Auckland, NZ Summer Surf

[Island Bri]

My plans have changed and instead of diving into the icy cold winter waters of Wellington, I'll be hitting the summer waters of Auckland. So now that I've completely changed location and season...

1. I've checked out some of the surf schools, but at $120 per day for a poor study abroad student is a little pricey. Anybody know of some better deals? Or is that just the way it is?

2. Attire - I've been so busy looking at winter wetsuits that I never really paid attention to what female surfers wear in the summer.

3. What's the terrain like on the Auckland bays vs. Wellington?

[libby]

Surfing around auckland is alot of fun, in the height of summer you can surf in a bikini or boardshorts perfectly comfortably. Your going to need a car to surf around Auckland but i reckon a better bet is to stay in Mt Maunganui, a couple of hours south of Auckland (you can get a bus from Auckland for around NZ$40 i think but cant remember!!). Water there is as warm as Auckland, so when its sunny (which its 99% of the ime in summer, and hot too) its bikini time and if its cloudy you might want a 2mm shorty. There are heaps of cheap hostels in the Mt and loads of surf schools, the main one being the Mt Surf School, who pitch up near Tay street on the dunes and offer lessons and surf board hire etc right on the beach, its pretty cheap. There is also at least one other surf school, specifically for girls, Hibiscus surf school or something similar i think. If you wanna find out about lessons just go into any of the surf shops in Mt Maunganui and ask (the Mt surf shop and Assault are both good ones) and you can pick up new or second hand boards in mt Maunganui easily too.

If you are set on staying in Auckland and getting to the breaks, make yourself a surfer buddy with a car or stay closer to a particular break, such as Piha. That said the east coast is much more suitable for beginners and I think the Mt is the best place in NZ to learn!

Libs

[brummie]

stop making us jealous, i wish iwent when it was summer!

[Jurstun]

Yup if you're travelling around the breaks with Auckland as your base i would say Piha is the easiest to get to. You can get a train for $4-5 out to Henderson then just hitchike to Piha. Did it countless times, all the people are really nice and i never waited more that 30mins.
But ye Piha and the west coast in general can get pretty messy if its big so try go to the east- a lil more tame.
J

[Island Bri]

Libby - My best bet will probably be to find a surf buddy to hitch a ride with. Since, with being an international study abroad student, I won't exactly have car. I'll be staying in North Shore/Albany at Massey University. Since I don't know my NZ geography well yet, are there any good spots up there or are they all down south?

Sweet! I'll definitely have to check out those schools. Thanks so much Libby, that was extremely informative!

I think I'll go with the boardshorts or a rash guard. I feel so exposed in a bikini (says the size 2 mondel....). But seriously, how in the world do you surf in a bikini? I've tried just doing some synchronised swimming and inevitably I have to run back into the locker room to retie it before it comes loose.

Jurstun - I'll remember that. I am an absolute beginner, so at this point, the smaller and easier the better.

[libby]

I was a study abroad student for a year at the university of Auckland, seriously, had the time of my life, you are going to LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!!! So jealous!

Those two surf schools are based in Mt maunganui but even if you can only get down there for the odd weekend it would be well worth it. There are definatley surf schools based around Piha, another good bet for the weekends. There are surf spots much more central to Auckland, seen as your never more than about 1km from the sea wherever you are in Auckland but i never surfed them as i spent every weekend studying or in Mt Maunganui (where my boyfriend at the time lived). Are you there for the uni summer holidays (roughly mid november-late feb/early march) cos that is the perfect time to go exploring surf spots on north and south island!

I loved NZ so much i applied for a scholarship to go back and do my PhD there, but only got offered half the funding i needed so couldnt afford to go.....

[Island Bri]

Jealous of me? I should be jealous of you, getting to stay there for a year!

Due to the restriction on the classes, it looks like I'll have my weekends free, so I'll definitely want to hit the surf at least once while I'm there. If nothing else just for posterity's (and photography's) sake.

Where would be a good place to get shorties or just the wetsuit top? Would it be better to get it online or when I get there?

[RJD]

Hey have a look at www.surf.co.nz and their forums, tis a bit of a mess sometimes but worth having a chat to some locals see if you can get some help/advice

I'm in NZ but havnt ever surfec auckland area so cant realy help sorry. Apart from its November and Chch water is warm enough to be comfy in a 2.5mm cheapie wetsuit ($120 from warehouse).

[Hang11]

You can pick up a cheap shortie in the Warehouse - they are everywhere - $60 or so for a body glove one.

Muriwai is a great beach to surf - just north of Auckland on the West Coast. Supposed to be a good surf school there too.

You can also do a few surf tours into Northland from Auckland, a mate did one, loved it.

[libby]

Yep theres a biiiig warehouse in Auckland on Queens street, the main shopping street, its on the left hand side if your walking towards the sea quite far down, sort of opposite the britomart then down a bit. And once you've been to warehouse keep wandering down queens street, turn left keep walking till you pass the hilton, the maritime museum and are in the viaduct harbour. Its a bit flashy but great fun and the italian restaurant there is YUM!!!

[Island Bri]

RJD - Thanks, I've been meaning to go back and check out that site.

Hang 11 - Sweet! I had a body glove bikini that I absolutely loved, so getting a shortie from the same company would be awesome!

Where is Muriwai in relation to Albany?

Libby - Looks like I'll have to grab a new friend from school (or a roommate perhaps) and go shopping. Haha! Too bad there wasn't a way to make a mini-me of you Libby. That way I could know where everything was (as well as some good Italian restaurants). Thanks again for the help!

[snangers]

You're gonna need a car to get to any surf from Albany.

Orewa on the east coast will be just north of you (15-20mins) Taka's (Takapuna) just south of Albany as well, pretty small and inconsistent though. Be prepared to wait a few weeks between sets, unless we get some cyclone swell from the pacific islands, even then you won't be bragging to anyone about it.

West coast is all good - Piha, Karekare, Bethells, Murawai. All punchy breachbreaks with the power of the southern ocean and roaring forties backing them up. It's not often there isn't swell there, though it can get a bit out of control if you're not confident, or out of your comfort zone.

Albany is a good 45 minute drive from Murawai, 30 mins or so from Bethells. There aren't any "towns" out west, more community style places. Pretty small and mellow. You can buy milk, bread and ice blocks, but don't expect too much. Fortunately for you Albany is the new home to the southern hemispheres newest/biggest mall So anything you're likely to need is a short walk from Massey Campus. From memory there are already a couple of surf shops there anyway.

I'm out near Bethells, forecast for 4ft+ through this week. Enough for thrills, Water is colder on the westside which suits me because I hate heat, you can still go out in boardies though. Wellington in Summer isn't that cold either.

[crepuscular]

female surfers at my local beach usually surf in bikini some with short sleeves rashies over bikini, havent seen a female surfer in springer... but then, i usually surf just past noon when the water is warmer

[Island Bri]

Alright, I'm back for a bit of an update!

Unfortunately, my swimming workouts have not been going very well. I've been swimming laps and doing water aerobics alot but it still takes me almost an hour just to do two laps (lack of lung power). I've been doing some cardio outside of the pool too, but I don't think it's working. I still really want to try surfing while I'm in New Zealand at least once. Any suggestions for one heck of a weak swimmer?

Also, I just got under doctor's orders about the sun down in Auckland. I'm extremely pale and susceptible to sunburn. So my next question is, is there anything besides a bikini/one-piece that I can wear at the beach and surfing?

So I think at this point I won't be bragging to anyone about the big waves I caught but the fact that I actually got my arse out there!

[RJD]

You can get rash vests & bodysuit/skinsuit things that will cover you up, also lots of factor 30 surf sunscreen.

Dont worry about the paddling power just yet, its more about fitnes & technique realy.

I personaly wouldnt pay per day for surf school, you'll be knackered whatever after a couple of hours.

Rent a floaty board (I'd say 8ft bic or something) and go on a clean glassy small day (1-2ft tops), something that takes no real effor to paddle out (or even walk) and just catch some little waves & play.

[Island Bri]

Definitely. Considering I use SPF 50 in the states I'll have to probably look for something higher in NZ.

Well that's encouraging. I keep getting told, if you can't swim (or in my case, just can't swim well), you can't surf.

Thanks for the tips RJD!