Lifeguards are pointing to a rescue scare at Shark Alley at the Mount to remind beach goers that conditions are going to be testing over the next four days.

Large swells are being forecast as Tropical Cyclone Victor moves closer to New Zealand.

Big waves are being predicted this weekend.

Yesterday, emergency services were alerted when a 14-year-old boy's boogie board came ashore without him at about 1.30pm.

The boy was later found safe and well.

With fine calm weather expected to bring throngs to the beaches over the weekend, lifeguards are warning people should know their limits.

New Zealand Surf Lifesaving eastern region surf lifesaving and education officer Leigh Sefton says while experienced surfers will be relishing the conditions, people less experienced, skilled and confident can easily get into trouble.

'Because of the cyclone that's out there, there's a 3m swell all way through to Tuesday,” says Leigh.

'The surfers says they are taking massive drops and still have six foot above them. She's a good two metre plus swell.” At 3pm Thursday, the Port of Tauranga wave recorder at A beacon was recording a maximum wave height of 2.7 metres.

The advice is to swim in the patrolled areas, which lifeguards may be keeping tighter and narrower than usual so they can keep a safe controlled area.

'With this amount of water and swell coming in we are going to see changes in the sea floor, and we may well be presented with rips that haven't been apparent so far this season,” says Leigh.

'Make that extra effort to drive along to a patrolled area or drive to a beach that you know has a patrol at.”

Patrolled beaches are listed on the Surf Life Saving NZ website.

'If someone gets in trouble, raise that hand. If people don't have the skills and equipment to go and help someone, call 111 and we can respond with the right people and the right equipment.”