North Shore Beaches – 8 Best Beaches North Shore Oahu, Hawaii 2023

Want to visit some amazing beaches while you’re in Oahu? Discover the top 8 North Shore beaches on Oahu that you must see to believe! To see them all, scroll!

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When you want to escape the bustle of Waikiki, North Shore is a great destination. It has some of Hawaii’s best beaches and is quieter and more laid back.

Head up to North Shore Oahu if you want to enjoy some incredible surfing while you unwind at the beach.

It is home to some of Hawaii’s best surfing beaches, some of which you may be familiar with from movies and television shows! The North Shore also has some of Oahu’s best beaches and a laid-back atmosphere.

My top 8 North Shore Oahu Beaches worth visiting are listed in this article.

The best beaches on the North Shore are listed below. For more information, click on any of the links. I hope it makes it easier for you to plan your upcoming vacation!

FAQ for North Shore Oahu Beaches

Can you swim on Hawaii’s North Shore?

Depending on when you travel. There are many North Shore surf competitions in the winter because the water is so turbulent during the winter months (November through April). However, during the summer and fall, the water at North Shore beaches significantly calms down. The best time to take advantage of this swimming and snorkeling area is right now.

How far is it to the North Shore from Honolulu?

If you drive without stopping and during off-peak hours, it usually takes 45 minutes. But the traffic is really what matters. When we went during rush hour, it took us 2.5 hours. However, once you see some of the North Shore’s beaches, the drive will be worthwhile. And there are numerous ways to travel from Waikiki or Honolulu to the North Shore.

Should I stay in Waikiki or North Shore?

This largely depends on how long you plan to stay in Oahu and what activities you want to engage in. Our family enjoys spending nights in Waikiki and taking day trips to other parts of the island. This is due to how simple it is to join Oahu tours, walk to restaurants, and buy groceries. But the North Shore of Oahu is really great if you’re going to rent a car and want a laid-back vacation there!

8 Best Beaches North Shore Oahu, Hawaii

Some of the most well-known beaches in Hawaii can be found on Oahu’s North Shore. It is simple to visit several in a single day or space them out over the course of your trip.

1. Waimea Bay Beach Park – Best Beaches North Shore Oahu

Although there are many incredible beaches on Oahu’s North Shore, Waimea Bay tops the list.

North Shore Beaches - 8 Best Beaches North Shore Oahu, Hawaii 2023 — Waimea Bay Beach Park. Photo credit: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Tor Johnson

This is due to the abundance of fun things that people can partake in while hanging out at one of Oahu’s most well-liked beach parks.

Start off by performing a risky dive from the renowned rock that is partially submerged at the shoreline (but it’s safe!). One of the best things to do in Waimea Bay, Hawaii, is this.

Explore the tunnels that can be found beneath the rock as you snorkel down into the deep, surrounded by fish and turtles. At this North Shore beach, you can also go surfing, rock climbing, and take beautiful pictures.

2. Three Tables Beach – Best Beaches North Shore Oahu

One of the most endearing beaches on Oahu’s North Shore is Three Tables Beach. Its three table-like reef sections, which are visible at low tide, inspired its name.

During the months of May through September, it is a very well-liked location for diving and snorkeling.

Particularly clear water can be found at 3 Tables Beach. Divers frequently encounter a variety of colorful fish, sea turtles, and even subaquatic lava tubes!

Even though the beach is a well-liked location for North Shore Hawaii surfing, only skilled surfers should attempt to ride there in the winter. This is due to how dangerous and unpredictable Oahu North Shore waves can be.

3. Sunset Beach – Best Beaches North Shore Oahu

One of the most well-known North Shore surf spots is Sunset Beach, which is one of the hosts of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing in 2019.

Many people from all over the world, including avid and professional surfers, participate in the sport. They are all eager to experience the incredible waves that are present on this lovely beach.

It’s not just surfers who visit Sunset Beach Oahu to catch waves in the summer. When the waves are calmer in the summer and kids can swim in the water, families can enjoy the beach.

Of course, the Sunset Beach sunset view is one of the most breathtaking things you will ever see, regardless of the time of year.

4. Haleiwa Beach Park – Best Beaches North Shore Oahu

Haleiwa Beach Park has calmer waves that are excellent for beginning surfers, in contrast to the professional-level surf waves that can be found at beaches like Three Tables and Sunset. View the top kids’ surfing lessons on Oahu.

Swimming is a wonderful activity on this beach. Additionally, there are lifeguards on duty to keep beginners out of harm’s way.

To freshen up before or after a swim, there are showers just off the beach. Additionally, there is a park with picnic tables right next to the beach that is a favorite gathering place for families.

5. Laniakea Beach – Best Beaches North Shore Oahu

You must stop at Laniakea Beach if you’re looking for Hawaiian green sea turtles on the island of Oahu.

The moment you set foot on the sands of Laniakea Beach and gaze up at the vast, open sky, you can see its beauty. In actuality, “Laniakea” means “wide sky” in Hawaiian.

Due to the astounding number of sea turtles that frequent this beautiful beach, it is also known as Turtle Beach.

In the summer, visitors to Laniakea Beach on Oahu are frequently swimming in the ocean when they aren’t gawking at turtles. Additionally, they search for their 100-foot wave in the winter.

6. Banzai Pipeline – Best Beaches North Shore Oahu

The Banzai Pipeline is one of the most well-known beaches on Oahu’s North Shore and is the birthplace of the tubular wave. And the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing competition’s grand finale is typically hosted by them.

Of course, this is during the winter, when only experienced swimmers should use the water. The waves off Hawaii’s North Shore are powerful!

The water at Banzai Pipeline is calmer in the spring. Swimming, water skiing, snorkeling, and other family-friendly activities are made possible as a result.

Ehukai Beach Park, another of Oahu’s top beaches for amazing surfing, provides access to Banzai Pipeline.

Be aware that visitors are asked to avoid the water from June to September. This will protect you from limu stings, which wash up on the shore.

7. Pupukea Beach Park – Best Beaches North Shore Oahu

On the northern end of Waimea Bay, close to the Kamehameha Highway, is this sparkling beach. In Hawaiian, pupukea is translated as “white shell.”

Pupukea Beach Park is a small beach cove that is hidden from the general public’s view. Summertime is usually calm and quiet, and snorkeling enthusiasts frequent it.

The best time to visit this beach park is in the spring or summer rather than the winter.

There are two swimming access points: Shark’s Cove and Three Tables Beach. It is suggested that you wear water shoes if you pass through Shark’s Cove.

8. Kuilima Cove – Best Beaches North Shore Oahu

Kuilima Cove is yet another of Oahu’s North Shore’s top beaches. On the eastern side of Turtle Bay Resort, there is a lovely white sand beach.

For snorkeling on Oahu, Kuilima is a fantastic location for people of all ages and skill levels. Additionally, because so few people are aware of it, it isn’t typically too crowded.

Naturally, you’ll want to look at the surf report before leaving. It is unsafe to swim when there is a strong rip current because of high surf.

The best North Shore beach, and one that is worth the drive, is Kuilima Cove.

Topic: North Shore Beaches – 8 Best Beaches North Shore Oahu, Hawaii 2023

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