Taranaki

Imagine, for a moment, the blueprint of your ideal wave region: a circular headland jutting out to sea, with a 270° window that offers a launch to suit almost every wind direction. A cone shaped mountain in the middle accelerates any wind to a planing strength thermal on sunny days, its volcanic origin having provided nice defined lava reefs in the water and lush green vegetation on land. Place this spot 39° South so it scores frontal winds all year round and is bombarded by huge swells from the Roaring Forties and Furious Fifties. Bingo! You just imagined Taranaki, New Zealand’s premier wave region.