Gisborne/Tairāwhiti
Tairāwhiti offers up some pretty consistent surf and there are breaks to suit all levels. Beginners can head to Gisborne’s town beaches and if you’re looking for something a bit more challenging there are breaks all along the Wainui coastline and beyond.
The prevailing wind direction in Gisborne is NW which will provide clean, offshore conditions at most spots in town and up the coast. Generally speaking there’s a welcoming and friendly vibe in the water with a strong female presence.
If you’re willing to do some research and up for an adventure you can easily head out of Gisborne, up the East Cape or down to the Mahia Peninsula and score yourself some uncrowded or even empty waves, again options for all levels just ask the locals. If you’re on a longboard head over as there’s a fair few options but might be worth chucking in that shortboard in case you want to score some hollow action at Stoke Route.
We get lots of sunshine hours throughout summer but the waves are less consistent although on a hot day you can head out in your swimmers if you’re game. Shoulder seasons you’ll be in a 3:2 and winter you’ll want a 4:3 with booties and a hood, it’s worth the chill as the waves get more consistent. We don’t see many huge swells here the odd session over winter and autumn but mostly 2-3ft waves and smaller in summer.
Whilst we’re pretty isolated here in Gisborne I’d say it’s well worth the drive as there’s lots to see and do, if you really can’t find a wave you can always head to Rere rockslide for your aquatic adrenaline fix! Check out this website for what’s on and what to do in Tairāwhiti.
Megan Costello
I call Gizzy home although I'm a transplant from the "wet" coast of Canada. My first surfing experience in 2005 was in the tropical paradise of Costa Rica, and while I brought home a board with me to surf the arctic waters of Haida Gwaii - 17 years later I still consider myself a newbie. My favourite board at the moment is an 8 ft foamie - I don't think I've ever had as much fun surfing as I have this past season. I've always loved the ocean and being in the water and am delighted that my two daughters share that joy. I joined the Gisborne Boardriders Club (GBC) in 2021 as the Women's Rep after they put a call out looking for someone to join the committee. My background in governance prior to joining the GBC was establishing parkrun in Gizzy in 2018 and my experience as Run Director for Batemans Bay parkrun in Aussie. What made me put my hand up to join the GBC was signing up my daughters for the kids learn-to-surf program Rippers and only seeing a few other girls out there in the water. I wanted to encourage more Gizzy girls to give surfing a go, especially since we're spoiled for choice of beautiful breaks. I'm passionate about creating opportunities for girls to stay active as they move into the teenage years and to build confidence through participating in a sport that can be enjoyed throughout their lives. Secretly my hope was that if my daughters developed a passion for surfing - they'd be able to teach me and I'd finally be able to progress!
Since joining the Committee I was able to secure funding to hold 9 women's centred events over the 2021-22 season. It was so rewarding seeing 29 girls out at our free give-it-a-go girls (ages 6-12) session, most of whom had never surfed before, out there catching waves and having a blast. Even better, at our all-ages session we had mums and daughters, grandmothers and granddaughters out catching party waves together! I'm looking forward to continuing these initiatives for next year and offering support to anyone who is struggling to get their own programs established.
Professionally I'm a forester with a very broad range of experience from working in a reforestation nursery, to overseeing the construction of forest roads. I've worked in four distinct forest types in three different countries. I completed my master's research in Northeast China quantifying the shade tolerance of native hardwood tree species. Currently I'm the Business Improvement Manager at Ernslaw One Ltd - working to improve processes and documentation. One of my current projects is delivering a digital workspace with automated workflows.
Local Links
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The core purpose of the Gisborne Boardriders Club is to share the stoke.
Click here for more info.