This is a nice consistent break that gives decent sized waves but it is suitable for all experience levels. The town is nice and friendly, with an excellent view over the beach itself, and it's a good place for a weekend trip.
The beach here is a big area of clean white sand and is generally thought of as one of the best in New Zealand. It's a popular place to visit but has enough size that it doesn't get crowded, and there are usually only a few surfers out here so you can pick your wave without having to share it.
The swell here starts working at less than 1 m and will hold up to about 2.5 m, and is at its best when coming from the west or the south-west. It is a beach break, both right and left, and the waves are a lot of fun and carry enough power to make things interesting. The length of the waves here can be good, reaching over 250 m on a good day, and even on a normal day you can expect it to get towards 150 m.
There is a surf school in the area which also sells gear and offers accommodation. You can camp here too if you want, there are some rental houses available, and there are a few places to get food if you are just here for a day trip.
There are submerged rocks near the cliffs at either end of the beach but you don't really need to go near to them anyway. The currents can sometimes be stronger than average.