Hells Gates

Hells Gates is a reef break over coral, usually breaking in the 1.5–4.5m range, and how suitable it is for beginners really depends on the size and power on the day — not a fixed label. The coral bottom rewards some confidence in the water and awareness of what's beneath you, especially as the size picks up. Set the level to Beginner above and WaveCheck flags the smaller, cleaner hours worth paddling out for.

Different days call for different boards. Hells Gates can get sizeable, so a shortboard comes into its own on bigger days, while a longboard still works when it drops small. Tap through the boards above to see the live score for whatever you'll be riding.

Look for 1.5–4.5m of swell from the SW / W / NW with light offshore winds from the NE / E / SE. The 5-day forecast above scores every hour, so you can spot the window at a glance.