North Shore Surf Spots (From Beginner to Pro)

Planning a surf trip to Oahu? Our guide to the North Shore surf spots breaks down the top waves by skill level so you’ll know exactly where to go for your next surf session.

*Note: Check out our North Shore surfing guide for more info!

The surf spots on the North Shore of Oahu have truly made Hawaii the mecca of surfing.

You can find waves for surfers of all levels, and every winter, sunny weather, warm water, perfect barrels, and huge swells draw visitors from around the world to surf and watch the major competitions held here.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the top breaks, categorizing them by skill level so you’ll know exactly where to go.

North Shore surf spots map

From Haleiwa to Velzyland and beyond, there are over 20 surf spots on the North Shore to check out!

Here’s a map highlighting the main ones to help you get familiar with their names and locations.

Beginner North Shore surf spots

Pua'ena Point

The inside reef at Pua'ena Point is one of the top beginner-friendly surf spots on the North Shore. In fact, many surf schools offer lessons here because it’s such a great place to learn.

The waves are mellow, with gentle sloping rights and lefts, perfect for beginners. Plus, the paddle out is easy, and the area is somewhat protected from the strong trade winds.

Chun's Reef

Chun's Reef is an excellent spot for beginners and longboarders, especially when the swells are small to medium. You’ll see schools giving surf lessons here on the inside reef.

With a wide channel to paddle out, getting to the lineup is not difficult, and the waves are nice and mellow - a slopey right-hander that's easy to catch and ride.

Turtle Bay Resort (pool-side bar)

The surf spot on the west side of the Turtle Bay Resort, right next to the pool, is perfect for beginner surfers and anyone looking to take lessons.

The paddle out here is a bit further, but a wide channel makes it easy to get out. The waves are slopey right-handers, and the best conditions are when the trade winds die down and the wind shifts from the southwest, creating nice, glassy waves to surf.

Other beginner-friendly spots

• Ali'i Beach: The inside reef at Haleiwa Ali'i Beach is good for beginners and kids when the waves are small.
• Laniakea: On a smaller day, beginners can surf on the inside by the wide channel at Laniakea.
• Freddyland: When the waves are big everywhere else, beginners can consider surfing at Freddyland, but be cautious of the currents here.

Intermediate surf spots

Laniakea

Laniakea is one of the best intermediate surf spots on the North Shore of Oahu.

Also known as Lanis or Turtle Beach, this spot has fun right-handers and a nice, wide channel to paddle out.

Ideal swells come from the north or northeast, giving you longer rides than at other spots. Just be cautious during bigger swells, as the waves can become quite heavy.

Haleiwa Ali'i Beach

On a head-high swell from the northwest, Haleiwa Ali'i Beach is a great spot for intermediate surfers, whether you're on a shortboard or longboard. It's located just west of the Haleiwa Harbor and Rainbow Bridge.

The crowd can get heavy here, and the current can be strong, but if the waves aren't too big, you'll have a blast surfing. It's mostly a right-hand break, but there are a few lefts you can catch as well.

Pupukea

Pupukea sits between Gas Chambers and Ehukai Beach Park, offering an intermediate wave that's fun to surf, especially on head-high swells.

It's mostly a right-hand break, but you'll find a few lefts as well. The ideal swell direction is from the NW or NNW, making for playful and fun conditions, with some barrel sections to squeeze into.

Other intermediate-friendly spots

• Leftovers: Leftovers is a fun left-hander that works well on small to medium swells.
• Monstermush: Monstermush is a fun, mellow intermediate spot where you can escape the crowds. It's located just north of Rocky Point.
• Ehukai: With small north swells, Ehukai can be a fun spot for intermediate surfers. It's a beach break with fast waves, offering nice turns and barrel sections.
• The beginner surf spots mentioned above are also great options for intermediate surfers.

Advanced surf spots

Most of the North Shore surf spots are better suited for advanced surfers because the waves here are fast, break over shallow reef, and have a lot of power.

Here’s a look at a few popular ones you won't want to miss during your trip to Hawaii. These are some of the best surf spots on Oahu and around the world!

Pipeline & Backdoor

Pipeline and Backdoor are among the most famous barreling waves in the world. They’re basically the same peak - Pipeline breaks left, while Backdoor breaks right.

This wave is no joke - it's difficult to surf, breaks over shallow reef, the crowd is thick, and the consequences can be really serious. As you might have heard, several pro surfers have tragically lost their lives out there.

The best conditions are when the swells come from the West or Northwest, with light winds and at least 4 to 6 feet Hawaiian. This spot can handle swells of up to about 12 feet Hawaiian.

Sunset Beach

Sunset Beach is a powerful, deeper-water right-hand wave, and depending on the size, it’s usually best left for advanced to expert-level surfers.

It works on swells from WNW to NNE. Rides can be long, and there’s a wide channel to paddle out, but the current can get pretty strong on bigger swells with more westerly angles, so you'll want to use a bigger board.

Waimea Bay

Waimea Bay is a deep-water wave that only breaks on big, longer-period swells and is not recommended for anyone other than expert big-wave surfers.

These massive 30 to 40-foot swells happen only a handful of times, if any, each winter, so if you're on Oahu when it's breaking, be sure to go watch the surfers put on a show!

Rocky Point

Rocky Point is one of the most playful, high-performance waves on the North Shore. It breaks over shallow reef, with 'Rocky Rights' to the right and 'Rocky Lefts' to the left.

The ideal swell is around 3 to 6 feet Hawaiian from the West or Northwest. A rising tide works best, but there's usually some current here.

While 'Rockies' could also be an option for intermediates, the crowd is pretty intense with experienced surfers, so it’s usually better to hit up other spots.

Velzyland (Vland)

Velzyland, or Vland as the locals call it, is a high-performance right-hander that breaks over shallow reef. It's got super fun barrels and steep sections perfect for hitting the lip.

Like Rockies, this spot shines when the swell is around 3 to 6 feet Hawaiian from the West or Northwest. It works best at low tide but be prepared for a heavy crowd with good surfers.

Other advanced surf spots

• Off The Wall: Off The Wall, just west of Pipeline, is a heavy wedging barreling right that breaks over shallow reef on small to overhead NW swell.
• Rockpile: Rockpiles is just west of Off The Wall. It is a powerful left breaking close to a pile of rocks, and a bigger swell is needed for it to break properly.
• Log Cabins: Between Rockpile and Ke Iki Beach is Log Cabins, a heavy wave that works best on North and Northwest swells. “Logs” generally breaks best on mid-to-high tide, as low tide exposes more of the reef and can be very shallow and dangerous.
• Jocko's: Jocko's is a powerful left that breaks on larger West or Northwest swells. The current can be strong, and you need a bigger board to surf it.

Have any questions or comments about the North Shore surf spots? Share them below! We have been surfing all of these spots for years and can answer any questions you have!

Here's more info to help plan your visit: