Surf: North Beach is almost as good as New Pier, with the same firing right off the end and a high tide left bowl on the inside. Another short right bowl appears at the north end near Bay of Plenty pier at higher tides. North Beach can be huge and hollow or onshore and dribbly, but always crowded with longboarders when small, short boarders when bigger and bodyboarders all the time. Environment: Surfboards are prohibited in the patrolled swimming zones from 9 am to 5 pm, so the bodyboarders have the line-up to themselves while the lifeguards are on duty.