Heading over to the North Island for a couple of weeks late April and would appreciate any info on SUP (surf) friendly spots on the east coast. Not sure if I'm taking my board just yet, depending on what's available for hire and any info on what's available for hire would also be appreciated.
Waipu and Mangawhai Heads north of Auckland can be good but you need to hire gear elsewhere - either in Auckland or Orewa. We had a great week there in early May last year.
I took some soft roof racks with me.
Cheers maxd, we'll be in a camper van, so no hassle to transport a board - took the MTB last time and it fitted across the front seats at night but felt I'd hire next time we went.
I live in Auckland so I'll drop you a mail with some of the local spots on the east coast...
For board hire, I can totally recommend Brian and his team at NZ Boardstore at Point Chevalier Auckland. They looked after us really well with SUP and surfboard hire. Great to deal with.
Dan here from the NZ boardstore.
we can normally sort you out with a sup (surfing or otherwise) that will suit your needs,
we have Starboard, and Coreban Platinum boards we can hire you (should satisfy the smaller and larger performance board needs) and cruisers too.
The east coast is pretty awesome and can involve some driving, best thing is to come have a chat to us to figure out what the swells are doing and where to head off to.
Dan
if only it was just a surfing trip Hawaiiheke but it needs to be fun / interesting for my wife too 
Cheers Dan, will make sure I drop by as we land and pick van up from Auckland - rough plan is head north for the first few days then down Coromandel and onto Gisborn. Will most likely finish up in Rotorua before we head back up to Auckland.
Hi Dan,
i'm heading over on friday 13th march to do the same. Where's your shop located>?
thanks rob
Hi - in the Coromandel Waikawau, Hot Water Beach, Tairua, Pauanui can all get good waves depending on swell of course. Beautiful scenery, laid back area at that time of year. Stay away from Whangamata, great waves and crowds to go with it - Waihi just down the road can have some mellow waves. Further down the Bay of Plenty West End Bay Ohope has nice little waves, a good place to stop before venturing on to Gisborne. There are better waves but the crowds come with them. Don't forget to lock your camper, some of the friendly locals aren't above a bit of thievery
We are the
NZ Boardstore
5 raymond st
Point chevalier
Auckland
about 30 mins from the airport and near one of the better windsurfing locations.
If you really are specific with your needs please drop us a line at
Dan@nzboardstore.co.nz so we can try to sort out a good set up that will work for you.
Now to plan that Bali holiday!!! going to have to take boards this time!!
Thanks CharlieF - we did spend some time along there last time we were over and apart from Waihi Beach (a very small left) there were no waves. I did try and hire a board at Waihi Beach but the surf shop was closed that day. Plan on doing some of that area again as we really enjoyed the last visit.
If your wife's into outdoors then GBI has got an abundance of things to do HG. If shopping is her thang then...well...NZ aint the place!
No problem HG. There is a good camping ground at Hot Water Beach and there is a good point/reef set up a short walk away. Hot Water gets as much swell as any beach on the Coromandel - I cut my teeth there as a grommet when short boards were 8 foot long and had single fins and no one had ever heard of leashes. You can dig in the sand at low tide for your own hot mineral pool. There is also a great camping ground at Bowentown at the Southern end of Waihi right on the beach. And if there is no swell on the east coast the points at Raglan are only a couple of hours away. It has plenty of shops and cafes and scenery for your wife
Surf2Surf has a good daily/5day surf report on your favourite device. Enjoy your holiday.
If you are heading North then make the trip up to Ahipara / Shipwreck Bay on the westcoast. It has primo left hand reef/point breaks and great SUP wave. You need a 4x4 or all wheel drive to comfortably drive around the rocks at low tide but seeing as you are in a camper van maybe talk to these guys about getting taken to some spots?
www.hugedomains.com/domain_profile.cfm?d=nzsurfbros&e=com
Shipwreck Bay is a great wave so you might need to even drive around the rocks and just park your camper on the beach :-)
It is a beautiful spot so if the surf is not happening there are some sights to see and the eastcoast is about 30mins away so there is another option.
Mukkies 2 has been the best SUP wave I have had in NZ even though it is a left-hander: www.nzsurfguide.co.nz/surf_breaks/northland/mukie-2
we've got a farm on the edge of the hokianga harbor and you're welcome here if you head down from ahipara. farms between opononi and rawene. drop me a pm and i'll give you addy and ph number
Mate I'm in the HB..Hastings..few nice sup spots here on the coast that I surf regularly. .if you get down this way drop let us know
Cheers
Seems like everything has been covered...if you do decide to go north to shippies and it's going off you will not be disappointed, stop off in Whangarei along the way and head out east to Tutukaka and Sandy bay just pass Matapouri these are all beautiful locations including ones that have already been mentioned earlier, check Ngungaru river mouth and Pataua river mouths, once again if they are going off it will blow your mind, happy holiday
