Hawkes Bay
Hawkes Bay covers a large expanse of coastline on the East Coast of the North Island. It stems from the Mahia Peninsula all the way down to Porangahau.
Mahia is part of the Hawkes Bay but has its own Surf Culture there with two Boardriders Clubs – Mahia Boardriders and Mahisian Wave Warriors. Mahia is a place all of its own which has endless wave options.
Hawkes Bay has all different options of surf with many bays, point breaks and river mouths. Te Awanga being one of the most popular with its right hand point break. In the Napier region there are two high quality river mouths that are weather dependant on how much rain the Bay gets, when the bars are on these spots offer some solid waves.
A few of the bays are Cray Bay which can hold up to 3m Southerly swell. Stingray Bay is a beautiful little place with a nice walk to get to it.
Some of the most popular beach breaks are Ocean Beach and Waimarama, which are where cranks in the summertime with not just surfers but locals and tourists heading to the beach for the day.
Central Hawkes Bay has plenty of different options from Kairakau and the well known spot of Blackhead beach.
You can nearly surf on any given day in Hawkes Bay if you are prepared to travel. Most are accessible by car and lots by walking and boat.
Keri Mckenzie
Hi! My name is Keri, I’m originally from the Bay of Plenty, spending most of my growing years at Pukehina Beach and The Mount.
The beach and ocean have always been where I feel most comfortable, it just feels like home. Every time I enter the water it takes me to a place where nothing matters, my inner child releases and it’s the most freeing expansive feeling.
This passion for the ocean among other reasons has lead me around Australian Beaches for most of my adult life, living there mostly with a 3 year stint back in Hawkes Bay in between from age 18 – 36.
My kids are mad into surfing, to watch your children’s and others infatuation with something so positive is a really special journey.
This is what led me to be so passionate about Boardriders. It’s the hub of the surfing community, for people to come together to enjoy one of the greatest gifts humans have been given.. the ocean.
I’m the Community & Development Manager for the Hawkes Bay Boardriders, I’ve been back in the bay for 1.5yrs now J.
Hawkes Bay Boardriders have three sectors to the Club – SURFING – ENVIRONMENT – COMMUNITY. Through these three sectors we run events that fit in under that umbrella, creating a holistic, friendly community based club. I’m feeling blessed to have been asked to be the ambassador for Hawkes Bay for the AWSA. It’s an amazing, well organised, inspiring organisation. I’m excited for all the bubbling’s that the future brings in Aotearoa and it surf scene.
Local Links
-
Empowering wāhine through the art of surfing.
Click here to join.
-
It’s the Boardriders aim to sustainably provide surfing in Hawke’s Bay with a vital gateway to national and international opportunities for surfers of all ages as well as enable a community of likeminded people to build – groms, pros, seniors, weekend warriors, families and friends – the clubs for everyone to be a part of.
Click here to join.
-
Surf Coaching for beginners and advanced surfers. All ages. Also, private surf guides in Hawkes Bay and around New Zealand.
Click here for more info.