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Not easy.
It's a long walk from the carpark at Shipwreck Bay, about 15 minutes round the long point at low tide, or you can drive round in a 4WD at low tide only- at high tide the water covers the track, and the wave doesn't work properly at high tide anyway.
There is no real road around this huge cape (or wasn't when I was there), its 4WD at low tide only. Locals don't want to put in a road, but its only a matter of time for mine, really. You can paddle out from the very top of the 1st point from a small beach to access 'Peaks', if its not really big. There are other points further round the cape which get more swell, including one called 'Supertubes', need I say more?
English (Translate this text in English): Not easy.
It's a long walk from the carpark at Shipwreck Bay, about 15 minutes round the long point at low tide, or you can drive round in a 4WD at low tide only- at high tide the water covers the track, and the wave doesn't work properly at high tide anyway.
There is no real road around this huge cape (or wasn't when I was there), its 4WD at low tide only. Locals don't want to put in a road, but its only a matter of time for mine, really. You can paddle out from the very top of the 1st point from a small beach to access 'Peaks', if its not really big. There are other points further round the cape which get more swell, including one called 'Supertubes', need I say more?
English (Translate this text in English): Not easy.
It's a long walk from the carpark at Shipwreck Bay, about 15 minutes round the long point at low tide, or you can drive round in a 4WD at low tide only- at high tide the water covers the track, and the wave doesn't work properly at high tide anyway.
There is no real road around this huge cape (or wasn't when I was there), its 4WD at low tide only. Locals don't want to put in a road, but its only a matter of time for mine, really. You can paddle out from the very top of the 1st point from a small beach to access 'Peaks', if its not really big. There are other points further round the cape which get more swell, including one called 'Supertubes', need I say more?
English (Translate this text in English): Not easy.
It's a long walk from the carpark at Shipwreck Bay, about 15 minutes round the long point at low tide, or you can drive round in a 4WD at low tide only- at high tide the water covers the track, and the wave doesn't work properly at high tide anyway.
There is no real road around this huge cape (or wasn't when I was there), its 4WD at low tide only. Locals don't want to put in a road, but its only a matter of time for mine, really. You can paddle out from the very top of the 1st point from a small beach to access 'Peaks', if its not really big. There are other points further round the cape which get more swell, including one called 'Supertubes', need I say more?
DistanceSurf trip
WalkGood walk (15-30 mn)
Easy to find?OK
Public access?Public access
Special access4x4
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Surf Spot Characteristics
Surf Spot Quality
Wave qualityTotally Epic
ExperienceExperienced surfers
FrequencySometimes break
Wave
TypePoint-break
DirectionLeft
BottomSandy with rock
PowerHollow, Fast, Powerful
Normal lengthVery Long (300 to 500 m)
Good day lengthExceptional (>500m)
Tide, Swell and Wind
Good swell directionWest, SouthWest, South
Good wind directionSouthWest, South, SouthEast, East
Swell sizeStarts working at 1.0m-1.5m / 3ft-5ft and holds up to 2.5m+ / 8ft+
Best tide positionLow and mid tide
Best tide movement
More details
Week crowdFew surfers
Week-end crowdCrowded
Webcam url
Dangers
Additional Information
This is the epic wave at Shipwreck Bay that everyone talks about. It starts way, way up the 1st point about 1km or so, where you can paddle out at the top from a small beach, as long as it isn't huge.
It needs low tides and a really solid SW swell to even break, with SW winds. It breaks very fast, hollow, and hard for about 500m+, kind of like a reverse J Bay, before fattening out in Shipwrecks Bay, which is really a separate and much slower (2 or 3 star) wave, closer to the township and the carpark. You can get a ride up to nearly 1km on a big day, if you're lucky.
There are several other good point-break waves further round the 7km cape, but access is very difficult. Various NZ surf guides you can buy in surf stores describe all these, so they are no big secret.
I don't know how big it can hold out here, probably best at a solid 4-8 feet, (when the ocean charts will show almost double this).
English (Translate this text in English): This is the epic wave at Shipwreck Bay that everyone talks about. It starts way, way up the 1st point about 1km or so, where you can paddle out at the top from a small beach, as long as it isn't huge.
It needs low tides and a really solid SW swell to even break, with SW winds. It breaks very fast, hollow, and hard for about 500m+, kind of like a reverse J Bay, before fattening out in Shipwrecks Bay, which is really a separate and much slower (2 or 3 star) wave, closer to the township and the carpark. You can get a ride up to nearly 1km on a big day, if you're lucky.
There are several other good point-break waves further round the 7km cape, but access is very difficult. Various NZ surf guides you can buy in surf stores describe all these, so they are no big secret.
I don't know how big it can hold out here, probably best at a solid 4-8 feet, (when the ocean charts will show almost double this).
English (Translate this text in English): This is the epic wave at Shipwreck Bay that everyone talks about. It starts way, way up the 1st point about 1km or so, where you can paddle out at the top from a small beach, as long as it isn't huge.
It needs low tides and a really solid SW swell to even break, with SW winds. It breaks very fast, hollow, and hard for about 500m+, kind of like a reverse J Bay, before fattening out in Shipwrecks Bay, which is really a separate and much slower (2 or 3 star) wave, closer to the township and the carpark. You can get a ride up to nearly 1km on a big day, if you're lucky.
There are several other good point-break waves further round the 7km cape, but access is very difficult. Various NZ surf guides you can buy in surf stores describe all these, so they are no big secret.
I don't know how big it can hold out here, probably best at a solid 4-8 feet, (when the ocean charts will show almost double this).
English (Translate this text in English): This is the epic wave at Shipwreck Bay that everyone talks about. It starts way, way up the 1st point about 1km or so, where you can paddle out at the top from a small beach, as long as it isn't huge.
It needs low tides and a really solid SW swell to even break, with SW winds. It breaks very fast, hollow, and hard for about 500m+, kind of like a reverse J Bay, before fattening out in Shipwrecks Bay, which is really a separate and much slower (2 or 3 star) wave, closer to the township and the carpark. You can get a ride up to nearly 1km on a big day, if you're lucky.
There are several other good point-break waves further round the 7km cape, but access is very difficult. Various NZ surf guides you can buy in surf stores describe all these, so they are no big secret.
I don't know how big it can hold out here, probably best at a solid 4-8 feet, (when the ocean charts will show almost double this).
Atmosphere
World class, epic, very fast, powerful, long left point. Needs a big swell and low tides to work properly. 500m+ hollow rides.
English (Translate this text in English): World class, epic, very fast, powerful, long left point. Needs a big swell and low tides to work properly. 500m+ hollow rides.
English (Translate this text in English): World class, epic, very fast, powerful, long left point. Needs a big swell and low tides to work properly. 500m+ hollow rides.
English (Translate this text in English): World class, epic, very fast, powerful, long left point. Needs a big swell and low tides to work properly. 500m+ hollow rides.
General
Awesome. Some say one of the world's best pointbreaks, but needs a big SW swell to work. NZ surf guides all describe it, so its no big secret.
English (Translate this text in English): Awesome. Some say one of the world's best pointbreaks, but needs a big SW swell to work. NZ surf guides all describe it, so its no big secret.
English (Translate this text in English): Awesome. Some say one of the world's best pointbreaks, but needs a big SW swell to work. NZ surf guides all describe it, so its no big secret.
English (Translate this text in English): Awesome. Some say one of the world's best pointbreaks, but needs a big SW swell to work. NZ surf guides all describe it, so its no big secret.
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Peaks