Women's Surf Festival, Taranaki, 26th April - 1st May

Wrap up warm and head to New Plymouth's Fitzroy Beach as the top women surfers in New Zealand battle it out for top honours in the NZ Women's Open. Contesting divisions include:

• Under 12s
• Under 14s
• Under 16s
• Seniors (28 years plus)
• Longboard
• Open

Entry forms are online at www.nzsurffestival.co.nz with entries closing on April 16th. More information about the festival can also be viewed there.

The surf festival will also feature:

• Expression session
• Learn to surf lesson
• Surfing clinic for the disabled.

Surfing in New Zealand

If you want to give surfing a go whilst touring New Zealand, you'll find excellent surfing schools and surf beaches throughout the country. Surf schools generally offer courses for beginners learning to surf and cater for all levels (beginner, intermediate, experienced/ expert) of international visitors and surfers who want to experience New Zealand waves.

Generally speaking, between December and March the waters off the North Island are warm enough for surfing without wetsuits, but from April, as on the South Island, wetsuits are (highly) recommended.

New Zealand Surf Beaches

There are surfing locations throughout New Zealand offering beach and river mouth surfing opportunities for beginner, intermediate and expert surfers.

Notable surf beaches include:

North Island Surfing Locations

• Auckland – Piha Beach, Anawhata Beach, Bethells Beach, Green Bay,KareKare, Long Bay, Milford Beach, Milford Reef, Mission Bay, Moari Bay, Muriwai, Orere Point, Pu Point, Raglan Bar, St Leonards, Takapuna, Te Arai Point, Torbay, Whatipu
• Bay of Plenty - Sutherland Avenue, Hart Street, Matakana Island, Mount Main Beach, Muphies, Ohope, Papamoa East, Sateva Suckbowl, Tay Street, Whakatane Heads
• Coromandel – Hotwater Beach, Pauanui, Whangamata Bar, Whiriota Beach
• New Plymouth - Fitzroy Beach, Stent Road and Opunake Beach
• Gisborne - Wainui
• Hawke's Bay - Kairakau Beach

South Island Surfing Locations

• Christchurch – Port Morseby, Christchurch East, Taylors Mistake
• Dunedin – Dunedin Coast, St Clair Beach, Seconds
• Kaikoura – Kaikoura Coast, Cays Crays, Mungamaunu

View more information on surfing in New Zealand.