Aotearoa Surf School – Northland

★★★★★

Loved the views from the ridge. So amazing to see so many islands. I took a stroll around the property met some of the friendly and helpful staff. , cute little beach area with a fire pit, some caged pheasants, the children would probably enjoy, there's also an easy bush walk for the no as fit as you'd like to be the whole place is immaculate. Our pod was at the very top and was very clean,tidy and toasty warm. The bathrooms were cleaned by little fairies everytime they were used. High standard of cleanliness . Great showers Kitchen was well stocked with utensils pots,pans, microwave, air fryer fridges and freezer. Go see for yourself. Everything is within driving distance, beaches, town, Markets galore, cafes and let's not forget the Tavern with he friendliest locals ever. Big shout out for the food at The Mangawhai Club. Small and delicous menu. Thanks for such a great time Mangawhai!

★★★★★

Our group of kids had loads of fun with Javi tody at Te Arai catching some fun waves. It was well worth it and they all caught waves with a couple of beginner surfers they managed to get up and ride the waves. Thankyou for a wonderful time and we are planning to come back.

★★★★★

Traveled from Los Angeles to experience Aotearoa Surf School and cannot be happier we did. We scheduled a private lesson and had a great time. The Surf School members are great. They have great love for what they do and you can see this energy as they interact with the kids. The beaches were beautiful and perfect. The beach we were at had soft, sandy beaches and no dangerous rocks to hit. I would definitely recommend.

★★★★★

This was truly a life-changing experience. I booked their Surf Tour. As someone who isn't a strong swimmer, I had a lot of doubts before booking, but I enjoyed every single minute. The environment was incredibly supportive—huge shoutout to Piha and Sam for being so great! Even with a group of 21 people of all different levels, everything was managed smoothly.As a solo traveler, I felt completely comfortable and appreciated the easy transport to and from the CBD. The accommodations were a pleasant surprise, too – the teepees were spacious and the pop-up beds (means no sleeping on the floor!) you do need to carry your sleeping bag tho. We also played games in between surf sessions. I could barely stand on the board on Day 1, but the photographer managed to capture my one "win" on camera! Whatta guy! By the end of Day 2, I felt so much more confident in the waves and managed to stand up many times!! I can't recommend Aotearoa Surf enough.

★★★★★

I was hosting my friend from Auckland to try out surfing for the first time! She had so much fun and the conditions were great for beginners. Sam, our instructor took us through what to look out for before getting into the water. He taught us how to pop up, and encouraged us to share our goals to reach. As someone who has been surfing less than a year, it was nice to get a refresher and considering I had just found out I'm actually "goofy", I got to learn my own style and watch my friend figure hers out too! The only thing I would say was I left with bites on my legs, ankles and wrists from the wetsuit. But overall, the experience was a great day for everyone!