Okiwi – Whangapoua Estuary Reviews and Ratings
(Great Barrier Island, New Zealand)
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Visitor reviews of Okiwi - Whangapoua Estuary surf break
(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
“Ive surfed Okiwi on a number of occasions, and seen the estuary sandbar both good and bad. At its worst there was too much sand which turned the whole wave into a closeout over 4ft... On its day a world class classic wave, but unlike Whangamata Bar there are no guarantees.”
Moggy from AUSTRALIA - 24 May 2010
Okiwi - Whangapoua Estuary Ratings
Overall: 2.0. Based on 4 votes and 2 reviews. Vote
Quality on a good day: 3.0(1 star: Even when the swell and winds are optimum, the waves are poor quality, 5 stars: If conditions are right, the waves will be World Class). |
Consistency of Surf: 3.0(1: Okiwi - Whangapoua Estuary is a fickle surf spot that only works a few times a year. 5: Reliable year-round spot). |
Regional Rating: 5.0(1: Okiwi - Whangapoua Estuary is usually very poor quality compared to other spots in Great Barrier Island. 5: the best break in Great Barrier Island). |
Difficulty Level: 2.0(1: Suitable for Groms. 3: Intermediates. 5: Expert tow-in surfers only). |
Other Options: 1.0(1: If wind or tide conditions are poor at Okiwi - Whangapoua Estuary, it will be poor everywhere nearby. 5: other locations nearby provide a rich variety of wind and swell exposures). |
Water Quality: 4.0(1: Known health risks from pollution. 5: Never any pollution). |
Crowds: 3.0(1: Often too crowded. 5: Okiwi - Whangapoua Estuary is an isolated spot where you are unlikely to meet other surfers). |
Access: 3.0(1: Getting to Okiwi - Whangapoua Estuary requires an overland expedition or chartering a boat. 3: A 30 minute walk from the nearest parking. 5: Park a vehicle right by the break). |
Scenery: 5.0(1: An ugly industrial backdrop. 5: A spectacular setting). |
Local Attitude: 5.0(1: Locals are hostile to visitors. 5: Either there are no locals who surf, or else they are accommodating and friendly). |
Accommodation: 2.0(1: No convenient places to stay indoors. 5: A wide variety of accommodation near Okiwi - Whangapoua Estuary for all budgets from hostels to luxury hotels). |
Camping: 3.0(1: Camping at Okiwi - Whangapoua Estuary is not possible. 3: Camping tolerated but no facilities. 5: A nearby camp ground has excellent facilities and a good vibe). |
Entertainment: 3.0(1: Besides the surf and the solitude there is nothing to do when it is flat. 5: Okiwi - Whangapoua Estuary is in such an interesting area to visit that getting wet is a bonus). |
Equipment and Repairs: 1.0(1: Nothing can be sourced, not even wax. 5: Quality surfing equipment can be purchased or hired. Major repairs can be fixed too). |
Eating: 3.0(1: Bring your own food, there isn't even a shop. 5: A wide variety of places to eat and drink at Okiwi - Whangapoua Estuary, from fast food and cafes to fancy restaurants). |
Drinking: 2.0(1: Alcohol is not allowed in the country. 5: There is an excellent pub near Okiwi - Whangapoua Estuary where you can stay or park a camper van overnight). |
“When it is on, Whangapoua is an excellent wave. Even by New Zealand's high standards, the setting is magnificent, the water is warm and prstine. Shark sightings are common but attacks are not. The local surfers seem to be totally at ease with the risk. This may or may not have something to do with the local herbs.
The swell on exposed Great Barrier Island is usually a bit bigger than the Coromandel surf spots, especially if the SE swell direction means that Coromandel is being sheltered by East Cape. I spent a week there once when there was a modest cyclone off Fiji and the strong NE swells made for epic surf all along the East Coast of Great Barrier but nowhere was better than Whangapoua.
There are peaks all along the long beach, but when people mention Whangapoua the are invariably referring to the right hander that breaks at the rivermouth at the south end of the beach. This wave frequently offers visiting surfers with powerful and hollow waves that can be surfed well overhead.
Getting to Great Barrier itself already requires a bit of planning and expense but it is worth it. Either fly from Auckland or take the ferry from the downtown wharf on a slow but very scenic crossing. Look out for dolphins following the boat. It's a 100km to downtown Auckland so you will have plenty of time. Bear in mind that the chances are the reason you will be on the boat at all is because there is a swell running and if this is getting into the Hauraki Gulf, you'll need a strong stomach because the small boat will be thrown about a bit.
Most surfers would opt for the Ferry because the small planes limit what you can carry and there is no chance to hire anything once you get here and supplies are a bit limited and a bit expensive, but hey, rather than wasting an hour of your life walking around Pak'n Save, travel light and support the shops on the Island.
It is possible to take the ferry as a foot passenger and hire a vehicle when you arrive. 4WD is best because most of Great Barrier is serviced only by dirt roads and some coastal tracks are rough.
Whangapoua itself requires a long walk over the estuary at low tide and long paddling when the tide is in, which can seem like very hard work after a long surf session.
Officially there is no camping on Great Barrier apart from at DOC sites which should be booked in advance. Otherwise, sleep in your van or rent a place. Plenty of batches available. In summer, when lots of Aucklanders holiday here, this can be tricky/expensive, but the rest of the year Great Barrier is a very quiet place to visit.
I was surprised how many other surfers were at Whangapoua when I was there, given its remoteness, but then again with a cyclone swell running, all the surfers in Auckland must have known it would be firing. Even with 15 out there were plenty of waves and a super-friendly atmosphere in the water just the same. Naturally, the handful of local surfers had the place wired.
Aside from the surf, there is plenty to enjoy on Great Barrier as long as you are into the great outdoors. Some stunning mountain walks take you by hot springs and old Kauri dams. The views are breathtaking. Look out for Kiwis around dusk. The fishing is world class and against all odds for an Island with no mains power there a few excellent places to eat including an internet Cafe in Claris where you can check the weather and surf predictions and I was amazed to find that from the highest point of the road I could get a reasonable Telecom GPRS signal.
For a little luxury, there is an excellent Angsana Thai restaurant (mains $28). You can't miss it.”
webmaster from NEW ZEALAND - 12 Mar 2010
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