Houhora Heads.

Houhora Heads sits at the point where the Houhora Harbour drains into the Tasman Sea, forming a classic Far North rivermouth setup that only truly comes alive when a solid NE to E swell pushes in from the open ocean. The wave breaks over an uneven mix of reef and sand that shifts with each significant pulse, producing chunky, punchy lefts with genuine push and occasional hollow sections when the banks stack up correctly. Size range runs a legitimate 2 to 3m, and the wave stretches out across 200 to 500 metres of working face when conditions align. The key is the tide - mid-incoming is the window, as a rising tide over the shallow mixed bottom organises the banks and smoothes out the rip-riddled entry. Paddle across the river to the Stanley Point side for the best position and clearest view of the sets sweeping around the headland. A westerly wind grooms the face nicely, and the exposure to open-ocean NE-E groundswell means Houhora can jump to life while more sheltered spots further south stay flat. Intermediate surfers comfortable reading rivermouth rip structure will get the most out of it. The Far North location keeps crowds thin - this is not a wave that draws a scene.

Rivermouth lefts that organise only when the Houhora Harbour drains mid-tide.