidays; very quiet on winter weekdays.
Rain is most frequent from June to August.
By sport
What to expect for each.
A popular learning and freeride area with a wide beach and shallow edges that make launches and landings easier.
- Kite Sizes
- 9–14 m²
Generally safe for freeriding and progression, with care needed near the northern reef at low tide.
- Sail Sizes
- 5.5–7.5 m²
Sheltered nature of the bay helps with learning; avoid shallow reef depths near the northern point and consider tide when foiling near shore.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes — Foil-friendly conditions are described, with mid to high tide safest near the shore.
- Wing Sizes
- 4.5–6 m²
Sheltered reef break that tends to work best when the right swell wraps into the bay; commonly mellow and beginner-friendly but can be very small/inconsistent.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- NE
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Low, Mid, High — Sources conflict: one notes best around low/outgoing, while another advises mid to high tide to avoid reef impacts. Plan by tide state for your comfort level.
- Shelter
- Sheltered — Sheltered reef break; works as a sheltered alternative when more exposed coasts are washed out.
- Wind Effect
- West-southwest winds provide the cleanest conditions; sheltered from southwest winds. Can be fickle depending on wind direction.
- Bigger Swell
- Can hold some size during rare massive storms, but often closes out or becomes messy.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Reported as good overall by some; other descriptions call it average and fickle.
- Wave Power
- Soft — Typically soft wave energy.
- Wave Shape
- Mushy — Often mushy/soft across peaks.
- Peel Speed
- Slow — Mellow, fat waves with a soft peel.
- Ride Length
- Short — Short, soft ride over a shallow reef shelf.
- Typical Ride Length
- 30–50 m
- Ride Length Details
- Mellow, fat waves across several peaks; typically short soft rides over shallow reef.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Long Bay Reef in the full forecast view.
Long Bay Reef wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 4–18 ktsGusts 30 kts
- Direction
- W262°
- Strongest day
- Thu, Oct 2918 kts
- Windy days
- 3/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.1–0.9 m3s period
- Temperature
- 11–21 °C
Over the next 7 days, Long Bay Reef is forecast for daytime winds of 4–18 kts, peaking around 18 kts on Thursday, October 29 with gusts to 30 kts. The prevailing direction is W. Waves run 0.1–0.9 m with a period of about 3s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- rocks off the point
- sea urchins on the reef
- swimmers (especially in summer)
- shallow reef at low tide
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Lifeguards are seasonal.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue availability is limited.
- Emergency Info
- Rescue availability is limited. In an emergency, call 111; nearest medical facilities are in Albany or Takapuna.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Local focus on rules and respecting locals reported.
Rules of the spot
Located within the Long Bay–Okura Marine Reserve: no fishing and no taking shellfish. Kitesurfers and windsurfers should stay clear of designated swimming zones. For surf: right of way is generally given to the surfer closest to the peak; do not drop in; paddle wide away from the impact zone.
- No fishing / no taking of shellfish (marine reserve rules).
- Stay clear of designated swimming zones.
- Watch out for shallow rocks off the point when paddling and setting up.
- Best surfed around mid to high tide to reduce reef impact risk.
- If the outer conditions are huge, it can be worth checking whether swell wraps into the bay.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Auckland
- Nearest Town
- Torbay
- Parking
- Extensive free parking in the regional park; it can fill quickly on sunny weekends. Park on Cliff Road near Rewi Street where the reef is visible directly ahead.
- Access
- From Auckland, head north on Auckland Northern Motorway (SH1), over the Harbour Bridge. Take exit 410, turn right onto Oteha Valley Road, continue to Carlisle Road, left onto Beach Road, right onto Rewi Street, park on Cliff Road where the reef is visible directly ahead.
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Accommodation across Torbay and the Hibiscus Coast; larger options around Albany and Browns Bay.
- Food & Drink
- Small cafe at the park entrance; restaurants in nearby Torbay village.
- Equipment Rental:
- Specialized wind-sports rental via mobile schools/shops on the North Shore region.
- Gear Storage
- Public gear storage facilities are generally unavailable; some schools provide storage for students.
- Gear Repair
- Professional sail and kite repair services available across the wider Auckland area (particularly North Shore/Silverdale).
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
A regional-park coastal setting close to Auckland, mixing outdoor recreation with protected marine environments.
Extensive coastal park with walking tracks, picnic areas, and protected marine environments.
Historic 19th-century farm building reflecting early settlement history of the Hibiscus Coast.
Scenic hiking trail through coastal forest and estuaries.
Local hub with cafes, bakeries, and small restaurants.
Protected waters offer opportunities to view marine life in shallow conditions.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Long Bay Reef?
The best overall months at Long Bay Reef are January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.
Which wind directions work at Long Bay Reef?
Long Bay Reef works with W winds. Offshore directions are W, WNW, NW.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Long Bay Reef?
Recommended equipment sizes at Long Bay Reef: Kitesurfing: 9–14 m² · Windsurfing: 5.5–7.5 m² · Wingfoiling: 4.5–6 m². The typical wind range is 12–25 kts.
What skill level is Long Bay Reef suitable for?
Long Bay Reef suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Beginner · Windsurfing: Beginner · Wingfoiling: Beginner · Surfing: Beginner.