Things to do in North Shore Oahu

Oahu's North Sh ore is known for being home to Hawaii's surfing community, who flock to its beaches to enjoy huge waves. But in addition to internationally renowned surfing competitions, Oahu's North Shore is a fantastic place for tourists in search of beautiful beaches and abundant nature.

If you're planning what to see and do on Oahu and you're heading to the North Shore in particular, this list of 10 places will come in handy as you plan your Hawaii trip. From interesting beaches to small towns with unique character, here's a guide to everything you need to know about this part of Hawaii and its Polynesian culture.

The town of Haleiwa is a place where surf culture is lived and breathed in every corner. The town is home to most of the island's surfing competitions due to its perfect, big waves and surfing here has become a dream for surfers around the world.

This charming town has a bohemian personality and local flair, as most of its inhabitants are related to art and surfing. It's a perfect alternative for those looking for a place away from the mass tourism of Waikiki.

Its streets are lined with colourful wooden houses, surf schools, shops and boutiques, as well as art galleries and a variety of country restaurants camouflaged among palm trees.

The town also attracts many tourists as a famous place to swim with sharks in a cage. It's a world-famous activity and something I highly recommend if you're an adventure-seeking traveller.

This beach on Oahu's North Shore is among the best beaches on Oahu and is one of the island's top attractions.

Just take a stroll along the beach and you'll find turtles of different sizes that will leave you speechless. You may see them resting, or even swimming along the shore.

Laniakea Beach is a perfect place to spend the day and relax in contact with nature. The good thing about this place is that it is very respectful with the fauna, as there are different turtle resting areas delimited so that tourism does not harm the ecosystem.

There are also many volunteers who will explain interesting and useful information about how turtles live, and all kinds of curiosities about these animals.

Waimea Valley is a place on the island of Oahu that has a long history. It is a site that native Hawaiians have considered a sacred area, dating back 700 years.

The name Waimea means Valley of the Priests and you'll find spectacular trees, giant plants and beautiful flowers everywhere you look. In fact, Waimea Valley is famous for its waterfall, which thousands of tourists visit each year to soak in its pure, crystal-clear waters.

I recommend taking a stroll through its gardens and exploring this area of the island of Oahu, which I consider to be completely magical. You will feel in touch with the wildlife of Hawaii, and in full contact with nature.
Entrance to the park costs around €15 per person, and you can also choose the option of a car service to take you to the waterfall from the park entrance, which costs around €10 more.

Sharks Cove is a very famous beach on the northern part of this wonderful island, mainly for those who want to snorkel in Oahu. In fact, it is considered the best on the whole island.

Sharks Cove is a natural pool that has been formed by the passage of time and different volcanic eruptions, which have resulted in lava barriers that protect this area from the waves.

You will find a small sandy beach and a deeper bay where the tides have created an area full of tunnels, caves and rock formations with a lot of charm.

This area is a marine reserve on the island of Oahu called Pupukea, so remember to respect all the rules to protect the environment.

This activity is one of the best hikes in and around Oahu and one of the best activities you can do during your stay in Hawaii.

Ehukai Pillbox is a viewpoint from which you can enjoy the best views of the island. It's a fairly easy hike to complete, as the trailhead is just off the main road, and, apart from the occasional steep section, it's a hike suitable for everyone. ,

The whole walk takes about 1 hour and a half, during which you will be able to appreciate nature and different views of the sea and the entire coastline from the top.

There are also different rest areas with seats and tables along the way, where you can relax, eat and take a break before continuing your walk.

Sunset Beach is considered one of the best beaches on Oahu thanks to its stretch of white sand, turquoise waters and great surf.

It is here that several international surfing competitions are held, such as the Triple Crown in the winter season, where waves of up to 10 metres are formed.

Many tourists gather to watch the surfers with their binoculars while enjoying the sea or simply to admire the amazing sunsets from Sunset Beach.

Sunset Beach is an ideal place if you are looking for a family friendly atmosphere and dreamy beaches - don't miss it!

In case you didn't know, Hawaii is one of the world's largest exporters of pineapples. And the Dole Company is the major trader of this distinctive fruit.

A typical activity for visitors to Hawaii is to visit the pineapple plantations on Oahu.

Here you can hop aboard a train that runs along the paths between the different plants, which makes it a great ride if you're visiting Oahu with kids. There is also a maze and a curious souvenir shop, where you can find all kinds of pineapple-shaped objects, of course.

I recommend you try the pineapple ice cream that they make in a crazy way in the plantations as a way to crown this great visit to this island of Hawaii. They're delicious and definitely a must-try on this holiday.

As well as being a paradisiacal and adventurous destination, Hawaii has become world famous for being the location chosen for the filming of Lost, the series that captured the attention of all viewers for its plot and storyline full of mystery and curiosities to discover.

Nowadays, there are different camps like YMCA Camp Erdman, which are youth hostels where you have the chance to walk around inside and feel like you are immersed in this fictional world. Discover the mythical yellow houses and the different signs, which will remind you of scenes from the series at every moment.

But it's not just Lost locations you can visit, as Oahu has also been the location for major films such as Jurassic Park and Pearl Harbour. Thousands of tourists are attracted by this type of fun activities, where in addition to immersing yourself in the world of cinema and mythical films, you can get to know unique locations on the island of Oahu.

Wyland Galleries brings together all the incredible creations of native Hawaiian artist David Wyland, in the village of Haleiwa.

The artist has created these wonderful exhibitions where he presents different and amazing glass sculptures depicting tsunamis. Also, you can enjoy beautiful murals by the artist Robert Wyland.

The aim of this exhibition is to capture the incomparable beauty of the Hawaiian landscape, and to convey the tranquillity of nature and the sea in each of the images.

But Robert Wynland is mainly famous for his whale-themed artworks, which he paints swimming underwater in the different environments of the Hawaiian Islands. The quality of his art is on a completely different level, and the paintings convey the essence of this special land.

A trip to Hawaii is not complete if you don't dare to take a surfing lesson on Oahu. If you don't try the sport in the birthplace of surfing, where else can you do it?

This area of the island of Oahu is especially ideal for venturing into the world of waves, as there are lessons for people of all ages and levels. Whether you're a beginner, travelling with your family or looking to improve your surfing skills, there's a course designed just for you.

The best beaches to take your lessons are, for example, Sunset beach, Haleiwa and Waimea Bay. Oahu's North Shore is famous for hosting international surfing competitions and many legendary surfers of global significance in the history of the sport have honed their skills on these beaches.

The chance to surf on Oahu's North Shore is a dream come true for many, so you too should catch a wave on the world's most famous and coveted beaches.

If surfing doesn't take your fancy, you can also try paddleboarding lessons and get on the boards.

When planning your trip, you'll find that transportation options on the island are quite limited. The most convenient option and the one that will give you the most flexibility is to rent a car, but there are a number of other public and private transport options for getting around the island of Oahu.

TheBus is the only bus service that travels around the island and has affordable fares, but I recommend using Oahu's best tour buses, which allow you to explore the island with a guide who will tell you all about the island, its sights and the activities available.