Last updated October 2026
Midway Beach is Gisborne’s main city surf beach, three minutes’ drive from the town centre. Surf Life Saving New Zealand calls it a favourite spot for swimmers, surfers, families and beach-goers year round, and LAWA describes it as a popular swimming and surf beach.
Midway Surf Life Saving Club patrols it through summer. Be aware before you swim: the beach has a Poor long-term water quality grade on LAWA, which means the water is often unsuitable for swimming, especially after rain.
Swimming Facts
Before you swim: Tested weekly Oct–Apr by Gisborne District Council. Stay out for 48 hours after heavy rain. Latest result on LAWA
Today at Midway Beach
Friday 23 OctoberWater quality track record
What the grades mean
Excellent and Good: rarely unsafe for swimming. Fair: usually fine, but avoid swimming after rain. Poor: often unsuitable, especially after rain, so check the latest result first.
Grades use LAWA’s method: the 95th percentile of routine enterococci results over the five summers from 2020/21 to 2024/25, with at least 50 tests (1,160 per 100 mL from 128 tests).
Surf Facts
Surf today at Midway Beach
Surf break at Midway Beach
Practical Information
- Location
- Centennial Marine Drive, Gisborne; surf club at 40 Centennial Marine Drive
- Water
- Open sandy surf beach, tidal (nearest tide station: Gisborne)
- Water quality
- Poor (LAWA long-term grade, summers 2020/21 to 2024/25)
- Testing
- Weekly from October to April by Gisborne District Council; monitored all year
- Lifeguards
- Midway Surf Life Saving Club, in summer; check the club for this season’s times
- Facilities
- Surf Rescue Community Hub with restaurant; free electric barbecues on the Oneroa walkway; Adventure Playground nearby
- Nearby
- Kiwa Pools, across Centennial Marine Drive
- Cost
- Free
About Midway Beach
Midway is the long sandy beach that runs south from the city towards the Waipaoa River mouth. A carved figure at the new surf club building represents Hineha Kirirangi, who named the beach Oneroa around 1200 AD, according to the government’s regional development agency, and the mauri stone was gifted by Ngāi Tāwhiri.
The Midway Surf Rescue Community Hub opened with a lifeguard tower that looks along the beach to the Waipaoa River mouth, and it is also home to Gisborne Boardriders Club and a restaurant. Gisborne District Council provides two free electric barbecues on the Oneroa walkway between the Beacon car park and the surf club.
Swimming and Water Quality at Midway Beach
Gisborne District Council tests the water by the surf club weekly from October to April, and monitors it all year, sharing the results on LAWA. The beach has a Poor LAWA long-term grade for summers 2020/21 to 2024/25.
Of 222 tests between July 2019 and April 2025, 83% were suitable for swimming. Put plainly, about one test in six did not meet the guidelines, and results are worst after heavy rain.
Gisborne District Council explains that heavy rain can overwhelm the city’s wastewater network, forcing diluted wastewater into the rivers, and warns that it still poses a health risk. LAWA also notes that, in some tidal conditions, the beach can be affected by large amounts of fine timber particles.
Always check the latest result and any warnings on LAWA before you swim, and stay out of the water for at least 48 hours after heavy rain; the council advises waiting two to three days. Keep clear of stormwater outlets.
Midway Surf Life Saving Club patrols through the summer months. Swim between the red and yellow flags, and check Safeswim for current patrol times.
Surfing at Midway and The Pipe
Midway’s best-known break is The Pipe. Tairāwhiti Gisborne’s official visitor site describes it as a sandy beach break with waves most of the year and one main peak offering both lefts and rights, and calls it a great intermediate surf spot.
Surfers surveyed for Gisborne District Council’s surf break report rated it highly, noting it can hold solid swell and produce barrelling waves, and that it is for experienced surfers only when the surf is large.
Gisborne Boardriders Club is based at the surf club building. Surf away from the flags when lifeguards are on duty.
Getting There and Facilities
Midway Beach is on Centennial Marine Drive, about three minutes’ drive from the city centre, with parking by the surf club and the Beacon car park. Kiwa Pools is across the road if the sea is not suitable.
Gisborne District Council sets dog rules for the beach, including a ban at the Adventure Playground and on parts of the stretch towards Waikanae Beach, with off-leash areas further south towards the Waipaoa River. Check the council’s dog exercise map before you bring a dog.
Where to Learn More
LAWA and Gisborne District Council: the latest “Can I Swim Here?” result, warnings and the long-term grade for Midway Beach.
Gisborne District Council: Can I swim here?: how the council tests Gisborne’s swimming spots, with its advice after rain.
Surf Life Saving New Zealand: Midway SLSC: patrol information for Midway Beach.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you swim at Midway Beach?
Yes, it is a popular, patrolled swimming beach, but it has a Poor long-term water quality grade. Check LAWA first, swim between the flags, and stay out for at least 48 hours after heavy rain.
Why is the water quality Poor?
Results drop after heavy rain, when Gisborne’s wastewater network can overflow into the rivers. Of 222 tests between July 2019 and April 2025, 83% were suitable for swimming.
When is Midway Beach patrolled?
Through summer on Saturdays and public holidays from 1pm to 5pm and on Sundays from 9.30am to 5.30pm. Check Safeswim for current times.
What is The Pipe?
Midway’s main surf break. Tairāwhiti Gisborne describes it as a sandy beach break with lefts and rights and calls it a great intermediate surf spot.
How far is Midway Beach from Gisborne city?
About three minutes’ drive, on Centennial Marine Drive.
Are there facilities?
Yes: the surf club hub with a restaurant, free barbecues on the Oneroa walkway, and Kiwa Pools across the road.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.