Forestry

Forestry sits immediately south of Te Ārai Point, separated from it by a short stretch of pine trees that give the beach its name. From the outside it looks like a simple beach break, and much of the time it is, but on the right swell and wind combination it acts more like a left-hand point, with waves peeling along the sandbar from the northern end and producing long walls that beginner and intermediate surfers can ride properly from top to bottom. The pine trees behind the dunes do something useful: they shelter the beach from the NE sea breeze that can kill afternoon surf at more exposed spots. That means Forestry often stays cleaner for longer into the afternoon than Te Ārai point itself, which makes it a smart call when you want a later session.

The beach sits within the wider Te Ārai Regional Park managed by Auckland Council, in Ngāti Manuhiri and Te Uri o Hei rohe. Aotearoa Surf operates lessons across both Te Ārai and Forestry depending on where the banks are working on a given day, and Forestry is dog-friendly, which makes it the favourite weekend choice for locals walking the beach.

• When Te Ārai point is busy or the wind has gone NE in the afternoon, Forestry is almost always the right call. The tree line does a real job of blocking the onshore, and you'll often find cleaner surf here than at the point for the last two hours of the day.
• The left-hand tendency is most pronounced in the middle section of the beach when a solid NE swell is running and the banks have shaped properly. Look for a section where the wave peels rather than closes out.
• Hire gear from Aotearoa Surf at Te Ārai, five minutes up the road, and bring it down to Forestry. The board return is easy and you can surf all day between the two beaches.
• If you've just done a lesson at Te Ārai and want to keep surfing independently, Forestry is the natural next step. The waves are similar, the crowd is thinner, and having some space to yourself makes a real difference when you're still finding your feet.

• Forestry is not patrolled by Surf Lifesaving. Te Ārai is patrolled approximately 20 December to 20 January each year, so on those summer days the patrolled option is five minutes north up the beach. Outside that window, neither beach is patrolled, surf with company
• Forestry handles a NW wind better than most east coast spots. The headland just to the north blocks and diverts the breeze, so the beach stays clean on a NW that would close out everywhere else. If Ruakaka is too small or you can't make the drive, Forestry is the go-to alternative on NW post-storm days
• The left-point sandbar behaviour at the northern end only sets up on the right swell. On smaller days it's a forgiving beach break with multiple peaks, which is what makes Forestry suit all levels at any time
• Rips can build between the beach peaks when the swell rises, and bottlenose dolphin pods regularly share the lineup. Scout the water from the dune before paddling, and give the dolphins space if they cruise through

Getting there

Auckland Rodney coast. 65 minutes north of Auckland CBD via SH1. 5 minutes south of Te Ārai Point. Sealed all the way to the carpark.

Parking

Free public carpark at the Forestry access road end. Smaller than the Te Ārai carpark and rarely fills, even on busy summer weekends. Walk through the pine band onto the beach.

Toilets & showers

Public vault toilet at the Forestry carpark. Additional toilets 10 minutes north at the Te Ārai carpark.

Shops, cafes & fuel

No shops, cafes or fuel at Forestry. Te Arai Links cafe 10 minutes north, Mangawhai Village 20 minutes for supermarkets and restaurants, Wellsford 25 minutes inland for fuel.

Accommodation

No accommodation at Forestry itself. Aotearoa Surf Eco Pods at Te Ārai 10 minutes north for the closest option. Mangawhai 15-20 minutes for motels and Bookabach.

Camping

Auckland Council freedom-camping bylaw applies , not permitted on the access road or at the carpark. Council Self-Contained sites at Te Arai 10 minutes north are the legal option.