Table of Contents

New Zealand Surfski

Petone - Eastbourne Downwinder

North Island

Freshwater

Marine/Coastal

(Clockwise from East)

East Side

  • Downwind/Paddles
    • Doubtless Bay
    • Poor Knights Crossing - Tutukaka - Poor Knights Islands 28 km 2018 Race Video
    • Ngunguru​​​ OC laps
    • Oceans Beach - Tutukaka 17 -19 km?? video
    • Orewa
      • (N to S) Otarawao (Sullivan’s Bay) in Mahurangi Regional Park to Orewa Beach 9-10 km
      • (SE to NW) Army Bay to Orewa Beach 15 km
    • Red Beach - Army Bay 10 km Downwindfun
    • Auckland Area
      • French Bay (end of Otitori Bay Road) to Cornwallis Wharf. 9km. Semi sheltered start then a good building run down to the wharf.
      • Glendowie to Akarana Ocean Paddlers HQ 8 km video, video
      • Hobsonville to Okahu Bay 16+ km video
      • Manukau Harbour
      • Mission Bay - Karaka Bay 12 km - calm day video
      • Rangitoto Beacon - Okahu Bay ~ 8 km video
      • Okahu Bay video out and back from Akarana Clubhouse
      • Takapuna
      • Waiheke - Auckland Harbour 35-50 km Downwindfun
      • Waikowhai (end of Waikowhai road off Hillsborough Road) to Cornwallis Wharf. 14km. Great course with ENE wind. The bumps will increase the further we go down the track.
      • Waitemata Harbour video
      • Whangaparaoa Peninsula - Takapuna Boating Club 23 km
      • West Park Marina - Royal Akarana Yacht Club 15 km video
    • Tauranga
    • Waiheki Island
  • Surf

South End

Lowry Bay Dolphins (no sound)

West Side

  • Downwinders
    • Auckland (West Side - See Manukau Harbour above)
    • Raglan Harbour video
    • Whanganui video
  • Flatwater
    • Manawatu River (Foxton River Loop Section) video
  • Surf - Needless to say the usual rules and etiquette of surfing apply. And you also have to figure out what, where, and how are appropriate for your skill level. Surfing shorebreak in a surfski becomes an increasingly advanced, demanding skill as bigger waves are attempted and clearly presents ample opportunity for damage to boat, body, and neighbor. Surfing mushy, non-breaking waves or catching swell farther out away from their break areas can provide plenty of less risky fun where you also avoid the intense competition for waves that popular surf breaks generate.
    • Foxton Beach video
    • Manu Bay video
    • Whale Bay
    • Indicators
    • Ngarunui Beach
    • Raglan
    • Ruapuke Beach

South Island

Lakes

Can get afternoon thermals and rapid weather changes - mountain lake water is usually cold, particularly in winter and shoulder seasons. Strong winds are common and can often exceed the predicted strength of weather forecasts. Prepare or avoid accordingly depending on your experience, skill, fitness, equipment and support.

  • Lake Tekapo
  • Lake Wanaka
    • Locals say that the weather has been changing and getting much windier in recent years. Maybe Wanaka will become more of a downwinding and windsport destination.
    • Wanaka Watersports
  • Lake Wakatipu (site of Deep South Downwind Race)
    • Northerly wind:
      • Glenorchy
        • Glenorchy to Pigeon Island 8 km
        • there's more than 25 km of straight downwind possible - if you find a good takeout - is there public access off of Von Loop road near Mt. Nicholas?
        • 16 km option might take out at 25 Mile Stream?

Deep South Downwind Race 2023 Canceled Due To HIgh Wind? - No Problem, Let's Goooo

…..

  • Southerly wind:
    • Wye Creek to Jardines 10 km
    • …

Coasts

  • East Coast tends to have more consistent wind
    • Downwind/Paddles
      • Christchurch
      • Dunedin
      • Motunau Beach video
  • North Coast
    • Nelson (has an active surfski community - see clubs below)
      • ….

Rivers

Surf

Conditions

Videos

Races

Coaches/Clubs

Find a Club, Canoe Racing NZ

Surf Lifesaving Club Finder NZ

Adaptive Paddling

Repair

  • NZ Marine Boat Builder Directory (you'll have to check which ones are willing to do small boat repairs)
  • North Island
    • Auckland Area
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Whangarei
      • Graham Cawood graham.cawood@xtra.co.nz “I repair Waka Ama boats and outriggers, kayaks, paddle as well as surf boards and paddles. I also make stainless steel roof racks for single Waka Ama, boat trolleys for 6 man Waka Ama and tinny trolleys”
  • South Island

Safety

Please observe all standard safety gear recommendations.

AND familiarize yourself with all relevant local knowledge that is necessary for safe and enjoyable outings. The wiki cannot come close to tracking all of the local knowledge that you may need anywhere you want to paddle in New Zealand - so check with locals familiar with the sort of things - weather, tides, reefs, ship traffic, etc. that you should be fully aware of.

Resources

Dealers/Equipment

New (these are organized by surfski brand, but some also sell other brands of Waka (OCs, V1s))

Used

Tauranga Harbour

Hobbiton - The lake may be a bit small for downwinders

hobbiton.jpg