There can be good waves here for surfing, but keep a careful eye on the kids as there are powerful rip tides in places. The area closest to the parking usually has a lifeguard on duty during the day. There is a good café and lots of parking, which tends to fill up quickly in summer. Campervans need to park further up the road at the overflow parking as the road narrows and can become difficult to turn around.
You can bring your own shovel, rent one or just wait until one of the hot pools become available when people are leaving. Definitely one of the highlights when visiting the Coromandel Peninsula on the North Island of New Zealand.