NZ - No part of New Zealand is more than 70km from the coast. With a population of only 3.6 million in two islands comprising a total landmass slightly larger than the United Kingdom, there’s lots of waves to go around. Kaikoura, Timaru, Oamuru, and Dunedin are all surf centers on the east coast of the South Island. The southern tip of NZ, the Foveaux Strait, cops the full fury of the roaring 40s. Waves there are rumored to be beyond big. Cold too, bring your 5/4 booties and gloves. On the west coast of the SI most of the waves are to be found between Hokitika and Westport. The most famous -- and famously crowded -- wave in NZ is Raglan, on the North Island’s west coast near Hamilton. South of Raglan, check the Surfer’s Highway and the Taranka Bight. Flights between Oz and NZ are cheap and wheels are also inexpensive. Especially since NZ does not require the heavy duty auto insurance other countries mandate.
1997/11/07
TBear
New Zealand has alot more surf than most people presume.
The book referred to below is likely the one written by Wayne Warwick and is avaliable by orderin the US at a good bookstore. You didn't mention which Island you were going to.
The West coast of both islands tend to have the most surf, since they are exposed to the roaring 40"s., but they can also tend to be blown out more on average. Their summer can bring cyclone swells to the East coast if a cyclone is hanging around from New Caledonia to Tonga And my experience is that the West coast often has surf much like the West coast of Australia. You just have to wait until the conditions get right or the wind dies down. Get the SURFER "surf report" for both islands and you will know most of the spots. If you arrive in Auckland check the surf report and weather report. Piha is probably your best bet for surf. I recommend renting a car if you will be there less than a month. If your stay is longer, buy a used car, preferrably a wagon or caravan and you can camp in it too. Head down to Raglan for a start then head down to Opuanki Beach and check out Taranaki area. This area is pretty consistent for surf. There are a lot of spots, but there is also growing surf population. I enjoyed Stent Road, where I cooked up some paua (mini-abalone) and pippis (green colored mussels) for a free dinner courtesy of mother ocean after an excellent surf. You can camp here without any one bothering you. As you travel you will find that you can camp in a lot of places, especially around rivers. I had good surf around Bay of Islands to the north, and Whangamata, and Gisbourne to the east. On the South Island, the water gets colder, but you will be there in summer and won't be literally freezing. There is often surf near Invercargill to the very south, but the water is cold and it has been known to snow at sealevel in the Winter. Dunedin often has consistent and good surf. and Christchurch has some good breaks nearby also. My favorite is Mangamanu, where I could surf a long right point like Rincon at 4-5 feet with not a soul around and snow capped peaks looking over me. On the west coast, I had good surf at Greymouth and other areas.........just get the book and the surf report and read them before you go and you will be well equipped.. When you get there, ask local surfers where ever you go and most of them are happy to give you a few hints where to surf.
Most places that I went , I ended surfing alone and had a ball. It was a pleasure to have another surfer come out and share the stoke in alot of places.
Have a good trip. Do some weather research now on the internet and it will clue you in about the weather patterns and surf forcasting. The weather there changes practically every hour. It can rain for an hour and be blazing sun the next. Dont expect it to be like America....It is New Zealand...! Also try to learn the language and accent when you get there and people will understand your "english" better..................Aye.
Tim wrote:
On Wed, 29 Oct 1997 21:46:03 -1000, David Anderson, puukoae@aloha.net wrote:
Planning a trip to New Zealand early '98. Anyone have insight into where to go, mags or articles to read? Have email addresses of Surfing or Surfer's Journal Magazines for back issues on the subject.
We have some great uncrowded surf down here in the south of the south island. use riverton to explore the local breaks. plenty of friendly locals.
evan
--
The Riverton Rock - Seaside accommodation since 1863 Kiwi Wilderness Walks - Stewart Island and The Waitutu Track Bottom Bus - A wildly scenic look at the South of the South Island
mailto:therock@riverton.co.nz
http://www.riverton.co.nz - online soon
There's a book called the New Zealand surf guide. Most good surf shops here have a copy behind the counter. Also check out this site www.surf.co.nz. They do daily surf reports for free and also have a free local knowledge section with maps etc. So far they only cover the North of the North Island but they are supposed to be finishing the others off soon. Hope this helps.
1997/11/08Eric Hooe, hooe@psy.fsu.edu:
New Zealand is magic.Visited NZ in '83 and thoroughly enjoyed
the scenery, people and surf. Surfed some memorable spots such
as Kaikura (spelling?), Stent Road and Raglan.
The surf is better than I could have imagined. Be sure not to
miss Raglan, although this is one break that may be crowded (everything
is relative since 5-6 people is a crowd in NZ). Ragalan is composed
of three different breaks that work at different tides. Off the
point come long lefts that wrap into a bay. I'm regular foot but
loved every minute of it, despite the side shore conditions. Would
have love to see it on a glassy day cause the wave held up well
enough even in windy conditions.
By chance, we met some other guys from So. Cal at Raglan. Other
than a couple of irritated locals responding to our greeting with
a "YOU are the crowd" statement, it was no worries.
Surfed the place showing respect and in harmony. surfed both Whale
Bay and Manu? since I guess they each worked at different tides.
Surfed Whale Bay with overhead to double overhead sets, onshore/sideshore
wind (I think, it wasn't offshore). Despite the wind, the place
was truly remarkable and I caught a large double overhead set
wave from the rock outcropping at the point that drove all the
way into the bay before I finally fell off that squirrely 6 ft.
Hurley I was on--it was awesome cause that wave still kept grinding
into the bay! We all found many more awesome waves.
I also was able to sample Stent Road. A great spot!. I agree that
that whole Taranaki area was productive for me. This area must
be pretty consistent for surf. And their is some awesome backpacking
close by in a volcanic area. Plenty of cheap camping, awesome
scenery, friendly locals, plentiful seafood on the beach.
Have fun,
Eric
From: dp025@seqeb.gov.au (Bear)
Newsgroups: alt.surfing
Subject: D.J.Files...bits of a surfing life #11 N.Z. - djnz.11
[1/1]
Date: 29 Oct 1996
Disclaimer: only the facts are true in the following... and some
of them may be suspect :-)
D.J.Files # 11
A railway station in the Shaky Isles D.J. is waiting for someone to arrive on a train. Someone from Wales. You just can't get away from em.
Craig Evans...he was given D.J.'s phone number by a mate and has rung him to say he's coming over, OK? There are 2 Craig Evans. Probably hundreds actually, but certainly 2 that surf. In Wales so many people share the same names, they use a descriptor for individuals: Evans-the-Milk delivers the white liquid, Evans-Above lives over a shop and so forth.
So we have the "Mahatma" (don't ask...it's so long I forget anyway) on a beautifully scenic rail journey across the north island. It's just like the brochure, he thinks: snowy peaks, green forests, gushing geysers, he's seen it all in the few weeks he's been here.
He gets off the train in a small town. He vaguely remembers D..J.'s face; he was never in the 'inner circle' tho. Ah, there he is. "UM...D.J.?" some strange bloke says to D.J. "Er..yeah?" "I'm Craig Evans....he stops himself from saying 'boyo' "
"Oh..yeah...OK" and D.J. recovers. That's right, he remembers some bloke telling him there was another Craig Evans. My stuff's over there, he's told, so they go and collect the bags and the board and pile them into the back of the Ute.
The surf's up, he tells 'Mahatma', but it's a bit too late 'in the arvo' (he's been away too long and is starting to talk differently) to get a session in. We'll go for a wave 'at sparrow fart' he continues.
The Mahatma finds N.Z. very different from the U.K....all this lovely countryside and hardly any bugger in it, he thinks. Timber houses, so unlike the brick semis and terraces of Wales. The place D.J.'s been renting looks more like something out of Davey Crockett.
The Mahatma loves the character of it. After dinner they sit out for a few beers with their feet up on the veranda rails. It's been a long day tho, and anyway they're getting up for an early surf, so they soon turn in. Mahatma is dreaming something he won't recall, coz he's woken up very suddenly.
Holy F......the whole world is doing a dance!!! He leaps out of bed, falls down, gets up....crockery is chattering fearfully on a dresser. Oh my God, it's the end of the world!! A thin grey light is indicating dawn and by it's faintness he staggers out onto the veranda.
D.J. is calmly eating a bowl of puffed wheat, altho a lot of it is ending up down his chest. Feet on the veranda rails, knees juddering. "G'Day"...slurp...."I was gonna wwwake you in a mmmminute, mate, no rush" The Mahatma can't believe the coolness of the guy.
"Bbbbbut wha's happnin!???" he asks "Oh this, yeah, just a llllittle earthquake, nnnno worries"
"No wwwwuh..." Mahatma has the stunned mullet look "but er..."
"Didn'ya know, we're smack in the middle of a regular zone here, but they haven't had a serious one in years" he assures as it all settles.
"Haven't....a serious....?" Mahatma weakly repeats "Come on, I've put your board in the ute, let's go" says D.J., returning the empty cereal bowl into the house.
Mahatma walks zombie-like to the waiting vehicle. D.J. throws himself in and starts up. "Don't you wanna piss?" "Er...I'll have one in the wettie" ..altho it's a bumpy road and he wishes he'd gone before leaving. "We were supposed to have a tidal wave a few weeks back...the townsfolk all headed for the high ground, but some of the guys paddled out to wait for it" D.J. says... " nothing came tho" Probably just as well eh? .
To be continued . . .
kia ora,
west coast of nz reminds me a bit of oregon. warmer water though.
waves look about head-high, but i haven't found any breaks yet;
only
steep, grey beaches and water the color of cement.
in hokitika now; will be up in greymouth later today where there's
supposed to be a breakwater that wedges up some lefts.
two more weeks on the south island then i cross over to the north
island. looking forward to raglan and the east cape.
flights are booked for the islands. fiji's first. i fly out of
auckland april 9. anybody got any leads on cheap deals at tavarua?
hope all's well in the us of a.
barney, out
