May have to head to NZ for work for a week, and as I have actually never been there before I was wondering where the good spots are ? Can you hire SUP's or short board at them and how damn cold it is :) ?
I will probably be near Auckland
Hey Pete
I wrote some stuff on this a while back
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=61696&
Lots of spots around Auckland although the wind is the biggest enemy. Great time of the year with brisk offshores to keep you warm. Not sure where you can hire SUP stuff from but I am pretty sure the other kiwi boys on this forum can help you out there.
Make sure you get yourself to Raglan for some waves if you get a chance. 3 epic point breaks - well 2 - the other is a bit lame most of the time I reckon. 2 hrs south - or 1.5 from the airport. Its unreal. Here is some footage from a few weeks back.http://www.surf2surf.com/video.php?id=278
How cold is it - it will be a lot colder than here for sure. Pack yourself your best 2/3mm seam sealed baby. It should get you through the next few weeks.
You will need a hire car to get to the waves for sure - public transport options are few and far between. Its about 45mins to the West Coast beaches form down town Auckland. Watch out for the stupid rule of "when turning left give way to everyone" The insurance companies love Australian drivers due to that rule!
If u have any specific questions happy to answer those.
Enjoy!
thanks so much for that. I hate wearing a steamer..oh well
I am gagging to check out raglan, just hoping that there is some swell while I am there.
I will check out that forum topic...cheers
Hey mate - Ted is spot on with the wetty - take your warmest and dont forget the sunblock even on the really cold days cos despite the cold days you WILL get fried over there mate. You can hire sups at raglan of different sizes and be guided by the locals as to where to surf them cos it's one place you dont wanna pisss the wrong person off. Sorry dont know the name of the guy who hires sups but once you hit town he is easy to find. Enjoy the trip - its a special place with some great people.
Try Jeremy at supsnz.co.nz he's the local starboard dealer but has loads of demo boards and I think you can hire one from him.
2mm spring suit with a rash rest is what I'm using at presant and its fine as long as you don't spend to much time in the water
North of auckland last night end of a wind swell so very average
Let me know if you need anymore info cheers Dave
Hey mate try and get in touch with Glass off (seano) he's at raglan, I think he actually runs a SUP business there? anyway he'll not only prob be able to get you a sup but also give you pointers on where to go and where not to go.
Auckland west coast will prob be more up your street size wise but no sup hire that I know of? Unless of course you manage to get in touch with Jeremy S and hire a starboard from him?
I know where you can hire a Naish but I got shot down in flames last time I mentioned it as it doesn't break as regularly as everywhere else and on its best day would only be 4ft.
If you hook up with Dave DILLIGAF I'll come along too (work/kids permitting) I'm sure we can swap our boards around.
p.s. Auckland was pants all weekend so when you come bring some decent swell with you!
Jeebers its all over the show! Its all down to how that wind is and the main websites are contradicting each other so its anyones guess?. So Friday may be ok on the east coast. Sunday (again wind dependent) West coast Piha or Muriwai is prob your best bet (Piha is a bit of a treck to get skunked tho). Tues Wed East coast and as it stands looks like it could be some fun. Fingers and toes tightly crossed!! lol. Good luck.
Are you going to get down to Raglan?
Weather is absolute crap today! Heading up north in an hour so hopefully the storm will pass as the waves look promising
I drove up from the Bay Of Plenty this morning, whakatane bar and matata straights was a good solid head high and offshore...so looks like a good NE swell
hey mate, ended up catching with some legend guys. Jeremy (starboard) , Troy and Simon. They took me to Mirawai on sunday, and it was off shore and super fun. Over head sets. We SUP'd on some short ones for a few hours. I was riding the quad set up 8'5, and Jeremy was on the 7'11.
Great boards, nice and loose but quick.
Then we did tow in's for rest of the day. all in all a great weekend.
If you want drive south for five hours come to Gisborne , its worth the drive me and gizze surf most mornings paddle out in the dark heaps of good places. you need a 4/3 wetty though.surfed town this morn ball high lefts nice.
Didn't get a surf y/day but hear it was epic. Shock! Horror! Three other people out at makorori point this am & was still darkish, Nice waves though