Punakaiki River is a sandy beach with 'Pancake Rocks' at the point at the northern end of the beach. This is a very popular tourist spot. Park and paddle out on the northern side of the river. The beach features a beach break with several peaks to choose from, with both right and left-handers. The wave can be gnarly, with a steep drop-in and hollow pits. Best for intermediate to advanced surfers. River mouths often have strong rips and currents, so please surf with care.
Punakaiki Beach is a sandy beach with the popular 'Pancake Rocks and Blowholes' on the rocky point at the southern end of the beach. This is a beach break with several peaks to choose from. Usually best on the left-hander off the blowhole rocks, southern end of the beach at low tide. The wave is usually a bit fat, but punchy and fun. At high tide you get a bounce back off the shore. Good for learners or all abilities. Punakaiki is quite sheltered from strong winds and picks up good swell. It is usually bigger than other spots.
The Channel is a sandy, beach break on the north side of the Grey River at Cobden. Known as the beach break along the beach from the Cobden break water. Several peaks down the beach to choose from with both right and left handers. Can be quite shifty and peaky, but there are good solid pits on offer, with some long rides possible. Can hold big swells, but can make for a hard paddle out when big. Suitable for all levels of surf, or when bigger best for intermediate to expert riders.
Wavetraps is a small beach just inside the river mouth of the Grey River. The beach is sand with stones higher up and a rocky breakwater. The wave is a hollow, short right hander. Requires the right swell angle to get in there as its fairly sheltered. Good when all the other beachs are massive and closing out, Wavetraps will just be getting a nice, smaller wave. Suitable for intermediate to expert surfers. Watch out for debris floating down the river and the sewer pipe outflow near by.
Blaketown is located on the south side of the mouth to the Grey River, right beside to breakwater. The beach is sandy with a rocky breakwater at the north end. Blaketown beach has several peaks down the beach with right and left handers, or the best peak beside the breakwater, which can be more of a right hander off the breakwater. The wave starts with a steep, hollow drop in, with a fast, powerful wall. Can be very solid in a big swell and plenty of barrels on offer.
The West Coast gets plenty of southern and western swells coming up from the deep south, providing very consistent surf. It is uncommon for the West Coast to be flat. The West Coast doesn't have the population of the larger East Coast cities; therefore, rarely becomes crowded in the water. It's not hard to find good surf to yourself. All the main surf spots can be found between Greymouth and Karamea, with the areas further north or south not quite as accessible.
Tauranga Bay consists of a left-hand point break off the boulders at the southern end of the beach, as well as various beach break peaks down the beach. The point is a solid left-hander, with a nice wally, powerful shape, that can get barrelling. Jump off the rocks to get into the line-up. The beach break is on a sandy beach, and has powerful left and right-handers. Good for intermediate to expert surfers. On bigger days, there can be dangerous rips - leave it to the advanced riders.
Cobden is a sandy, beach break with a rock breakwater at the south end of the beach. Cobden is best right up beside the breakwater, and there are other peaks down the beach towards The Channel. Can be quite shifty and peaky, but there are good solid pits on offer, both rights and lefts. Can hold big swells, but can make for a hard paddle out when big. Can be better to jump of the breakwater to get out. Best for intermediate to expert riders.
