Best time to surf Makorori

The best time to surf at Makorori is July, with waves of about 1.7 m and water around 14°C.

Gisborne, Gisborne, New Zealand

Sports: Surfing

Best time to go: July

Makorori lies about 11 km north of Gisborne on State Highway 35, over the hill from Wainui Beach. Its sandbanks sit on a rocky base, so they change more slowly than at Wainui and often hold for days, and it has the most consistent surf in the Gisborne area: usually waist-high to a little overhead, all year round. It is one of three surf breaks around Gisborne recognised as nationally significant. There are several car parks along the highway, and a small area of the main car park is open to freedom campers.

At the southern end, the Point is a classic rocky right-hander. It works on most swells, best in an east to north-east swell, which gives long walls, and holds up to about double overhead; it is surfable at all tides but worst at full low and full high. The first car park at the top of the hill looks over it, and the steps cut into the hill down to the beach are slippery after rain. Further north, Centres and Red Bus, in front of the main car park at the bottom of the hill, break left and right over sand and rock; Red Bus is the most surfed wave on the beach and is used for surf contests. Creeks, Farmhouse and the Corners at the northern end follow; the Corners have softer waves for learners and handle north and north-east winds better than the rest. The beach is cleanest with a north-west wind, which blows offshore.

The Point gets crowded, with drop-ins and beginners; watch the submerged rocks, and the walk out over rocks at low tide at Red Bus. Trucks drive fast on the highway, so take care at the car parks. The water is about 13 °C in August and 20 °C in February: a 4/3 in winter, a 3/2 or a spring suit in summer. Gisborne Hospital is about 15 minutes away.

Month by month at Makorori

January: 11 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 0.6 m, water 20°C, air 21°C (nights 16°C), 27 sunny days, 17 rainy days
February: 8 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 0.7 m, water 20°C, air 22°C (nights 16°C), 24 sunny days, 13 rainy days
March: 10 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 0.8 m, water 20°C, air 20°C (nights 14°C), 25 sunny days, 16 rainy days
April: 7 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1 m, water 19°C, air 19°C (nights 13°C), 24 sunny days, 12 rainy days
May: 8 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 17°C, air 17°C (nights 11°C), 24 sunny days, 12 rainy days
June: 10 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 1.5 m, water 15°C, air 15°C (nights 10°C), 20 sunny days, 15 rainy days
July: 9 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.7 m, water 14°C, air 14°C (nights 8°C), 22 sunny days, 14 rainy days
August: 9 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 1.5 m, water 13°C, air 14°C (nights 8°C), 24 sunny days, 14 rainy days
September: 7 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.5 m, water 14°C, air 16°C (nights 9°C), 26 sunny days, 12 rainy days
October: 10 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 15°C, air 18°C (nights 11°C), 26 sunny days, 12 rainy days
November: 8 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 1 m, water 17°C, air 20°C (nights 13°C), 26 sunny days, 14 rainy days
December: 10 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 0.8 m, water 20°C, air 22°C (nights 15°C), 26 sunny days, 15 rainy days