Auckland’s First Surf Park Is Under Construction, Here’s What To Expect

A guaranteed surf session without leaving Auckland? We're listening.

Construction is underway on the Auckland Surf Park, a major new surfing and wellness destination taking shape across 54 hectares in Dairy Flat. At its centre will be New Zealand’s first Wavegarden surf lagoon, producing consistent left- and right-hand waves for everyone from first-timers to professional surfers.

Jump to:

• What Is Auckland Surf Park?
• What Will Be Inside Auckland Surf Park?
• When Will Auckland Surf Park Open?
• How Will The Surf Park Be Powered?
• What Else Is Planned For The Development?

What Is Auckland Surf Park?

Auckland Surf Park is a year-round surfing destination designed around a human-made lagoon capable of producing waves on demand.

The project is being developed by American surf park investment firm Aventuur alongside local partners including former All Black Sir John Kirwan and former Warriors chief executive Trevor McKewen. Warren and Mahoney is leading the architecture and landscape architecture.

The park is planned for Dairy Flat, where it will give Auckland surfers reliable access to quality waves without the long drive to the coast—or the usual gamble on swell, wind and crowds.

Its design draws on the curves and clean lines of a surfboard, pairing exposed structure, natural materials and clear pathways with landscaping shaped by Aotearoa’s native flora, fauna and culture.

What Will Be Inside Auckland Surf Park?

The surf lagoon will anchor a broader precinct designed around surfing, movement and wellness.

Current plans include:

• A Wavegarden surf lagoon for beginners through to advanced surfers
• An extended learning bay for first-timers
• A surf academy and high-performance coaching centre
• Skate tracks, walking and cycling trails
• Wellness and recovery facilities
• Food and drink venues
• Short- and long-stay accommodation
• Landscaped public and community spaces

The surf academy is being developed with high-performance coach Glenn “Micro” Hall, who has worked with surfers including Molly Picklum and Kelly Slater. Coaching, filming and video-review tools are expected to be available across different experience levels, rather than reserved exclusively for elite athletes.

The lagoon will use Wavegarden Cove technology, the same system found at URBNSURF Melbourne and Sydney. A central wave generator will send a right-hander in one direction and a left-hander in the other, with reform waves continuing into shallower bays for beginners. Different settings will allow the park to produce everything from gentle cruiser waves to more powerful barrels.

The Auckland lagoon is planned to be larger than its Sydney and Melbourne counterparts, with a longer wave generator creating longer rides and an extended bay dedicated to learners. Developers have previously flagged the potential for it to become the largest surf pool in the Southern Hemisphere.

An intermediate wave is expected to offer a ride of around 15 seconds—enough for roughly four or five turns—with surfers potentially catching upwards of a dozen waves in a session.

When Will Auckland Surf Park Open?

The surf lagoon and solar farm were approved through the former Government’s Covid-19 fast-track consenting process, and construction is already underway.

Developers previously indicated they were targeting the first waves in 2027, although a confirmed public opening date has not yet been announced.

How Will The Surf Park Be Powered?

Sustainability sits at the centre of the project, with a large solar farm planned alongside the lagoon and an associated data centre.

The data centre would draw power partly from the solar farm, while water used to cool it would be redirected to warm the surf lagoon. This is designed to reduce waste while preventing the pool from becoming significantly colder than Auckland’s surrounding ocean.

The architecture and landscaping are also being designed around net-zero principles, with natural light, ventilation, integrated planting and regenerative outdoor spaces incorporated throughout the precinct.

What Else Is Planned For The Development?

The surf park forms part of a much larger proposed community combining recreation, housing, hospitality and technology.

The expanded plans include 486 detached homes, apartments and live-work units, visitor accommodation, a village centre, industrial and work-live precincts and extensive riparian planting.

The six-year development is expected to cost approximately $2.66 billion and could generate an estimated $1.85 billion in additional economic activity across Auckland.

While Auckland Council has raised concerns about traffic, noise, stormwater, power demand and the risk of an unfinished development, the project has attracted support from Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown and organisations including Surfing New Zealand, Surf Life Saving New Zealand, Paralympics New Zealand and the Disabled Surfers Association New Zealand.

For now, construction is progressing on the already-approved surf lagoon and solar farm—with Auckland’s first waves on demand officially one step closer.

Image credit: Warren and Mahoney | Website