Best time to surf Bethells Beach – Te Henga

The best time to surf at Bethells Beach – Te Henga is July–August, with waves of about 1.7 m and water around 14°C.

Te Henga / Bethells Beach, Auckland (West Coast), New Zealand

Sports: Surfing

Best time to go: July–August

Te Henga / Bethells Beach lies at the end of Bethells Road in the Waitākere Ranges, about 40 minutes' drive west of Auckland's city centre, between Muriwai to the north and Piha to the south. It is a black ironsand beach with a lagoon and high dunes behind it; the name Te Henga refers to those long foredunes, and the area is important to Te Kawerau ā Maki. There is a car park near the surf life saving club, which patrols the beach in summer, and O'Neills Bay is a short walk north.

The beach faces the Tasman Sea and catches most swells, a mix of groundswell and windswell, so there are waves on most days. Peaks along the beach give lefts and rights. It is best in a south-west swell with an east wind, which blows offshore, from mid tide upwards and often better on the rising tide. The prevailing south-westerly wind blows onshore, so early mornings and days with easterlies are the cleanest. Autumn and winter bring the biggest, most regular swells and more offshore days; it gets crowded on good weekends.

Like the rest of Auckland's west coast, Bethells has strong rips and powerful surf: surf near other people, between the flags when the beach is patrolled, and stay out of a big swell unless you are experienced. Keep away from the rocks at the ends of the beach when the swell is up. The black sand gets very hot in summer. The water is about 14 °C in August and 21 °C in February, a little colder than on the east coast: a 5/4 with boots in winter, a 3/2 in summer.

Month by month at Bethells Beach – Te Henga

January: 11 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 0.7 m, water 21°C, air 22°C (nights 17°C), 27 sunny days, 14 rainy days
February: 6 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 0.7 m, water 21°C, air 23°C (nights 17°C), 25 sunny days, 12 rainy days
March: 7 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 0.6 m, water 20°C, air 21°C (nights 16°C), 28 sunny days, 11 rainy days
April: 10 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 12 knots, waves 1 m, water 19°C, air 20°C (nights 15°C), 24 sunny days, 13 rainy days
May: 10 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 17°C, air 18°C (nights 13°C), 25 sunny days, 13 rainy days
June: 11 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 1.5 m, water 16°C, air 16°C (nights 12°C), 23 sunny days, 17 rainy days
July: 13 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 12 knots, waves 1.7 m, water 15°C, air 15°C (nights 10°C), 24 sunny days, 17 rainy days
August: 10 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 1.7 m, water 14°C, air 15°C (nights 10°C), 26 sunny days, 14 rainy days
September: 14 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 13 knots, waves 1.5 m, water 15°C, air 16°C (nights 11°C), 25 sunny days, 18 rainy days
October: 12 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 12 knots, waves 1.1 m, water 16°C, air 17°C (nights 12°C), 26 sunny days, 18 rainy days
November: 8 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 0.9 m, water 18°C, air 19°C (nights 14°C), 26 sunny days, 18 rainy days
December: 8 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 0.8 m, water 20°C, air 21°C (nights 16°C), 27 sunny days, 18 rainy days