Ocean Beach (HB)

Ocean Beach is the exposed, open-coast surf beach of southern Hawke's Bay, a long sweep of golden sand between Cape Kidnappers and Waimārama with variable peaks up and down its length. It faces the full reach of the South Pacific, so it picks up swell from a broad easterly through southerly window and is at its punchy best when a clean S or SE groundswell wraps around the cape. The banks shift along the beach, so on any given day there is usually a peak working somewhere; it likes a W or WNW offshore and surfs across the tides, which makes it a forgiving session for a surfer who can read a beach break.

The drive out is part of it: a winding country road from Hastings and Havelock North through rolling sheep paddocks and wine country to a thin line of baches behind the dunes and a wide, wild coastline. It is close enough to town, about 25 minutes, to be a genuine local favourite, so it draws a crowd on a good weekend, but the length of the beach means you can usually walk to a quieter bank. Waimārama lies just down the coast as a fallback if Ocean Beach is wrong-angled.

• Walk or drive the front before you suit up and pick the bank that is breaking cleanest, because the best wave here moves with the sand and the peak that fired last week may be flat today.
• When Hawke's Bay has swell and a SW to W wind behind it, this is a strong call; the SW airflow sits offshore here and cleans up the faces while other corners of the bay stay messy.
• If the rips have you drifting, use the current as a free paddle back up to the peak rather than fighting it, and let it shuttle you between banks instead of wading the whole beach.
• Make a day of the drive, since the road out winds through Hawke's Bay farm and wine country, so a dawn surf pairs well with a winery lunch on the way back.

• Strong rips and side currents run between the banks, especially when the swell is up, so pick your exit landmark before you go out and keep checking your position against it.
• There is no patrol outside the summer flags, so surf with company, stay within yourself, and treat the lineup as a place where help is not close at hand.
• Conditions are exposed and can build noticeably through the day, so reassess your wave count and energy as the wind comes up rather than getting caught out late.
• The bottom is all sand but the good peak moves as the banks rebuild, so walk and watch the sets for a few minutes before committing to a paddle-out.

Getting there

Ocean Beach is about 25 minutes south-east of Havelock North and Hastings, reached on a winding sealed country road over the hills. Park at the beach reserve behind the dunes.

Parking

Sealed parking at the beach reserve and along the bach frontage. Walk over the dunes to whichever bank is breaking.

Toilets & showers

Public toilets at the Ocean Beach reserve, by the surf club that patrols the swimming flags in summer. No dedicated surfer showers, so bring water for a rinse.

Shops, cafes & fuel

No shop or fuel at the beach. Nearest supplies are in Havelock North or Hastings, 25 minutes away, so take what you need for the day.

Accommodation

A scatter of baches and Bookabach holiday homes behind the beach. Havelock North and Hastings, 25 minutes inland, have motels, B&Bs and the fuller range, plus the Hawke's Bay wine-country stays.

Camping

No formal campground at Ocean Beach, and freedom camping is restricted under the Hastings District Council bylaw along this coast. Base in Havelock North or Hastings, or use the Waimārama campground down the coast.