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North Island at Easter

PostPosted: Tue Feb 26, 2019 5:04 am
by Chrystalwave
Hello,

I am new to surfing waves and was hoping for some travel tips! Will be travelling north of Auckland for 5 days over Easter in a campervan with two tots hoping to catch some surf and amazing camping spots. Is there good surf in April? Would we need to book camping spots over Easter or could we just turn up? Any places north of Auckland we must see/surf at? Are we likely to need to winter clothing/thick wetties?

Thanks in Advance!
Chrystal :D

Re: North Island at Easter

PostPosted: Tue Feb 26, 2019 12:26 pm
by jaffa1949
An Easter in April on the north of the North Island, is likely to be quite pleasant, with luck there are swells being generated. So a few cool night type clothes but mostly early Autumn temps.
The east coast has gentler waves with a a few epic bar surf spots and the west coast I would look as far up as
Aripara .
Easter both in Australia and New Zealand is a peak holiday time when the parks, resorts and holiday Baches are full so book , you may find many spots already booked out!

All of New Zealand is pretty amazing. The Kauri forests of the far north, various hot spring and Maori villages.
A lot is south of Auckland , volcanoes, snow capped mountains and Hobbit country. There is surf all round the coast, but really check a New Zealand travel guide.
Ther is a beach on the Coromandel peninsula where you can dig your own hot water spa in the sand after a surf!
Curious, does something oblige you to go north? :D

Re: North Island at Easter

PostPosted: Tue Feb 26, 2019 12:29 pm
by Lebowski
Easter tends to be extremely busy in the surf, and probably in the caravan parks, so I would book ahead.

There are some excellent surf spots north of Auckland which are easy to find. I won't tell you the best ones because they're already facing increasing crowd pressure, but you'll be able to find the main ones yourself easy enough.

April is warm. 3/2 or 4/3 will be fine.

Re: North Island at Easter

PostPosted: Tue Feb 26, 2019 10:21 pm
by oldmansurfer

Re: North Island at Easter

PostPosted: Wed Feb 27, 2019 3:35 am
by dtc
Easter is the 'end' of summer down this hemisphere, so the beaches are crowded with people getting their last moments in the sun. Depending on your nature, you either comply with Good Friday and commemorate the death of the good weather, or commemorate Easter Sunday and the resurrection of winter swells

Re: North Island at Easter

PostPosted: Sat Mar 02, 2019 6:05 am
by Chrystalwave
Thank you everyone for your tips and suggestions. We are keen to fit in the Bay of Islands to our trip, which is why we are heading North. I would also prefer to be where it is warmer! Sounds like we will have great time and hopefully get some nice waves... :D

Re: North Island at Easter

PostPosted: Sat Mar 02, 2019 9:39 am
by jaffa1949
New Zealand is fairly narrow up that end head across to Aripara! :D