Makorori Beach, or Maka to locals, is a magical place with surf breaks galore. Located around 11 kilometres up SH35 from our Gisborne Surf Shop, Blitz Surf Shop, Makorori probably produces the most consistent breaking surf in Gisborne. Due to the sand build up on a rocky base, the banks don't change as rapidly as Wainui Beach and can stay consistent for days on end. Makorori surf spots tend to also hold surf better through the tides than other beach breaks in Gisborne. Generally Makorori does not hold large surf very well but you can get the odd larger session, particularly at the Point. Generally breaking with good shape in the waist high to somewhat overhead size range you can score some sick waves at Makorori all year round.
Makorori Beach, along with Wainui Beach and Tuamotu Island, has been identified as one of 3 local Gisborne beaches of national significance of 17.
There are loads of surfable sections of this beach but read on as we explore the most well known surf spots. Any area of beach between these spots can have a wave on its day
The Point
Makorori Point is the jewel in the crown for most surfers. As you roll over the hill from Wainui on SH35 the first carpark that you come to at the top of the hill looks directly out over the Point. This is a good place to park up and check the surf or head out from. There are some steps cut into the hill near the top of the carpark that will take you down to the beach where you can paddle directly out to the Point. The steps can get pretty treacherous if its been raining a lot so the alternative is to park up further down the hill and walk back to the Point.
The Point is a classic right hand, rocky bottom point break. You can surf the Point on pretty much any swell direction but the quality of the surf can change significantly with different angles. In swells more from the south expect a good take off then it often fattens out and goes soft...if you're lucky you might link through to the next section. East and NE swells are when the Point comes into its own with long rides walled up from right out the back to the inside. Paddling too deep out the back can lead to shorter waves as the waves breaking more on the inside tend to wall up better and you can either get shut down by the next section or not make it through to the inside section if you started too deep.
It can get pretty hectic with all sorts of abilities and surf craft when it is busy. It is pretty easy to paddle out at the Point so beginners can get out there easily enough but soon find out it is above their ability if it is pumping.
Depending on the swell direction the Point can be surfed from tiny waist high waves on the right board right up to around double overhead on the biggest sets. If it gets bigger than that the waves tend to not break on the Point, more further out to see between Centres and the Point and the wave quality is generally not as good.
Occasionally you can go left at the Point but its not always recommended as with the ideal East swell there is a bit of a push in towards the cliffs and its difficult to paddle back against this. You can surf the Point on all tides but full low and/or full high tend to have the worst conditions.
Hazards include crowds, drop-ins, beginners and large alternative surf craft.
The Point carpark is also an excellent spot to watch the sunrise for the day as it goes from black and glowing pre-dawn to golden as the sun comes up
Centres
The next main spot north of the Point is commonly called Centres. Until the carpark was built and road fenced off around a decade ago you could park on the bank overlooking this spot. Centres is predominantly a sand bottom break with rocks around the show holding on to the sand. Centres can break from any swell direction, you will tend to get more right handers when the swell is more from the south and more left handers when the swell is more from the east. It doesn't get to hold very big surf but tends to be more powerful than Red Bus which is the next main surf spot.
Centres can get crowded if there is just one consistent peak but often there can be multiple take off spots which can spread the crowd a bit. Rarely surfable once it gets above about head and a half wave faces as it will usually break further out at sea and miss the banks.
\Red Bus
Red Bus is the main surf spot directly in front of the main carpark at the bottom of Makorori Hill. Its a bone of contention with a lot of locals but you are allowed to freedom camp in a small area of this carpark. Just be respectful and be sure to take all of your rubbish with you.
Red bus is generally a bit more rocky than Centres. If the sand has built up you might not encounter rocks at all but sometimes low tide it could be a rocky stumble before you get out to deeper water to start paddling. Bare this in mind if the tide goes out while you're surfing because you don't want to take a gouge out of your board or lose a fin connecting with rocks on the way in.
Red Bus is probably the most consistent and most surfed wave at Makorori, as much due to its location straight in front of the carpark than anything else. With that in mind it is also the most common spot in Gisborne to be sued for surf competitions. It can be a soft wave suited more to chunky surf craft but also can get good on its day. Like most of the spots at Makorori often doesn't stay surfable if the swell gets too big but you can chance on the odd solid day out here. Red Bus can break left and right and is exposed to most swell directions. You can surf Red Bus through all tides.
Creeks
Creeks is located at the next small carpark after the main one as you head further north on SH35. There is a cross at the entrance to this carpark where there was a fatal car accident years ago. Be careful some trucks fly around here.
Creeks tends to be a bit more punchy than Red Bus. Surfable on all swell directions but South East tends to get the most consistently good line ups happening, depending of course on the sand build up at the time. Less rocks than the previous three surf breaks but be careful, if you go left from the most southern part of the break there's some submerged rocks that can cause you some damage. You can surf here through all tides but the quality of the surf will depend on the swell size, direction and sand bank build up. Because it is often a bit more punchy you can surf here in pretty tiny waves up to a decent size. Occasionally you can have a bigger surf here but like the rest of Makorori it tends to like small to medium swells best.
The Farmhouse/Murderers/Sunsets/Colin's Donger
Multiple names depending on who you talk to. The Farmhouse seems to be the one most widely used as the surf breaks pretty much in fron of the farmhouse over the road against the hill. No proper carpark here but there are tracks coming on to the dunes where you can park up for your surf or just chill out in peace.
There is a large group of rocks here and the waves usually break either out the back of them or further north depending on the swell angle.
The quality of this place can change dramatically from day to day and even between the tides. Known primarily as a softer, cuisey type wave. It can actually get pretty good so is worth a check if there's nothing too great at the other spots. It can break from quite small up to a decent size but sometimes the swell misses this area altogether.
Not affected as badly by northerly or NE winds as the spots further south sometimes you can get a surprise here when other spots are blown out.
Corners/Northerns
Just as you turn into the small settlement at the north end of Makorori there is a large gravel carpark where you can check the surf here for Northerns. There is an area of several hundred metres that can have surf on any given day. Straight out in front of the carpark when its decent tends to throw out more right than left handers. As you go further north along the beach it tends to throw out more left handers. Northerns prefers swell form the south or south east due to its geography but can still have smaller waves than the other spots with east or NE swells. Much better in north or NE winds than most of Makorori, this is an alternative option to the town beaches or Sponge Bay when those winds blow out the rest of the coast.
Low tide can have the surf dumping and closing out so its best surfed on all other tides off full low.
This is a great option for learners and kids in the summer as it tends to generally through out softer, fuller, rolling waves. But don't count it out because you can have the odd good gruntier session too.
You will tend to find a lot more beginners and larger surf craft here than other parts of the beach, especially in the summer months.
The Reef
Makorori Reef is a rocky left hand reef break that tends to need a bigger swell to break. Not generally surfed with big waves but throws out fun sized waves with a large swell. Another good option when the wind is form the north or northeast direction. Not usually a particularly powerful wave but again another spot thats worth checking as every spot has its day.
Conclusion
Makorori Becah should be on every surfer's radar when they are in GIsborne. Its an amazing beach of national significance that can produce waves for all surfing levels and abilities. Breaking very consistently, even when other places are dead flat. Come and see us at Blitz Surf Shop if you need to hire surf gear, buy a new surfboard or wetsuit or you just need advice on the best spots to check for surfnig that day. You can also check out our Wainui Beach surf camera to see if there is swell and offshore winds on the coast beaches to save yourself unneccessary driving.
