Box of Light is made possible thanks to these visionaries:
As far as winters go, this one has been a bit shabby on the big wave front. Hardly any giant south swells that we have become accustomed to chasing in previous winters. Very few snow storms (reaching the east coast anyway – the ones that bring the swell) and only a handful of lows congesting down south below Tasmania before being slingshot below New Zealand. Instead, we've had a lot of east swell, which brings the North Coast to life. And this coast, riddled with point breaks, reefbreaks and beaches is a real standout jewel in New Zealand's surfing crown.
It's a tough drive when your head is full of visions of what it might be like. Weaving through to Port Chalmers from the city is a tussle, an important decision needs to be made. Take the ridge line towards Heywards Point, or carry on to the Spit. If the swell is too big then the Spit might be too unruly. But then the point breaks might be too crowded. It's a big call, based completely on how inflated your visions have become. Usually, I opt for the Spit, celebrating my decisiveness with a coffee at the Port Royale on the way past.
The caffeine does little to calm my imaginations as I negotiate the curves and bends along the road that traces the very edge of Otago Harbour. Then, when I finally arrive in the carpark, I still cannot see the surf. A short sprint to the top of a sand dune, seemingly takes forever, but soon reveals the state of play for today. With luck, I'll be greeted by plumes as peaks hit the sandbanks. And last week that's exactly what I discovered: the jewel in the crown in all its glory.
See you at the beach ... Derek
PS For the past couple of years I've been working on a book about Muzzle Station – New Zealand's most remote station. Penned by Fiona Redfern, who now home schools her own children in the very room she was home schooled in many years ago, the book captures the history of this incredible tract of land and traces an arc right through to its future. It's a book filled with mind-bending anecdotes, from surviving horror helicopter crashes to finding sheep buried beneath snow long after the storm has passed. We have a limited number available for pre-order. With the book going on sale on October 2nd. If you want to order one you can do that here: Pre-Order Life on Muzzle Station.
Box of Light is made possible thanks to these visionaries: