Mussel Reef / North Island / New Zealand

This is a fantastic spot when it goes off, but it can be a hard place to surf – only those with a lot of experience or a poor sense of self-preservation should be attempting it.  It breaks regularly, and is just a couple of kilometres out of Napier.

This is actually about 150m off the main shoreline, and paddling out here can be hard work. Very few people come out here, as it’s an effort to reach and difficult to surf, so the chances are you’ll be out on your own. 

With the wind from the northwest and the swell from the east, this place will start working.  You’ll need to be here for the low tide point, and catch the waves when the tide starts to rise, when the swell will start working at 1m – 1.5m and build up to about 2.5m.  It is a reef break, both right and left, and although they aren’t too big the waves are hollow and have a lot of power in them.  Length is only short though, and you’ll never see more than about 50m at this spot. 

There is nothing at the spot itself, but back on the mainland Napier is not too far away, which can supply you with anything you need and act as a decent base from which the coast can be explored.

There are a lot of rocks around here, and if you hit one it’s a long way back to the shore – be careful.