Best surf spots in Hawke's Bay

The exposed ocean side of the Mahia Peninsula, with a near 360-degree swell window and the heaviest waves on the coast. Home of Blacks, the powerful south-swell right where Ricardo Christie learned to surf.

The north coast of the Mahia Peninsula, where Mahanga's friendly beach and reef peaks sit a short drive from the Spit, a steep, hollow left and right point the locals leave to the experts. Catches N and NE swell with a SW offshore.

Hawke's Bay's wild open-coast beach break, a long golden sweep south of Cape Kidnappers where there is almost always a peak working somewhere if you are willing to walk for it.

A long, golden east-facing beach with peaks down its length and a quality right-hander reeling off the rocks at the southern end. Hawke's Bay's big family beach, and the reliable call for the inland crowd from Hastings and Havelock North.

On its day this gravel river-mouth throws fast, hollow barrels the locals call all-time, heavy when the banks line up and forgiving when it is small. The session-grabber the whole Napier crew checks first.

If you ride a longboard or you are still finding your feet, this is the kindest wave in Hawke's Bay, a cruisy peeler that rewards patience over power and turns an after-work hour into the best part of the day.

A heavy little river-bar that punches well above its sleepy rural setting, throwing gnarly drops and hollow barrels when the sand banks up right. One for intermediate and better surfers who know the East Coast quiet.

One of the genuine standout waves in southern Hawke's Bay, a serious reef setup for experienced surfers who know how to read rock and have earned the connection that gets them there.