Ryan & U'i's Pacific Odyssey: NZ Day 22

May 27

Day - Short morning in Coromandel and surf at Whangapoua – New Chums Beach & ‘Poura Point Break.

Night - Hot Water Beach Holiday Park

Walked through the shops that were closed yesterday. Purchased a flat (30) of free range eggs and a huge bag (20) of fresh mandarins for a record low $9NZD. Then filled up the van for a record high $2.59/L. We caught wind that the east swell was still pumping and glassy conditions this morning, so we crossed the mountain range over to Te Rerenga, where we detoured up to Whangapoua. At the end of the road, a small river meets the ocean on the north side of Whangapoua Bay. There was a decent looking beach break in the foreground, with one or two blokes out. What really caught our attention however, was the left point break about a kilometer off the coast. We could see a couple surfers getting barrels and nice walls. I needed to see nothing further, suited up, and sprinted along the rocky shore. Before jumping in at the point, I was curious to see if New Chums Beach was breaking, which was a short hike over a hill to a secluded bay. When I hit the beach at Chums it was a bit overwhelming. The shorebreak was more than double the size of Whangapoua, with A-frame peaks rearing up and slamming into the sand. I was completely alone and paddled out cautiously. The shorebreak rips grabbed me immediately, and I realized it was larger than I had thought. I pulled into a few closeouts, took a few sets on the head, and decided that I wasn’t too stoked on breaking my board or my neck with so much trip left to go. I hiked back over to the point, and shared some great rides with two dudes for about an hour. The rest of the crew were on the beach (U’I still out with her ankle injury, Jason out with a neck injury, and Hil not stoked on the water temperature). Didn’t want to keep them waiting, so I said my goodbyes to the surfers and paddled the km back to shore. Halfway I realized the tidal rip was going out – it took a little while. We packed up headed down the east coast to Hot Water Beach. Hil and J crashed at a Holiday Park near Cathedral Cove (neat low tide hike), and we continued another 10k down to Hot Water Beach.