Massive Dairy Flat surf park development expands to include housing and town centre

The Auckland Surf Park development at Dairy Flat has been granted fast-track approval to significantly expand its original scope, with plans now including around 500 homes, a town centre, and additional community amenities alongside the already consented surf lagoon, solar farm, and data centre.

The development, located at 1350 Dairy Flat Highway north of Auckland, is being led by AW Holdings—a joint venture between global surf park developer Aventuur and local partners, including Sir John Kirwan and property investor Mark Francis.

Concept of what the future park will look like

Previously consented features include a Wavegarden “Cove” lagoon, designed to produce consistent surf year-round, a Spark New Zealand data centre campus, and a 7-hectare solar farm. The latest expansion includes a range of residential housing types (apartments, terraces, duplexes and standalone homes), a surfing members’ clubhouse, eco-cabin accommodation, and a commercial town centre.

The developers say sustainability will remain a key focus, with the site incorporating rainwater harvesting, composting, native planting and a ban on single-use plastics. Heat generated by the data centre is expected to be redirected to warm the surf lagoon, marking what the developers claim is a world-first energy initiative.

In addition to housing and hospitality, the park is expected to create economic and recreational opportunities for the region. It is likely to attract tourism and generate local employment through construction, hospitality, retail, and recreation-related jobs. The surf lagoon will also offer a safer, controlled environment for people of all ages to try surfing—potentially helping to increase participation in the sport.

Importantly, the facility is also expected to serve as a high-performance training ground for competitive surfers, including future Olympic-level athletes, by providing consistent wave conditions not possible in the natural environment.

However, while the proposal includes many environmentally conscious features, the scale and pace of development raise questions about its broader impact. Dairy Flat is currently a rural community with lifestyle blocks and farmland. Some locals may be concerned that the scale of urbanisation could change the character of the area significantly, particularly with the introduction of higher-density housing and commercial infrastructure.

Environmental advocates may also question the true sustainability of a surf lagoon that relies on artificial wave generation and substantial energy input, despite its renewable energy components. The construction phase could lead to increased traffic, noise, and disruption in the short term, and longer-term implications for local biodiversity and infrastructure are not yet fully known.

A community day held earlier this year attracted over 600 attendees, including Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown and local MP Mark Mitchell. Mayor Brown described the project as a “unique proposition of significant scale.” The event also included a blessing of the site led by members of Ngāti Whātua and Ngāti Manuhiri, the mana whenua of the area.

If final approvals are confirmed, construction of the expanded components is expected to begin in late 2025, with the surf park scheduled to open in 2027.