Taranaki - your coastal extreme zone to the bone...

"What's that?", mumbled the glue eared surfie, through his dreads, as his mate hollered his approval of the sun glinting off the peeling five foot Stent right hander. "This coast is going off man,and nobody is out..."The windwand to the north bends magically in the off shore breeze, sucking the even swells to powdered peaks which bow in acquiescence to the mountain they have pursued across timeless ocean energies... so you the seeker can ride at one with motion more natural than time itself...

Mount Taranaki from Lower Pitone Road, Surf 
Highway 45

Surf Lifesaving Nationals, 2000, Oakura Beach

Oakura Beach, Surf Highway 45

OPUNAKE: Sky Williams: This beach is located 2 kilometres south of Opunake Township It works all tides and is a fast breaking left hander. It handles 1 to 3.5 metres south west to west swells and works with north east winds.

The Graveyard

The Graveyard

ROCKY POINT: Rocky Right and Rocky Left is only a few kilometres south of Okato on Paora Road and is approximately 1 kilometre north of Warea. There is a walk across a paddock to the left where you will find the two breaks. Rocky Right works preferably on high tide, a north east wind and west swell 1 to 4 metres fast right into the bay. Across the bay is Rocky Left. This works on south east winds, low tide and at a 1 to 3 metre west swell producing fast left hand barrels breaking over its shallow reef. Accommodation available at Stony River Hotel.

The Graveyard

AHU AHU AND WELD ROAD: This beach is approximately 3 kilometres south of OakuraTownship and takes you to a bay with two reefs. The right hand end of the bay has a right hander breaking over shallow rocks and reef. It is for the experienced surfer because of the hard breaking shallow bottom. To the left of the bay is another right hander which is gentle and frequently used by learners . These spots work on south west winds 1.5 to 2.5 metre swells from south west to westerly on low tide. The nearest accommodation is The Wave Haven.

OAKURA BEACH: Drive right to the beach. Campsites available at Oakura Beach Camp. Oakura Beach has awesome left and right handers. The campsite breaks on a large swell and there are gap right handers and left hander breaks. Oakura also features Jefferies breaks right hander.

Herekawe Stream Mouth, Back Beach

BACK BEACH: Back Beach is situated on the southern edge of New Plymouth. It faces southwest and works 1 to 3.5 metre swells with breaks along a sandy beach front. There are various sandbars and gutters that form good beach break waves. Works on north easterly winds and mid to high tides. A varied choice of accommodation is available in New Plymouth city.

Back Beach

Back Beach, Surf Highway 45

Fitzroy Beach

WAIWAKAIHO: Waiwakaiho is situated at the mouth of the Waiwakaiho River on the northern edge of New Plymouth. River stones form a fast breaking right hander, works on south east to easterly winds and breaks on all tides. Waves are 1 to 4 metres. New Plymouth offers a range of accommodation and refreshment options.

Fitzroy Beach

KUMARA PATCH: Access to this beach stops short approximately 1 kilometre, so the rest is on foot. Be polite. Ask the farmer for permission before entering their land. Once there, the Kumara Patch has an awesome left hander that can peel to 150 metres long its boulder back. It is best in South west swells and winds from the south to south east. The local Stony River Hotel is the nearest stopover for refreshments.  Accommodation available at Stony River Hotel.

Body boarding

Oakura Beach, Surf Highway 45

Surf lifesaving, Oakura Beach

STENT ROAD: Stent Road is approximately half a kilometre south of Warea on Surf Highway 45. It has an excellent right hand wave breaking over a shallow reef along a rocky out crop point. It picks up swells from the west, south west and north west, working on all tides. Off shore winds are north east which predominately blow through summer and autumn.  Accommodation available at Stony River Hotel.

Back Beach

MANGAHUME: Mangahume lies south of Sky Williams. It is a left and right peak and handles big waves 1 to 5 metres on all tides. Works on north easterly winds and is a very challenging wave. The nearest accommodation is the Opunake Beach Camp Resort right in the Township of Opunake

KOMENE BEACH: Komene Beach is a five minute drive from Okato. This road stops short approximately quarter of a kilometre and the rest is on foot. Many fishermen use this beach because of the mouth of Stony River and learner surfers flock here because, to the south side, the waves are gentle and small. There is a lagoon being the only one in New Zealand that is full nearly all year round. Many tourists visit to see the bird life - black swans, oystercatchers, ducks, seagulls and black and white stills Accommodation available at Stony River Hotel.

.Throughout the Taranaki Region all main public beaches provide for the surfer depending upon weather conditions. The region hosts the following surf and surf lifesaving clubs:East End Surf Life Saving Club, New Plymouth, Fitzroy Surf Club, New Plymouth, Waitara Swimming & Surf Life Saving, Waitara, Oakura Board Riders Club, Oakura, Surf Life Saving Taranaki, New Plymouth, Ohawe Surf Life Saving, Ohawe Beach, Opunake Surf Life Saving, Opunake.

Surf lifesaving

Surf lifesaving