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4 Find a Surf Beach on the Surf
Highway Time your trip to Taranaki in winter or autumn and you
can ski in the morning and surf one of the numerous beaches in
the afternoon. Surf Highway 45 is a sweeping 105km stretch of
road from New Plymouth in the north to Hawera in the south, and
one of New Zealand’s most consistent surf locations.
The driving route is also picturesque as the road passes through
several coastal townships renowned for strong arts and crafts
communities. This coast is also regarded as one of the world’s
best windsurfing spots.
An artificial surf reef at Opunake is
due to be completed in the summer of 2008, making it possible
for those novice surfers not keen on attempting the big name
surf spots of ‘Kumara Patch’, the ‘Graveyard’ and ‘Weld Rd’, to
catch a wave.
5 Kayak sugar Loaf and catch a feed
The Sugar Loaf Islands Marine Protected Area – popular with
divers in summer and autumn – covers an area of 749ha. The
islands, just offshore from New Plymouth, are eroded remnants of
andesitic volcanic domes, and include spectacular canyons,
caves, rock faces with crevices and overhangs, large pinnacles,
boulder fields and extensive sand flats. There are more than 89
species of fish and 33 species of encrusting sponges within the
area, 19 species of seabird, and the northern-most breeding
colony of fur seals in New Zealand.
Recreational fishing around the Sugar Loaf Islands can see
catches of kingfish, kahawai, snapper, blue cod, trevally, blue
moki, sweep, red gurnard and tarakihi. Game-fishing for tuna,
marlin and mako shark is popular offshore during summer and
autumn.
Along Taranaki’s ‘Surf Highway’ are surf beaches to suit novice
and pro
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