"Let's hit the North Coast!" came the call from my mate Justin on Saturday morning. We had been watching the east swell build and knew there would be some fun waves up there so we did what all excited surfers do – drove excitedly to Wharakeake. It was the beginning of what would turn into quite a roadtrip.
The swell was big, but pushing wide at the point so we left the three guys out to it and zipped over the hill past the Orokonui Ecosanctuary and cruised into Karitane. The bar was about shoulder high and packed with people enjoying the long rights. We were feeling picky, looking for a bit more punch, so decided to try Aramoana instead. Back along the coast road (stunning), over the hill past the Ecosanctuary again and down into Port Chalmers we went before arriving at Aramoana. The east swell was magnified here, but the cross-shore made for testing conditions. Then we spotted a wave inside the harbour at Shelly Beach – sets about four foot and the Monarch cruising out the back, albatrosses soaring overhead. That was us for an hour – surfing big green walls right inside the harbour only metres from the mole where we had parked our car.
After an hour the tide filled in so we jumped out, hopped over the mole and ran down the beach to Aramoana. The wind was light offshore here by now and the waves were sizey, but beautifully perfect. I swapped my board for my camera and we got to enjoy this playground with about four others, taking turns riding these big green tubes.
When we got out of the water the carpark was filled with surfers babbling excitedly about the moments they had experienced just minutes before in the water. Every single one had a grin on their face.
Justin and I looked at the time – we'd been gone for seven hours, had had two surfs and hadn't eaten anything all day. Just lost in the moment of a great swell on another stunning day in Dunedin. We're certainly spoilt for choice here.
More from that east swell this week with a shift to the south from Thursday. Get amongst it and make sure you enter our competition to win a delicious Brunch for Two with our friends at Hotel St Clair – over there on the right, one click and you're entered ... easy!
See you at the beach ...
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