2 hours · Ages 6+
2-Hour Surf Lesson at Orewa
The full beginner lesson, individuals welcome.
| Per person | NZ$79.00 |
|---|
Editorial spotlight · Te Arai, Mangawhai, Orewa, Christchurch
2026 Southern Cross Awards nomineeBest Surf School
Aotearoa Surf
A surf school that puts complete beginners on their feet in one two-hour lesson, at four beaches across two islands. Te Arai is the home break: white sand, almost no development and consistent waves. Boards and wetsuits provided, coaches at roughly one to six, and a guarantee that you will be standing up and riding by the end of the first lesson.
- 2-hour lesson
- NZ$79
- As a family or group
- NZ$69 each
- Tripadvisor
- 4.9
- Reviews
- 421
Editorial spotlight. Aotearoa Surf is a nominee in the 2026 Southern Cross Awards. They did not pay for this page and had no say in it. We earn a commission when you book through the links here; your price is the same.
The operation
Four beaches, one method, and a promise it keeps
The school runs from Te Arai and Mangawhai in Northland, Orewa on Auckland’s Hibiscus Coast and Sumner Beach in Christchurch. Te Arai is the one it talks about most: an undeveloped stretch of white sand with changing rooms and toilets and, by the school’s account, the most consistent conditions of the four. Lessons move with the swell, so the exact spot can change on the day.
The two-hour beginner lesson covers safety, board design, paddling and positioning, the pop-up and then riding waves, and the school states plainly that every surfer will be standing and riding by the end of it. Ages six and up. Beyond the single lesson there are three-day school-holiday programmes, after-school squads, a four-week women’s programme called Surf Sistas, kids’ birthday parties and board and wetsuit hire at each beach.
“We guarantee each surfer progresses through to their next level and we make sure you’ll be standing riding waves on your first lesson.”
- C
Coach
Che
- L
Coach
Leo
- T
Coach
Tiana
- S
Coach
Shay
Coaches named repeatedly by reviewers. The school has not yet confirmed which names, roles and qualifications it wants printed.
The one to book
Two-Hour Surf Lesson
The whole method in one session: safety, paddling, the pop-up, and then waves. Boards and wetsuits included, ages six and up, and the school says you will be riding by the end.
NZ$79 per person at any of the four beaches, or NZ$69 each on the family and group rate at Te Arai and Mangawhai. Three lessons bought together are NZ$199. Note that the Te Arai and Mangawhai lessons need a minimum of two people; Orewa takes individuals.
| Per person | NZ$79.00 |
|---|---|
| Family or group, each | NZ$69.00 |
| Three-lesson package | NZ$199.00 |
Checked against FareHarbor on October 2, 2026.
Check AvailabilityThe beaches
Where the lessons actually happen
The school moves between spots with the swell. Confirm the meeting point when you book.
Te Arai
- Why
- Undeveloped white sand, consistent
- Note
- Minimum 2 people per lesson
Mangawhai & Orewa
- Where
- Northland and Hibiscus Coast
- Note
- Orewa takes individuals
Sumner, Christchurch
- Where
- South Island base
- Rates
- Youth and child NZ$69
Book it
Lessons and programmes
Per person unless stated. Boards and wetsuits provided. Checked against FareHarbor on October 2, 2026.
2 hours · Minimum 2
2-Hour Surf Lesson at Te Arai
The home break: white sand and consistent waves.
| Per person | NZ$79.00 |
|---|---|
| Family or group | NZ$69.00 |
2 hours · Minimum 2
2-Hour Surf Lesson at Mangawhai
Same lesson, the Mangawhai end of the coast.
| Per person | NZ$79.00 |
|---|---|
| Family or group | NZ$69.00 |
2 hours · Sumner Beach
2-Hour Surf Lesson at Christchurch
The South Island base, with cheaper youth rates.
| Adult | NZ$79.00 |
|---|---|
| Youth or child | NZ$69.00 |
1.5 to 2 hours · Private
Private Surf Lesson at Te Arai
One coach, one or two surfers, tailored.
| 1 to 2 surfers | NZ$199.00 |
|---|---|
| 3 or more | NZ$299.00 |
3 days · Ages 7-16
Kids Summer Surf Program at Te Arai
Three mornings of coaching through the summer holidays.
| Per child | NZ$189.00 |
|---|
Also running: Surf Sistas, a four, eight or twelve-week women’s programme from NZ$269; after-school squads from NZ$199; two-day school holiday programmes at NZ$199; kids’ birthday parties from NZ$55 a head; a therapeutic surfing session at NZ$185; and board, wetsuit, kayak and paddleboard hire at Te Arai, Mangawhai, Orewa and Sumner.
Before you go
Know before you go
Minimum numbers
The Te Arai and Mangawhai two-hour lessons require at least two people. Orewa will take a single surfer.
The group rate is real
Book as a family or group at Te Arai or Mangawhai and the per-person price drops from NZ$79 to NZ$69. Three lessons together are NZ$199.
Conditions move the lesson
The school adjusts beaches and times with the swell. This is the only real caveat in the reviews and it is a feature, not a fault.
What is provided
Boards and wetsuits. Bring swimwear, a towel and sunscreen.
Reviews
What guests say
- 4.9Tripadvisor421 reviews as of October 2, 2026
- #1of 9Outdoor activities in Mangawhai
- 6:1Coach ratioPer the school
Reviewers describe patient, encouraging coaches who get complete beginners and nervous children standing in a single lesson, and praise the safety handling and the low coach-to-surfer ratio. Te Arai itself gets as much credit as the teaching. There is no recurring complaint; the only caveat is that conditions dictate the beach and the timing.
Questions
Good to know
Where are the lessons?
Te Arai and Mangawhai in Northland, Orewa north of Auckland and Sumner Beach in Christchurch.
What does it cost?
NZ$79 per person for a two-hour lesson, or NZ$69 each on the family and group rate. Checked October 2, 2026.
Will I actually stand up?
The school guarantees it in the first lesson, and reviewers overwhelmingly report that they did.
How young can children start?
Six and up for the two-hour lesson; the three-day summer programmes take ages seven to sixteen.
Standing up in one lesson, at four beaches
NZ$79 per person, or NZ$69 each as a family or group.
Check Availability