Waitara

Taranaki

Auszug aus dem KITE AND WINDSURFING GUIDE:

Driving down from Auckland, halfway marks the first highlight of any Taranaki trip. The detour to Raglan is a must, where one of the world’s longest left-handers breaks in front of a subtropical backdrop – a surfing Shangri-La. Rocks shelter this legendary point from the wind, but the huge bay to the north or river estuary near town are both suitable for kiting and windsurfing. The perfect flat water at Raglan Rivermouth offers perpetual broad-reaching on an ebb tide in westerly winds. If it’s easterly, ride on the push for wind against tide. The same swell that breaks on the point also hits Raglan Beach, this time over sand and with wind: endless steep lines with clean faces, and a shallow lagoon at low tide too. Raglan itself also has a nice vibe: a sleepy surfer town with a couple of cool cafés, shops and restaurants. The Taranaki region starts 250km further south – at least a 4-hour drive on New Zealand’s tortuous road network. Like beads on a string, a profusion of quality wave spots hang off the 'Surf Highway’. In the small New Plymouth suburb of Waitara is a moderate entry-level reef-break with flat water inside. Plus there’s parking, grass for rigging, and even toilets. Depending on swell, Oakura offers anything from easy freeride to a challenging beach-break. Even if there are better spots in SW, with its supermarket, cafés, restaurants and lodgings this centrally located town is logistically the ideal Taranaki base-camp. For many locals Weld Road offers the area’s best 'fun’. Flat water inside a clearly defined reef means riding and jumping are even possible in big swell. The launch over head-sized rocks is best at mid to high tide – just keep to the channel! Twenty minutes south via Stent Road is Taranaki’s best-known surf-spot – an insider windsurfing tip in NE, but hold off if there are any surfers on the break. The launch over rocks is barely possible with a kite. There’s no sand at Bayley Road either, to avoid sacrificing a fin on big rocks launch from the 'Boat Ramp’ that gives the place its nickname. Metal rods mark the channel – there’s no chance with a kite. Either side is the bay’s offshore reef, offering a clean wave from head-high to over mast-high (which remains sailable as it rarely closes-out). It’s best in NE wind from the right or S from the left. N or SE is also sailable, but there are better places. Like the local windsurf heroes’ favourite, Pungarehu offering endless down-the-line turns and aerial sections in cross to cross-off wind. The challenge isn’t just the speed of the wave, it’s the launch over big rocks too – two good reasons why it’s never busy. Fortunately there is a small channel that’s easily spotted at low tide, and from out back you can gently ease onto the waves even in large swell. Pungarehu only disappoints when it comes to jumping, but Kina Road offers better conditions and less gusty wind. The waves can be even bigger than Pungarehu, but are rarely of the same quality. If it’s too crazy, it’s worth waiting a day for the swell to subside a bit. Despite rocks in the water, the launch from a patch of sandy beach is much easier than Pungarehu.
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Kite and Windsurfing Guide
In Waitara, einem kleinen Vorort von New Plymouth, läuft eine moderate Riffwelle mit flacher Inside, auch für Welleneinsteiger geeignet.
In the small New Plymouth suburb of Waitara is a moderate entry-level reef-break with flat water inside.
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