Raupo Bay.

Raupo Bay is a remote sand-bottom beachbreak tucked into the Banks Peninsula coastline, picking up more southerly swell energy than the main Christchurch beaches further north. Shifting sandbars produce wedging peaks at both ends of the bay, with the southern section known as Little Raupo offering some protection from northerly winds. The wave is steep and hollow at times, with fast sections that reward committed surfing. Anything with west in it blows offshore across the lineup. Access requires a long walk in, which keeps the crowd to a bare minimum and preserves the wild, unspoilt character of the place. The bay sits on private land reached via McHales Road from Chorlton, involving a gate and either a 4WD track or a steep hill walk. Strong rip currents are a constant factor, and sharks are present in these waters. The isolation and effort required to reach the lineup mean most sessions are shared with very few others, if anyone at all.

Shifting sandbars wedge steep, hollow peaks across Banks Peninsula's loneliest break.