I find it curious that such a large chunk of the surf industry bases itself in and around Takapuna on Auckland's North Shore. They do ocassionally get waves here, but it's very rare with just a junky beach break and the Takapuna Reef as the only rough diamond in a pretty lack-lustre crown.
So if it is waves you're chasing then this isn't really the right place, but there is no question that the beach culture is thriving. From surf lifesaving teams to kitesurfers, beach walkers, runners and everything in between all cloaked in the latest fashions and living the good life amongst oversized pohutukawa trees.
Some of the houses that sprawl out on to Takapuna Beach, through screens of giant pohutukawa, are jaw-dropping. Immaculate gardens, oversized homes with exquisite lighting and direct beach access and views to Rangitoto. I had to sit down to take it all in and watch the endless parade of people enjoiying the 25°C-plus temperatures even after the sun had gone down.
A stretch of restaurants were bustling, seemingly filled completely with beautiful people, replaced at breakfast with a sea of fitness junkies – among them paddleboarders and swimmers still dripping wet and windsurfers flapping dry their sails in the morning sun. Give Takapuna Beach Café a shot ... views and good beach vibes.
You probably won't get the wave of your life here, although, I am told by an unreliable source that Takapuna Reef does actually fire sometimes. But there is something curiously attractive about this little Rangitoto-gazing sweep of coastline in the Hauraki Gulf.
Other news from our friends at New Zealand Surf Journal include Round 2 of the Billabong Grom Series , Kiwi surfer Tane Bowden starts 2019 on a mission in Australia and Te Kehukehu Butler drops a very cool new film. Grab a coffee and check these ones out ...
See you up the coast ... Derek
PS Lost a pounamu recently at the beach? A reader has found one – more info here. North swell kicking in right about now ... pull a sickie, you've been warned.
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