Waipoua Reefs.

Waipoua Reefs sit on the remote Kauri Coast past Dargaville, requiring a one-hour hike south from Waimamaku to reach. The reward is isolated, gnarly, challenging right-handers breaking over a mix of uneven reef and sand that greet only small groups of experts willing to make the effort. The wave handles serious size - 2 to 3.7m - and the quality is rated excellent when conditions align. SW swell is optimal with NE winds offshore. Mid to high tide on an incoming push covers the reef enough to produce workable shape. The beachbreak at Waimamaku itself breaks with size and power when winds are from the E, offering a more accessible alternative. West coast access in this area is genuinely difficult - 4WD forestry trails are often gated and locked, and the hike in is not trivial. Rips, sharks, and submerged reef are all active hazards.

Gnarly right-handers over uneven reef, one hour's hike from the nearest road.