June 4 - 21: Tony's Previous New Zealand Pics

Tony here, backtracking to more than a month ago (June 4 to June 21st). Scored some really good surf while exploring the north island of new Zealand so have a look at some epic shots (again of Raglan), and also of a new spot I caught going off on the east coast called Whakatane (pronounced Fakatonny-when in NZ "wh" is pronounced ffff..) river mouth.

Headed south after dropping off Eddie at the airport and walked into some really fun overhead surf in Raglan (go figure)….it eventually went flat after a few days, so I decided to take a road trip to the east coast after hearing that a swell was approaching from the northeast…first headed up into the Coramandel region and checked a few spots called Mount Manganui and Whakawatan. Both spots were onshore and small, but showing signs of a building swell…. Got word from our friend Miles in Raglan to head south to a spot called Whakatane in the south end of the Bay of Plenty, a few hours south of the Coramandel region….they were calling for strong southwest winds and this place would take it well as it faced northeast….Bingo!!!…Miles called it….pulled into offshore conditions with overhead sets that looked pretty harmless and fun....not quite the case as the swell continued to build throught the afternoon.

By days end the swell had built to solid double overhead and the wind had died to glassy clean conditions….was definitely under gunned with my 6’3” but managed to pull into a few sick ones….woke up the next morning to hard offshore winds, very cold early am temps, and the swell had built again to double to triple overhead ledgy, steep take offs…..managed to paddle out and got pounded a few times and swept down the beach because of the current…..just was not in the groove with my small wave board and a recovering back injury….went for a second paddle out through the icy river mouth and picked off a few nice ones before getting pounded again by some monstrous sets……a few photos show the view when jumping off the end of the jetty into a series of rocks and boulders, and of course, a wall of whitewater to make it even more challenging to paddle out to the line up.

Had text messaged Miles to rally over from Raglan (about 5 hour drive) who bolted overnight and was planning on doing some tow in surfing....his buddy and him showed up at 4 am with jet skis but by the morning on the 3rd day, the swell had died to overhead plus...still clean and good size but not what Miles was hoping for.

Pretty heavy place that seemed even heavier because of the icy river mouth, and the fact that only 4 guys were out for most of the day….and taking several sets on the head may have contributed as well in my case….but scored an incredible swell none the less….have a look at some shots from a successful north island road trip.

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Miles, Freddy, Grumzy....Whakatane surf check-3rd day of swell.	Miles, Freddy, and Spot	Whakatane-3rd day of swell	Whakatane 3rd day of swell	Grumzy-Quiksilver big wave ripper	preying mantis-tim's place-auckland
Rugby night out-Miles	Tony and Miles	British Lions vs. NZ Maories	Freddy, Lawren (from the Hamptons back home) and Miles	Tony, Greg (from Oregon) Lawren	Casino-Lawren and Freddy
Super Shredder...haha Tony	spot just south of Raglan	Whakatane river mouth	Whakatane-reeling righthander	Tony and Flipper-just pulling in to Whakatane	Whakatane-sick righthander
Miles-playing practical jokes at 4am Whakatane dirt lot-pitch black darkness	Tony-completely startled from Miles 4am joke shaking my van and yelling to open up	mud bath-Rotorua on the way back to raglan	Rotorua mud bath steam	Rotorua	Raglan-very,very fun
Raglan-extremely fun	Raglan-really really fun	Miles/Freddy's pad downstairs, Lawren/Matt/greg's pad upstairs	view from the raglan pad	Miles hangin on the deck	Tony on Jeremy and Sydney's deck overlooking indicators
Aerial swell lines from Miles' pad	Miles- Town & Country ripper-taking a break	Ozzie, tony, Miles	Late afternoon Spotlight on Raglan	Mt. Manganui-east coast beachtown	Mt. Manganui-main strip
Mt. Manganui-small surf but building	Mt. Manganui-boardwalk	Road Trippin from RAglan to Mt. Manganui	Northern spot - east coast-bay of plenty-main strip	EAst coast- onshore and small	rallying down the south coast of the Bay Of Plenty to WHakatane
Whakatane arrival	Whakatane village by day	WHakatane welcoming	Whakatane -2nd day of swell after the am had peaked	Whakatane-heavy righthander-solid double overhead plus+	Late evening whakatane
Whakatane-paddle out- 2nd day of swell-was bigger in the am	WHakatane-mini peanut gallery	Whakatane-jetty paddle out between sets-not too welcoming	artsy shot of Whakatane	WHakatane-sunset	Whakatane sunset
Whakatane-village early evening	Whakatane-3rd day of swell am paddle out	Raglan-really really really fun	Whakatane-3rd day of swell-had dropped off but still sizeable	RAglan-keyhole view	Raglan-very fun...
Whakatane-righthander	Whakatane-thick righthander	WHakatane-3rd day of swell	Whakatane- paddle out	WHakatane-perfection	Whakatane grinder
Tony freezing at Whakatane	Whakatane-really not rideable left, but looks deceptively perfect..and big	incredible Whakatane sunset-statue of legendary woman	Perfect Whakatane	Sunset colors-Whakatane